Anna Dickinson General Correspondence Gough, John B. [June 29, 1865-July 14, 1874] undatedWorcester June 29, 1865 My Dear Friend, I am glad you wrote to me. and that I have received your letter. Thank you heartily - My voice and throat, or throat and voice are much better, and I hope to resume work in October with renewed strength. My wife is in good health, now to business. Mr. North is not my agent - If he was I should be delighted that he should serve you at the same time. Your next question I want to answer in person - and to come to the point at once - Can you possibly come and see me and mine here. Inducement No 1. We all respect and love you, and would give you a most hearty welcome . No 2We should consider it a privilege to entertain you at our home - No 3. I will give you all the information I can in any subject you desire, and perhaps I may be of some slight service to you and if so it will give me great pleasure. No 4. It should do me a great deal of good. and could not do you much harm. and it might possibly be a mutual benefit I could offer some inducements but will sum up the whole matter by saying that we do really want to see you. all of us. Mary and I especially - We could have some pleasant social chats together about matters and things in general, We would be glad to see you here at any time that would suit your convenience, the sooner the better, I am now receiving applications for service ever since commencing my arrangement for the future and might be able to give you a pint or two that you could turn to profit although I have nothing to offer but 22 years experience as a public Lecturer- If you will write me when you will leave New York I will meet you at the Worcester station, and very gladly escort you to Hillside and I assure you that you will not receive a warmer welcome anywhere. The best train I think leaves New York at 8 A.M. reaching Worcester(not The Junction) at 3:30. You could leave New York at 2:30 reaching Worcester at 10:45 P.M. I will meet you at either train. I write so much about you coming because we are in earnest. Do come if you can. If you cannot come to us please write me and I will (confidentially) answer fully all the questions you have asked, but I could give you informationmore fully in half an hours conversation here by queries of correspondence. Please do not think me pressuring that I invite you to come to us so strongly. Present our kindest regards to your dear Mother and sister. We remember our pleasant call on them. Please write soon and never ask me if [you] I think you are troublesome and oblige John B. Gough Please direct John B. Gough Lock Box 129 Worcester Mass Worcester July 10, 1865 My Dear Friend Did you receive a letter from me dated some 10 to 12 days ago. I am quite anxious to know. Please write if you have not received it I will write again. Please excuse this scrawl and oblige Yours most heartily John B. GoughWorcester July 18, 1865 My dear friend I received your long expected note and was both glad and sorry. Very sorry that the flat iron fell on your foot, and very, very glad that said flat iron did not come with the full in contact with that valuable head of yours- but seriously I am grieved and so are we all at the accident that detains you from us- and trust with the aid of youth and health that by the blessing of God you will speedily recover and be again upon your feet- both feet I want to see you here very much for I think that Imight be of some service to you which would make me very glad. I am beginning to arrange my first route for the next season and with the aid of a lady friend I think I shall manage it far easier and with less friction and annoyance than I ever did with an agent. Mr North is a good man and my personal friend for many years. but I have come to the conclusion that all agents are evils, sometimes necessary evils, but to be avoided as much as possible. But to you in perfect confidence I would say that Mr North has acted as my agent for three seasons and I am thoroughly dissatisfied with the last years mismanagement. I have been perplexed and annoyed more than I like to write about. One thing you will learn if you employ an agent and that is if he is to make your appointments you must in a very great degree place yourself in his hands, and fulfil any appointments he may make, that is not decidedly wrong and unfair. I know that you would dislike exceedingly to be set off against any other Lecturer, your agent agreeing that if associations would take some other one they could obtain your service, if not no. My dear friend I do not intend to prejudice you against Mr North or any other agent you may select but I feel it but right to write plainly about it and the long and the short of the matter is this, I shall never employ an agent, whileI can possibly make my own appointments, now if you was here I would show you just how I do it - I do not offer this as an inducement for you to come, but we want you when I say we I mean the whole Gough household When do you think you can come? We will do all we can to make you happy - Let me say this that if you must obtain the services of an agent, Mr North will do as well probably as any other I paid him last year 1000 dollars one thousand and paid for all the stationery printing telegrams travelling expenses - amounting to full five hundred more - Mr North in his last letter to me stated that he had gave up the idea of acting as agent for any Lecturers that he had thought of it because he had several pressing applications but his health was not sufficient for it. (which is my opinion exactly). Will it be too much trouble to drop me a line (and a flatiron) to see how you are progressing in health and whether you will come here, and about when - I wish I could be of some ser- vice to you. and as I said before I think I can if you was here. please excuse this wretched scrawl, I have not a gift at letter writing, and never cultivated what little I had but I trust your kindness Mrs Gough sends love to you and we all feel a deep interest in you, Give our kindest regardsto your Mother and sister and believe me to be ever heartily and truly Yours John B Gough Hillside Worcester Sep 7- 1865- Dear Friend About the middle of July I wrote you a long letter, and since then have been watching the mails for tidings from you- anxiously hoping to hear, but disappointed and sorry. I received a letter from Mr North informing us that you have been in New Haven, we are all grieved that you could not have extended your journey as far as Worcester, I should have been very glad to welcome you to my home. Have I offended you. I fearthat I might have said some thing in my letter that displeases you if so I assure you it was not intentional. Will you be kind enough to drop me a line Mrs Gough joins me in kindest regards - I am most truly your John B. GoughWorcester July 20-1866- My Dear Friend This is a pretty time of day to answer so kind a letter of May 10 as you sent to me Now for explanation which are not generally pleasant or satisfactory, on my return home from Philadelphia I received your letter, Mr Grough could not send it to me in time and so I got it at home - I was very busy and said "Mary will you answer this"? She intended to do it, but being as usual full of care neglected it, and here it is before me and I am trying to deprecate your wrath. I cannot tell you how glad I should have been to accept your kind invitation, for I have ever had a very pleasant impressn of youhome, and when I come to Philadelphia will make all my apologies in person if I find you there. Where are you now? Do you intend going to Colorado - or California? or shall you rest and [recruit?] at home and will you? yes will you come here and see us. We will do all we can to make you happy - I assure you that no one rejoices more than I do at your splendid success the last season, and that your health continue during your severe work. I find from Mrs Curtis that you are to be in Detroit in Dec. I have made my appointment for next month but have changed and shall be there in Feb. I have been unpleasantly under the Doctors hands for two or three weeks but am better, and trying to work a little, now the weather is cooler. How I should like to see you I cannot tell you, but will if you come - I do not know when or where this will reach you, but shall send it to 1710 Locust St. Please give my kind regards to your mother and sister Mrs Gough joins me in expressions of sincere affection and congratulation ever faithfully Yours John B. GoughWorcester Aug 7 - 1866 - My Dear Friend I have but a moment to write as Mrs Gough is wanting to take the letter into Worcester but I wish to settle one question. "Do we want you to come to see us?" We do _ I write it emphatically, we do, I do _ Mrs Gough does, all do _ I assure you there are few friends I have in the world I should be as glad to welcome here as you. and none would receive a more cordial welcome - If you come you shall do as you please, ride, read walk, play rest, &c, &c - You can leave Boston at 8.30 A M or 2.30 P M. for Worcester where I will meet you on any day you set I shall await you decison as . to the day- for the fact of you coming is settled as in your letter you say "I will Then please fix a date any time that will suit you and Mrs Gough and myself will be your debtors - I hardly know when to send this to you, but as Lord Dundreury says if you don't get it you can send it back to Yours most truly John B Gough I do so want to have a fine long talk with you and have a stirring game of conversation -Worcester Sep 13 1866 - my dear Friend Your "nice" letter of 12 inst , yesterday, is received this evening. I had hardly patience to tear it open for I hoped, yes we all hoped you was coming to see us . I will go to Terre Haute, although it will be late in the season near the first of April 1867. When do start on your tour. Shall I see you in Phila when I come Oct 15 & 16. If I do not see you I mean to call at 1710 Locust St and shall find somebody belonging to you. God bless you for your speech at the Convention I think more highly of your speaking than I shall ever tell you and would travela long distance to hear you. I came very near being at Philadelphia during the Convention I was appointed a delegate from Mass- "dear old Mass"- but it came too late for me as I had made an engagement that week that could not well be broken. Hurrah for Philadelphia. I do love the city and its people, you must have rejoiced at the noble outburst of loyalty. Is it not strange that in such a country as ours, we should talk of loyalty and disloyalty! What a progress downward His accidency and his "sweet" are making, swinging round the circle in every town and at every bathing place. Let me not weary you with my lucubrations, but thank you, and that I do most heartily for all your oft repeated kindness to me Mrs. Gough sends love to you all our household hold you in high regard and affection, your name is a household word with us here and not the least in respect and admiration is your most faithfully John B. Gough I shall be more than delighted to receive another of your characteristic notes whenever you can find a moment to gratify me.Detroit Nov 17 1866 My dear Friend From the pleasant chamber of [...] in the house of my dear friend and yours I send this note as a "trap to catch a sunbeam". Mrs. [...] and I made a pleasant call on your mother and sister when in Philadelphia some days since and I found by your list of appointments which your sister kindly [...] me that you are to be at Fond du Lac on Nov 22. Therefor I send this to meet you there. Then I [...] that you to be in Fort Plain on Jan 10 1867. and at Marlboro on Jan 14. Whichis Monday. Now Marlboro is but a few miles from us. I shall be at home on Friday Jan 11 and remain till Monday 14th. Will you can you come to Worcester on Friday or Saturday 11th or 12th. and permit me to wait on you at the station and escort you to our house to remain with us quietly till Monday We will give you a hearty welcome you shall do as you please and we will all help you, Will you do us this favour. I remember when I was a boy they told me I cried for the moon to put in my little wagon but I did not get it, and perhaps I am asking for the moon now, and it will not be possible for you to come, but please do if you can and write me word to that effect. I shall be in Cincinnati, from the 15' to the 19' of December a line to me care of L. C. Hopkins Cin, will find me. Please do not refuse if you can help it. We have been talking of you here so much that I am hungry to see you. Many many thanks for the kind words you have spoken of me. I wish you to understand that Mrs Gough joins me heartily in the request for Mary and I are one I send this to the care of my brother at Fond du Lac who will be delighted at the privilege of handing itto you - Please excuse this ill written scrawl - Mrs Curtis. "that dear little woman" sends love to you she expects you to spend Christmas with her I only wish I could be there - I rejoice in your success, and sympathise with you in your weariness and remain ever yours faithfully John B. GoughHillside June 2-1868- My Dear Friend Nellie has written me that she will spend a day on tour with you before coming here. I envy her such a visit. I had hoped to see you last March when I called on you since proposed a visit on the Saturday, but on Friday morning I found my "voice" fine and in consulting the doctor was told that only by keeping perfectly quiet could I recover I still keep quiet and I shall recover my voice by Monday and wenton. I was terribly disappointed but after all my loss was your gain for I fear I should have bored you I thank you heartily for all the kind things you say of me which came to my knowledge very very pleasantly. So my dear Friend will you give the enclosed to Nellie if she is with you if she has left please mail it to her- care of W H Dikeman 134 E 28 st New York, I am so glad she is coming here fresh from a visit to you please send messages by her to us here at Hillsvale, We all send dear love to you since a hearty well cordial invitation to our "umble ome" if you can endure the quiet come to us and be welcome I am writing note so impatient here at the door penning in his hurry to get in the mail, and if he only fulfils the promise he seems to be making he will convey this note rapidly to Worcester. I am home for the season very tired and half sick with kind regards to your Mother and Sister I am ever most truly Yours John B. GoughWorcester July 4 1874 My Dear Friend, Absence from home has prevented my replying to your letter. I assure you I was very glad to hear from you direct, and I am very sorry that the first favour you have asked of me, will be difficult to grant - When I left England 14 years ago I expected to keep up a steady correspondence with the friends I had gained there - but nearly all correspondence has ceased for the past 10 years and I hardly receive or sendA letter from or to England once a year. I have an intense disinclination for writing letters and do it only as a duty, and for the past 5 years I have suffered and am suffering more severely with salt rheum in the hands , which renders it difficult for me to write and often renders it impossible. These are the reasons why with so many friends, I must have dropped very much out of their remembrance, I wish I might be able to gratify you by doing something for you. I wish I could see you before you leave Your visit here is remembered very pleasurably by us all. Please excuse this delay in writing you and all other defects in non compliance with your wishes. We trust you will have a pleasant visit to the "old country" and come back laden with experiences that will be to you a source of enjoyment in the future. With kind regards from an [?] I am Must truly yours John B. Gough[*[GOUGH]*] Worcester July 14-1874 My Dear Friend Your letter came duly to hand. I do wish I could take a trip to the old country but I must bide my time I should very much like to see you at our home before you start. Please do try and come here 'tis but a short journey and we will try and make it pleasant. We could keep up a stirring game of conversation in diverse matters - I should be at home all next week, and probably the next after but that is notso certain; as I mean to try to take a week or two at Clifton Springs, to try to rid me of my salt rheum, and the neuralgia in my shoulder Oh me I am growing old - Come and see me and you will do us all good Mrs Gough joins me in kindest regards and cordial invitation - We have three neices at home, they would like to see you - The mechanical act of writing is so painful that you must excuse this poor scrawl from yours as ever most truly John B. Gough Please send wire by what train you will come and I will meet you. We are cool and breezy here.Hillside Worcester Mass My Dear Friend I have but time to say to you - Assuredly we do wish you to come to us, and if you had seen the brightening up of faces in our family circle when I told them you would come you would not doubt my word on that point - however much I may have deceived you in the matter of calling on you on my return &c &c all of which shall be fully and satisfactorilyexplained when you come. Now my dar Friend do not fail to gratify two of the warmest truest friends you have among the myriads of friends who love you - I allude to Mrs Gough and John B - to say nothing of others of our family who long to meet you Miss Nellie Mason &c. Can you not leave Swampscott by the early train so that you can leave Boston at 8.50 for Worcester where I will meet you at 10 A. M. and drive you out to meet a hearty welcome. The reason is you can be with us earlier in the day, and - I have to speak in Shrewsbury Thursday eveny - a sweet little village where we attend church. After the Lecture there is to be a supper, all our family servants and all about 20 mile go over and have a good time, at the supper I mean - and for a wonder, Mrs Gough will go with us - Now do please there's a good child, gratify us by coming Thursday morning Mrs Gough sends love, so does Miss Nellie whom you met at Jamestown, and so doI. I shall come in on Thursday to meet the 8.50 Express from Boston and shall be awfully disappointed if I do not find you there - If you cannot come at that time which I cannot allow please send me a Telegram to Worcester - If I do not hear from you I shall come in for you. We can settle all our little difficulties when we meet most faithfully and truly yours John B Gough