Anne Dickinson General Correspondence Warner, Susan, George, and Lillian 1864-81 and undatedHartford. August 14. '64. My dear Anna. Your letter was a blessed little surprise & made me very happy. I had long been wishing I could hear from you, & had often asked the Hookers if any letter had come to them never supposing I could have one all myself! And you are alive, & well, and don't forget me, and wish me sweet wishes, and think of the soft Sunday grass of last summer. Good, very good. When you were here in the Spring we were to meet again so soon, & now summer is almost gone! I am disappointed, & don't like to have it so, & we must'nt let things go on so much longer. I suspect there is going to be a wedding here before long. In fact I know pretty decidedly that there is to be one, but it doesn't seem at all as if I were to be a 'party' to it. Perhaps it is to beMary Hookers, or somebody else's - but no matter. You must come & find out. I think it will be about the 20th of September, or some bright morning very near that time. You shall know precisely in season to come. And you will come, won't you? I want to ask you to come here to our house, but it has got to be so full of cousins & aunts that I know I can't. But you always have a home just across the street, & so you won't care. Frankie is married, you know. The wedding was on Monday the 18th of July, I believe, and was a quite unique affair. She has sent home a long description of it & of all her life there, which it will be my turn soon to read, I hope. She is very well & happy. All her letter is aglow with happiness, & I hope & trust it is going to last, & all her separations & troubles are over for a long while to come. Eugene stood by her during the marriage ceremony, & Gen. Birney gave away the bride. We have just heard of the removal of Gen. Birney, probably to the Army of the Potomac, so of course Eugene will have to go too. The Hookers are all at Guilford, but the girls are coming home tomorrow, & Aunt Belle next week I believe. You know what a hard summer she has had - no, you can't know how changed - she is - thin & feeble & often deeply depressed. It has been very sad to see her so, but now she is certainly gaining, I hear, & I do hope will gain strength faster as the cool weather comes on. Charley & Susy went away the middle of July, to deliver an oration (Charley) at Hamilton college, & afterwards visit in Syracuse & about. Charley has been home a week now, & Susy will stay till next week probably. You see the Nook is quite deserted - Mother has been away for a week too, but is coming tomorrow. I hope Miss Dodge will be at mywedding & then if you come you will at last meet each other. Aren't you going to the White Mts or anywhere this year. so that you could stop & see me on the way? How I wish you would, - & I don't see how you can stand Phila this month. I want to see you, & talk with you good & long. I can't wait. The grass is as soft & cool as ever, & the trees wave just as musically up overhead, & Undine sings the same song close by. I am as busy as I can be all these days, or I should have written you before. But it is that sort of work which doesn't cut off one's thinking, and I find myself thinking of you, Anna dear, very often. Are you coming to Cincinnati next winter? Maybe we shall have a little house of our own, after all, & then you must surely come. How glad i should be to have you for my own guest, & so would your host also. Now I must say goodbye - & you will come soon, won't you? I must have you that time. Ever you lovingly. Lilly GHartford, July 17th '65. Tuesday. Dear Anna- I am here again, blessed old place. and I can't possibly go back without seeing you. Do come right away, & give me a good part of your visit. I just long to see you. When I do, I'll tell you how I've been on the point of writing you for nearly five months, & how disappointed I was that you didn't come to Cincinnati in April as you promised. George is coming Early in August - but you come quick for we're all of us ready to see you, & the Hookers are going away, so they can't gobble you right up. We'll sleep together, & I promise not to make you talk all night. Dear Anna- poor foot- I'm so sorry. Goodbye. Do you know how much nearer& dearer you have been to me since that little last visit than ever before? I couldn't possibly tell you how much so. Father & Mother will be delighted to see you. Ever yours, Lilly-Hartford, Jan. 16th 1868. My dear Anna. I am going to write you a little note even at so late a day as this, to tell you that I have never once forgotten you, and that I have thought of you especially since the news of your sorrow came to us. With this dear little hindering baby I can't write much or do anything as promptly as I could once. You can think how it is can't you? We have heard nothing except what the papers brought us - that a brother of yours had gone. I suppose it must be that dear brother, who you were telling us in the Fall, was so ill that you feared he could not live till the Spring. And so I think of you,dear Anna, as having been though that deep, wonderful experience that changes the whole world so to us for ever after. And it brings the other world so much nearer making it seem so really home. I have two brothers there and a little sister too, and each new one that goes brings it nearer and nearer. I want to hear from you, oh, so much - to have you tell me about it all. It seems such a long, long time since you have been here, and hearing nothing from you in so long is too bad. You were very near us once or twice too. Charley & Lucy are really going to Europe in April, and you will surely come to see them once more. Their particular friend Miss Louise Buckwell is going with them to spend the year, and they are full of the most delightful plans. And now Uncle John & Aunt Belle are talking of going too. Mary & Eugene are to go to housekeeping in Charley's cottage and last but not least we, George & the baby & I all going I have our own little home down in the cottage where Mr. Simone lived. They are improving it for us, and it is going to be a dear little cozy home, and then you will come and visit us next summer I hope and believe. We are all well - even Grandma who you may not know, was so sick in the Fall that we lost all hope of her ever getting well. Father & Mother were in Iowa, at the time, visiting Edward & Sophie. Our baby is almost eight months old now, - quite old enough for you I think, a great laughing happy boy in short dresses & a delight to us all.Father has grand frolics with him He fills my heart fuller every day - and yet he fills no place in it but his own - will you believe that, Anna? I have so much to say to you - but I must wait till I see you. This is nothing of a letter, but will tell you that I long more than ever to see you. I wish I could tell you more & better, of what has been in my heart for you since your brother died. Will you not write me - or some of us. very soon? I don't know where you are, but this will be sent to you. God bless you always. With my warmest love, & George's too, ever yours, Lilly 10 o'clock Thursday Evening. Since writing you I have been over to the Hookers, where Aunt Belle gave me a letter she had just received from your sister Sue. It is such a long, beautiful letter, and now I know how blessedly your dear brother died. Oh, Anna, it was heavenly and you must all have been so lifted up. But you must miss his sweet presence among you so dreadfully. My heart aches for you all but especially for his poor wife. Oh, if her precious little baby might only have been spared to comfort her! How utterly bereft she must feel. I shall so want to hear if her brother lives and she is spared still another sorrow. I have never yet seen your lovely mother, but I want to send my love to her and my tender sympathy. I can think a good deal more nearly than I could before my darling baby came, what she has been though. And you, Anna dear, I know howfull your dear great heart is and my heart is full of tenderness for you that I cannot express. I hope it will be pretty, soon that I see you, and not very long before I know your mother & sister too. Father & Mother send you their warm love and deepest sympathy you & all and are thankful, with me, to your sister for writing so fully. Goodnight again and be careful of yourself Anna. I am afraid you are working too hard, as you are so apt to do. LillyHartford. June 5th '68. Miss Anna E. Dickinson, 1710 Locust St. Phila The Undersigned respectfully wishes to announce to you that she has never yet, to her knowledge, departed this life, or dropped Miss A.E.D. out of her memory either - that she still resides at Nook Farm, Hartford, Ct, and is just about settling down with her husband (George) & baby, (Frank) ((a splendid yearling now by the way.)) in a small cottage in the neighborhood, where she will receive said A.E.D. with open arms, (as also will the husband & boy) if it be her pleasure, this summer. and until which time she willbe open to any messages which said Anna may chance to send in any of her letters to anybody - (as she has been for the space of about a year to be repeatedly disappointed, oh, unfaithful heart!) Her husband (the baby Elder) is expected to return from Europe next week, when he would unite with me in any intimations I may have conveyed in this note that We don't like it a bit. Lilly Gillette Warner Did you ever receive a letter from me last Winter? I suppose not.Anna E. DickinsonHartford. Oct 2 1868. Wednesday My dear Anna. We can't come. it is really impossible. The baby is nicely weaned and just as well as he can be, but we are having company this whole month. A friend of ours from Dunkirk has just left us, and now we are expecting Carrie Brown of Cincinnati to come any day. She is on visiting her mother in New Haven, and as she returns home early in November, her visit can't be put off. But you know how dearly we should love to come and I am going to hope yet for the good time. How the time is almost here for your little visit - when will it ever be a good long one again? - and you will please not forget that you haveus - George and me - one night of it. I like your book exceedingly - it must do good. The story filled my heart. I was distressed for poor Francesca when I saw what fate was coming to her husband - what would become of her left so alone, but when I read on and found that she was taken with him, I could have shouted aloud for joy. Yes Anna, you have written a real story, and I don't see how any living being can read it and not be moved to his deepest depths for that race so terribly wronged. And now how near the great day is that is to decide so much. But how can we have a doubt or fear! Whenever I hear election day spoken of, I think at once of that poor girl we talked of when you were here. I don't know how much you know, as I will tell you what we do. She was here about two weeks ago, according to the plan George had proposed - that she should meet her persistent lover, and tell him everything, & propose to postpone the marriage a year - or six months - till she had had time to grow cool & calm & see what she really wanted. The evening after the meeting had taken place, she sent for George to come & see her, & told him everything. He found her in a dreadful state of mind. She had told her lover every feeling she had, & he said well, it would better be put off then - but unfortunately, her sister came up with him, and when she came into the room & found how things stood, she cried & took on so that at last they both said they would be married & have done with it - & so it ended. She wrung her hands as she talked with George, & seemed half crazy -said she loathed the thought of the marriage, & that she hoped with all her soul she could never cease to feel as she did now toward that other - (wretch or something. I don't know what to call him. I am so out of patience with him-) that her worst fear was that she might. And so the day draws on that is to seal her misery - & certainly that of the misguided man she marries. I declare Anna, the thing seems more & more horrible to me. I am sure I should kill myself were I in her place. Now I must go - come as soon as you can - In great haste Ever yours lovingly Lilly W. (Right here, the boy, (who walks now) ran up to me & grabbed my pen - & did that blot - his message to youHartford. June 13. 1869. My dear Anna. If you only wouldn't keep away from your own wedding always it wouldn't be so much matter about those of other people. But it is funny how you do contrive to escape everything of the sort first mine then Aunt Belle's Silver one- then Mary's, & now Alice's! We [*to you. Salute the big mountains for me & tell them I am coming too some day. We send our dear love to you. Ever yours, Lilly W.*]are all so disappointed, & Charley & Lucy will be, when they come & find how nearly they saw you. We expect them on Tuesday, & George goes down to meet them, tomorrow. I had set my heart on this visit from you when we were all together. I just put it down on your programme for the very first moment you have to spare for anybody outside of home after you come back. We all think you are going to have a grand time, & that it will do you ever so much good. What a chapter of adventures this trip will add to your life! I think I hear you speak in the presence of Brigham! That would be a joke indeed. But wouldn't it be fun! When are you coming home? Let us hear from you as often as possible. Oh dear, I had ever so much to say to you & talk about, this time. Nelly Mason is in town on a long visit at the Goulds, and is distressed that you are'nt coming. Now that I have seen her, Ishould think you would be glad you are not. I don't want to be unjust or unkind or anything - but - well, she is going back to spend a season with that man, writing up his lectures & things! I can't have any patience. Alice's wedding is going to be a tremendous affair. They are all tired out & will hardly breathe till it is over I should judge. Still they wouldn't have it any smaller or simpler, if they could go back. Poor Alice is thin & pale but she will brighten up by & by I expect. Robert Allen will be here. Now Anna Goodbye. The best & most prosperous of journeysHartford Nov. 14. 1870. My dear Anna I don't know as you expect to come here. You are such an awful sinner that you never do what you promise, but if you go any where else, remember it is at your peril! Remember Lot's wife! - As ever Your's faithfully Susan L. WarnerDec. 27, 1870. My dearest Anna, What a jumble Charley has made of the lovely box full of things that came tonight. He knows better, the rascal. We were all perfectly charmed with the beautiful things and surprized beyond measure at yr thought of us at this time. Such an exquisitely dainty handkerchief. Anna Sweet, & the little cunning [*daughters. I wish we might get another glimpse of you this winter. Come right here, won't you.? - Again your own loving friend Susy L. W.than no time & in two hours the whole thing was destroyed. The neighbors worked well & did any thing possible & did manage to get a good deal out of the house. Mary saved most of her clothing, tho' all her party dresses were burned & her jewelry & most of her trinkets, but her parlor & dining room furniture, pictures & a good many of her wedding presents, books, &c, were totally destroyed. They have a pretty good insurance but no money can restore sentimental & association over this dear household goods. They were fortunate [*Susie Cowles lost every bit of clothing and personal property except what she had on.*] nippers to hold it by & tho wonderfully rich white such tis that your sister Susie sent with her love. How sweet & dear of you all to remember us so, when you must have so many other friends to whom to send Christmas greeting. It would have been a week full of joy & great content but for this dreadful burning of Mary's house. The fire broke out about 9 this morning, & the house was so dry & later a tinder box that it blazed ahoy like fury in less in having their own mothers house to go right into. They are now established in the room over the bay - window and apparently jolly. The excitement has not passed off yet. I tell you it was a breaking of heart strings for us to see the dear little cottage go. We are so glad to have the picture of our Anna, only we don't feel that it quite does her justice do you? & very good night, Sweet. Out hearts full of love & thanks for you & Susie & to your dear mother for having such[*Little Georgy Warner has only a corner it seems, in which to say grace oven his Christmas pie. Lilly gave me the letter to mail and said she had left room. Well I know she was so happy she couldn't. Thank you, dear old Prophetess, and look out for me at the next party! with love ever.*] Hartford. Dec. 28th 70. My dear Anna, Last evening George & I were sitting in this small parlor of ours, by the fire, when in came Charley & Lucy with "some Christmas things from Anna." What a surprise, & what could they be. The biggest first, & that was to me - & it was [at] unwrapped in quick time, & found to be, lovely. I never saw anything like it before. I was delighted. Then George went at his little package, that dear little flowery box - &I don't think he was ever quite so pleased with anything before But he will tell you all about that, & how we all admired them. Then Charley threw another package into my lap, which at last I got it into my head was for me also. Oh Anna - two things - I was provoked at you - but so happily & lovingly provoked when I found it was a Roman scarf, a thing I never had before, except a little speck of a narrow one. Dear good Anna, to think of us two, - that is the best of all. It keeps coming over me & making me happy - when you had so many to think of. [*my love to your dear Mother and Sue & you - Edw George*] George came home with glowing accounts of his evening with your sister Sue & Miss Hamlin. I was so glad he could see your mother & sister & your home too. I am sure it will be my turn next. I have seen Miss Hamlin but never to get in the least acquainted, though I used to wish I could. Anna, I don't bark any more. If you will come now I will sleep with you with a good throat, & have even a better time than I did then, if possible, in consequence I find myself thinking over that story again & again.Fascinating little story! Mournful little story! Oh Anna- Lucy has just written you I know, & of course told you about the end of the little cottage - how it stands a dreary blackened ruin today. It is about as bad as it could be most of the furniture & silver, all the books, & pictures & all the keepsakes gone. Poor Susy Charles has lost everything. But they do bear it beautifully. I should like to have some idea where you are, but this letter will find you somewhere. Come again as soon as you can, dear girl. Thank you over & over for the lovely things & for thinking of us --Ever yours, Lilly W.Hartford June 5. 1871 My dear Anna: I find missed seeing you at Chicago, the first of May. But that was there & not here, where there is nobody at home save me. Lilly & Susy went off to Charlemont Mass. a week ago, and Charley went to the White Mts. this morning with the Rev. Joe and Parker, for a week or so. But, this isn't what I was going to say either, for you will find that all out when you comehere, as you will before long and see Charley's garden and my garçon. But, I have got a troublesome and bad throat (probably from much speaking) and I want to know what the name is of that showering concern you used, because, if it is a good one, I am resolved to try it, and if it is not I will try some other. But, and, I won't bother you any more if you will just write it on this little note and send it back to me. But, I will be ever yours George. — in the midst of the faithful "Ceruleans."Hartford. July 24th 1871. Monday P.M. My dear Anna, Two letters did come from you, last winter & spring, and I was glad, & did mean to answer them - I did - I did. But I wasn't in my best health, & every day seemed either full enough, or too full, without any letter-writing at all, scarcely. So I was bad to you, & bad to everybody, but I know it will be all right with you if you know I thought of you just the same. You see, my dear girl, somebody [*destined never to see. But give her my love, & your lovely mother too, notwithstanding. Goodbye dear girl - & come when you can, & stay long - Ever Yours Lilly G.W.*]a little somebody is coming in September, and remembering the little somebodies before that never came, to stay, I have had to be very quiet & careful. This is the particularly trying time, so I am especially careful, keeping my room a good deal & coming down stairs only once a day if possible For this I am favored in every way having a wonderfully capable woman with me as housekeeper, & to look after Frank, & the weather is cool & delightful. I am very well & enjoying every day and the time will soon be here - only five or six weeks more. If you hear then that we have a girl, you may think of us as very happy people & if it is a boy as - about as happy! Have I your loving sympathy, my dear friend or can't you understand how we want the dear little creature? And now you are sick - or not well. Charley says. I am so sorry You must not be sick so much. It will not do. We were looking for you here. George said, every few days. strange we do not hear from Anna - she said she was coming. Now Charley & Sue are going to the mountains next Monday for four weeks. So I suppose you will have to wait & then perhaps make only one of those flying visits. I wish that new house ofours were on terra firma as well as paper - but wait a year & my visit shall come. This little domicile is crowded and must be the rest of the time we stay in it. I want to see you - I want to sleep with you and have another good talk. You have my heart more than ever since that last night. But how I did have to bark! George is in the White Mts. with my brother Willy having a delightful trip with a good deal of walking in it & a knapsack on his back - am I clear? He would be putting in his love to you & that sister of yours he thinks so much of - whom I think I am Hartford Sep 26. 1871 Tuesday My dear Anna, Lilly is completely happy in her little Sylvia who came into this good world this morning; and your dear good heart will be glad that Lilly is, so far, in great comfort. I saw, or heard of your little note to her the other day and that prompted me to write you the good news. My love to your sister, and thy mother, and to thou. Ever yours George H. WarnerYou dear, naughty Anna, Did'nt I tell you the other night that you never could retire on a competency 'till You stopped lavishing upon your friends, & now you have been & gone and done it again - We can't help scolding you, tho' the things wereare coming so soon again. Mrs. H. is with us this week, & we are enjoying her very much. She is very gentle & happy - content to let her hobbies rest for a while. They have not breathed to her that You are coming again. Do drop us a line if possible to tell us what day you will be lovely & charming, just as they always are & we thank you heaps for them - Charley is satisfied with the kitchen & so are we all. It does you some justice, but the other - bah! What a good little visit we had from you Anna Sweet, & how splendid it is youhere. Sister sends love & many thanks for the pretty monchair Ever & always Your faithful Sue L.W. Nook Farm - Dec 28, 71 [*I do like this picture and it looks a good deal like you too. We have put it on the table where it is thus admired of all callers. It is an artistic picture. When people ask, what actress is that? I reply Charlotte Cushman. When you come here, pretty soon, I will explain my feelings. Aff. Chas D. Warner*] Home. May 8, 72 My dearest Anna, We are at home now & will be until the last week in June, when Charley goes to his old Alma Mater to make a speech, & perhaps I may go with him. We will bebut we have two open rooms now & you need never fear of putting us out in any way. Only write us when to expect you - Summer has burst upon us at last & we are in the disgraceful state of no clothes. away as much or so. After this we expect to be at home till the 1st August & then away to the Mts. for a month,. Come my [next] dear, whenever & however it suits your plans. We expect other friends more or less, but I don't know just when As ever Yours in greatest haste. Sue L. W. Cheney joins me in everything. love to your Mother & Sister.September 28, 72 Nook Farm My dearest Anna, I have made all the expedition possible in making the enquiries you desire & much to my chagrin, my love, I have to tell you that owing to the past as many of the prominent members of our "Unions" being of the highly conservativeentertainments of the sort that will employ home talent will draw better than anything else. I am so disappointed, my dearest Anna that I don't suppose you care a pin. But remember you promised to give us a visit by then hook or crook, & you may conservative order, our good President does not take upon himself the responsibility of inviting you. You see they are so deadly afraid of Suffrage or anything that might possibly lean that way. I said your lecture this winter would have no such tendency. Yet they seem to feel thatsure of not being inveigled again into any rencontre of such a disagreable nature as when you were here the other day. I was indignant enough to have exploded & wish now that I had. I have had no complaisance in her since. Charley waits - so bye bye. with lots of love from yours ever faithful Sue L.W.My dearest Anna, I was on the point of writing you when I received your little note. I wanted to blow you up for not coming to see us after your Spring field lecture, so I [feel] am sure there were otherYes, we did have a glorious election, in spite of you & Eugene & a few others. It is a shame to mention the aforesaid in the same sentence with you, but he was a Gurley & Eaton man as one might have expected. He is more contemptible than ever & I imagine in spite of his 'make up' with Mrs. H. he has made her very unhappy. I could tell you neighborhood places where from you might have come to us - Don't ever pass us by when you can possibly help it - promise me this - We don't write dear child because we live in such a work-a-day world & every minute is so crammed full.volumes about her if I had time, [but] & you saw only one of us around the fire. Her conduct has been most extraordinary since this late development. She upholds that friend just as she has always done, tally up the great beauty of her character &c & evidently illumines the whole of that B. T. acceded. Don't think we permit her to talk to us but some notes have passed between us, the result of which is that she is in Country. We felt the time had come for us to express an utter denunciation of her theories & we told her that we could not keep up any intimate relations with her. Of course she feels that she is a martyr of the first water & I must say I do pity her from the bottom of my soul. I sometimes feel that she will end only in a mad-house. She is at least unhinged. There canbe no other way of accounting for it. What a comfort that these women are in jail. To turn to something pleasanter - the dear MacDonalds'. Did'nt we go to the reception at Dr. H's & did'nt we have a royal time - Of course we met all sorts of charming people. Mrs. Runkle amng others with whom I fell in love. What a rare, beautiful soul she is - so true & genuine. & how warmly she spoke of us - but the MacD's - We scarcely saw them that evening, but my dear we have had a visit from them. & I am 'clear gone' over them. - They are just as dear & delightful as they can be. He is great & his wife is in most wonderful sympathy with him. His lecture on Burns was a great success here. Oh, we have lots to tell you about everything.Anna love, when can you come & make us a visit. I am afraid Charley will feel the Boston fires a good deal - I suppose most of his plates are burnt up. tho' I suppose it is selfish to speak of it. He is well & pegging away for dear life - he will write you as soon as he can. Ever ma chèrie Your own Sue L. W. Nov. 2[2]1 "72My dearest Anna, At it again, you naughty girl. You can never let the blessed Christmas pass without showing your thought of us & dear love.. & we thank your Sweet, only you ought to have let yourself to forget us this time. The scarfof a small addition to the Warner family. Another girl, & her mothers heart is glad beyond expression. This house is growing finely, they will get in in April I suppose. Mr. H & May have returned from Europe - The 'scandal" of course they believe as does Mrs H. [of] we have had times here I can tell you, & it does & bow an after your own gorgeous fancy, & are beautiful indeed. And the lovely drinking glass shall drink many a good health to thee love. Do come & bring your own self when you can make it with your plans. We want you ever & always. Lilly had a Christmas present[?] as if Mrs H. must go by the board. She is part hope- Good bye, Chérie, ever & ever so much love to you- Come as soon as you can. & believe me always yours faithful S.L.W. Hartford. Dec. 27. "72 New York. March 8. "73 My dearest Anna. Nellie Hutchinson tells me that you have decided to go on to the stage. Is it true my love? Ah, what a fall was that my country woman'! Of course whatever you decide[d] to do you shall be wished- God speed. but Anna ma chérie, it does seem a [*bye-bye- Sweet. Ever your tender & true. S.L.W. *]success in every way, & you are such a power in the world though yourself, so much now it seems me then you can too in any assumed character. Well - the 'little maid will have her way' & then no use preaching. Any way God bless you- I have been in New York for nearly two weeks having a grand time. descent from your grand position. I cannot bear to hear you made [the] a target, subject to the caprices of a merciless public. Do tell us about it-Why hav'nt you before, you naughty girl. Come to us & let us discuss over the fire. We do love you so dearly & we have so at heart your successengagements every day & night--almost, leaving my respected 'sposa' dozing away at home. Dear old boy, he has been so good & unselfish, urging me to stay & have a good time. I am going back today. Visiting Lowell tempt me to stay longer from him. You must plan for a visit to us this summer or before, or whenever you can come. Mrs. H. is perfectly quiet these days. - pretty broken-hearted I fancy - I do pity her. that told of people there are to pity now-adays. Think of the Credit Mobilier -My own dear Anna Yours of the 30th just received. Come to us whenever you can, the sooner the better. A house-full leaves today, & now we are free till the 19th when we leave for a week or two , tripover when you come. (How is this for an item?) Please remember me to Mrs. Bullard. As ever my beloved girl, yours in desperate haste- SmL. W. Monday. June 2. 73. to N.Y. Ithaca, Elmyra &c, &c- after that, home again till August, when I suppose we shall go tenting on the old camp ground. -- So come to us now, right away if you can, or any time before the 19. Stages, platforms & things we will talk Interesting Matrimonial Item [From the Missouri Republican of 'Wednesday morning.] Miss Anna Dickinson, as we learn from a reliable pair of lips, is to be married, to-day, to Senator Allison of Iowa.Hartford April 16 1874 My Dear Anna "her health has failed of late and she is going to pass the summer abroad" says the newspaper. And notwithstanding your determined staying away from us, I want to know about you: for we (that means me too) love you, and Lilly wants you to see the children three, and the new houseee, and I think of you often, & wonder how you fare - write a word on the back of this, you busy girl & let us know. Ever Yours Geo.H.WarnerHartford. May 5th 1874. Tuesday Morning. My dear Anna. I can't have you go out of the country without one word from me. How many times I have meant to write you these two year since you were here I am afraid you never will know. But I do want you to know how often I have thought of you, and tried to find out something of somebody or other about you - and occasionally, as I have read of your lecturing somewhere in our region, have been full of such a strong hope that now we were going to see you here again. But you never came, and now you are all worn out and going away to try to get well. [*see you, I hope, in New York, but I suppose it isn't perfectly certain. Don't travel too fast & see too hard rest all along & as you will get well. God bless you dear girl. Ever yours Lilly W.*]I am more sorry than I can tell you, and I can sympathise with you too, somewhat, for I am not my old self either, these days, but a good deal used-up and head- &neck- achy, and good- for- nothing. We came into this lovely new house of ours- (it is so sunny and has such pleasant views I must call it lovely "though it be I as shouldn't") just a year ago, and it was a rather hard summer, with the settling, & company & whooping cough, and the baby only a little nursing one - and I thought I could do more than I could and all winter I have rather 'paid' for it. But rest & laziness are all I need, and I am acquiring the power to be lazy very fast, so I shall not be such a poor stick long, I hope. Isn't it the hardest lesson in the world to learn, that the strongest & best of us (you & I for instance) are only human, like everybody else, -that no matter how [strong] willing the spirit, the flesh, at best, is weak. You were doing too noble a work to be laid by, but I hope & trust you will come back to it fresh & strong before long. And to us too - we love you too much to have it right that so a long a time goes by without seeing you. When you come back you will come right here, won't you dear Anna? Don't put us off any longer than just to see the home- folks a few days. You will have a beautiful time in Europe I hope. it is only what you ought to have done before, instead of working so hard. I wish youcould go to our countries up north. Our life of four months in Copenhagen made us love the old city for life- & then Norway would go to your heart of hearts. But you will probably have too much else to do. Sometime, before two year more, I hope you can come and make us (George & me) a visit - long enough to lie on the grass under the trees, - our trees now. And long enough too to get just a little bit acquainted with these three little people who hold such a big place in our hearts & life. I have an idea that you never heard of little Margaret, who came a year ago last Christmas - about five months after you were here with me at the little old cottage. I wasn't expecting her then, in the least, or perhaps I should have told you - but she was very welcome & is a darling. Now goodbye, with all my warmest wishes & many prayers. George willForeign Exchange--Ocean Steamship and Railroad Tickets--Lands for sale to Settlers and Colonies. The American Emigrant Company Offices: Office of the Company, Hartford, Ct., May 12 1874 No. 6 Bowling Green, New York, -187_ No. 75 West Kinzie St., Chicago, _ 187_ Land Office, Des Moines, Iowa, _ 187 _ Dear Anna Will report about Bliss in a day or two. Perkins has it in Charge. Yes & yes to all you ask about in your letter. Lilly got your telgm about the time I was cooling my heels on the White Star docks Saturday [*I was in N.Y. on business.*] Never mind. I saw the British flag, and the happy girls going out to sea under it, and wished I was a happy girl once more. We shall be full of happiness when your come under our roof, if you are happy to do it. Ever Your George.Geo P. Bemis W. H. Merrill Miss Hattie G. West-side V.6. Ch'cago Foreign Exchange--Ocean Steamship and Railroad Tickets--Lands for sale to Settlers and Colonies. The American Emigrant Company Offices: Office of the Company, Hartford, Ct., May 29 1874 No. 6 Bowling Green, New York, -187_ No. 75 West Kinzie St., Chicago, _ 187_ Land Office, Des Moines, Iowa, _ 187 _ My dear Anna Your letter of May 27 has just come this noon. Please give me a correct address so that if I am in Phila I can find you. This is a new one - In about ten days I shall be on the way to Chicago & Iowa & am going to try to stop over a train & see you so as not to miss your altogether. Will that suit you? We thought you would come and see us & Lilly wrote you to. It would be good to have you again before everybody & everything breaks up. About the book - I'll with pleasure give you my wisdom, which is first, that you has better come here & do it yourself with Perkins & 2dthat Perkins is wise and as good a person as you could have if you don't. & 3rd so far as I can hear Bliss makes greater tales than any other publisher & The Gilded edge has sold over 50,000 copies. C.D.W. has made money enough to dress up with, & pay some of his debts. Mark is spending a great pile of money in his new house. So you get any nearer gone to Europe? My love to your Mama, and my other friend & friendly Sue.. Ever your George I will be glad to see the letter about Bliss - don't understand the above to mean that I wouldn't. & you are always in the good books - Don't you put me in you bad book about travel. Geo.Hartford Sep 2 1874 My dear Anna Your little note of the 14th came to me at Keene, but I have brought it home to answer. We came yesterday - all well; and all happy to see the grove again. Lilly has got much benefit from the two months stay, and the little folks are as sweet and brown as nuts: I am better than for a long time. We are nearly ready for that visit from you. Can you not come before Charley & Sue go to Europe - 8th to 10th Oct. ? I have no land business in Chicago, but if you have not already put it in any ones hands for sale I could interest some of my good friends there about it. Any way let me have the "descriptions" , I may know some thing about it, and will certainly look into it on my next visit.this Fall. Give size of lots, and if any buildings are on them, as well as legal description I shall be more happy if I succeed in lifting at all. Give our love to your dear Mather that is mother - and to you too Ever yours (not always in haste) George W.New York April 10 1877 My dear Anna: I heard your cry last night and lingered about your hotel with a great desire to speak with you, but will doubt if I could say a word in your help I went away. I would rather you had made no sign, but it is well for others of your sex and mine that you did. The mere opinion of a single individual becomes in the columns of a newspaper a terrible power. It is the single individual, but it seems the voice of thousands. It is the power of the priesthood repeated Like that it will not last forever but meantime what brutal cruelty! Perhaps in the next years your work will be, not the inculcation of a few moral ornoble sentimnts on the stage, but in the providence of events this [battle and] warfare. It seems to be true that the only destiny of true souls is, to be spent without recompense. It seems to be true that the only crown which endures is the-- Crown of Thorns. I count it a great blessing to have known you, not as in years of light triumphs, but in days when you may gaze steadfastly up into heaven Ever yours, Geo. H. Warner.Hartford Jany 8 1881 My dear Anna. Your letter of yesterday is just here. I am busy trying to settle accounts for the good year 1880- and I love you as ever. If you had not alluded to Fanny D. I should not tell you the following about which I know just this and no more. Will G. is at Madison Square Theatre employed in the office while waiting for Hazel Kirke to expire. Last Wednesday night he said he had a long stay on hand which he wanted to talk about: Bernard is advance agentof the travelling Hazel Kirke Troope. He has talked freely to Will about your refusing to see him (he has no idea why) and that he enjoined Fanny D from paying you (some $600). Will says it is useless for him to beat his brain any longer to try to understand it. I don't want you to tell me. But cannot you avoid a law suit and a good many disagreeable things by finding out the facts as the other side look at them - or rather what they think are facts. of course you think you an in possession of them. But I am learning year by year that I can be mistaken as easily as not. Possibly you can too If there is any clue to your "1000 dollars" in this I will be glad. You can depend absolutely on Will if you choose use him. Bernard thinks somebody has lied to you about him, Will says. We are all well - Mrs Gillette will be in Phila next week at L'eut Hookers Ever yours George"Continental" Phila, 1.10.81 Dear George, When I hear of your dismissal of a servant who has through years systematically robbed from & wronged you, Who, thereupon proceeds to malign, torment & lie about you, I will not write to ask you whether there are "two sides to the question" Also you know very little of the Law nature if you have yet to learn. that its method of warfare is the sinuous & plausible, & not the open & brutal. Love to Lily - Always faithfully A. D Jan 20 Dear Miss Dickinson Mr. Adams of Fall River asks if you can remain over Wednesday eveg the 7th at F.R. to attend a general Mass meeting in honor of Freedom of the Proclamation provided it is determined to have one. Please leave word [in th] in a note for Mr. Adams, on my desk, if you can. - Mr. A. leaves a ticket for you, which I enclose, to use next Tuesday, He says do not depend on the steamboat train at 5 o'clock - S. M. WI'd offer them this hand of mine if I c'd have those hers- but take my glove C. D. W.-- 6 a.m. Monday Evening. My dear Anna. Aunt Belle gave me this notice of Mrs. Stowe's to read & copy for the Courant, as it was hastily written & also we thought you might like to read it in the original. It will be published in a day or two & then a member of the papers will be sent you. We are so glad for you in the pleasure Mrs. Stowe's words will give you. Father & Mother feel badly not to have seen you, but I told them you couldn't keep it & were coming again soon. George has gone into town to call on Miss Mason tonight. There may not be any special talk between them, but it seems as if there must. Poor girl - I can't help thinking of hera good deal of the time. The more I think of her the more I feel as if I must lay hold of her & get her away- anywhere away from such a life as she is living. Why could'nt she have taken the step herself, long ago, & saved so much misery for herself & others! I can understand & feel for all her intensity of feeling - but not such weakness. I am so glad you are coming again, & to us part of the time. I only began to see you now- Ever Yours, Lilly W. My Dear Miss Dickinson "The Lecturer" Presuming that somebody has written a great many complimentary things about your lecture Tuesday evening, and that you will wish to read them, I send the enclosed letter, which was in our box this morning. Being detained by business yesterday morning I did not say good bye, as I promised myself the pleasure of doing to Miss Dickinson not the Lecturer, but do so now; hoping the insatiate public w'd spare her for the visit to Nook Farm next Summer & that "I may be there to see". Yours Truly Geo. H. Warner