Misc. Married Couples Letters Collection

2005.0028.00299

Norwood August 13th, 1900

My dearest - After days of the most intense heat I have ever experienced in my life there was a slight let up last night, and today, though warm, is bearable. I am so thankful for thee that the heat has broken before thee returned to N.Y. I am waiting for a letter from thee today or tomorrow telling about Long Island - I rather feel that thee may have found some spot there on which we might live. It would be very pleasant to be near the water. Absolutely nothing going on down here - the heat has made movement impossible, and we have not dared put our hwads outside the house until after the sun was well down.

[Margin] My love for thee Margie

I have been so thankful that he is out of this heat. I really think it would have made him sick, but shall be so glad to have him home again. Dear little fellow. I suppose you two will travel down together, and then my cup will be full of happiness for a few weeks anyhow. Don't say any thing about it but Mrs. M. has the Italian bee in her bonnet for next year, and she will get there mark my words, dear; although she has said she will never leave Father again for so long, that will be forgotten, and you will see her tripping gayly off about next Apr. She is better today, has been really wretched

2005.0028.0031a

Norwood Aug. 14_th 1900.

My dearest, I am so disappointed at not getting a letter today that I could cry; I have been patient since Friday because I felt thee was in Long Island, and would not have time to write, but I did hope and count on a letter today. Is thee sick? is anything wrong. I certainly shall telegraph if I dont hear soon. Anxiety is so hard to bear when one has heat and other things along with it. I had a very satisfactory letter from Sister today - Jean is well and good, and very

hearty child. Oh! Milton as soon as we can get a little money together we msst get some place which is our own - any old shake down on Long Island, or the Maine Coast or any old place; just so it was ours and we were independent - I would not care what it was. Well it will all come right some day if we do our duty uncomplainingly and I am sure no one knows from either of us how keen the heartache and the pain of this life apart. I am like thee if I let go my hold on my self one instant, if I let myself think I could not stand it. Jeannot is a great comfort and joy to me - there go his little bare feet pattering through the hall this instant and here he comes up stairs to hunt "Momimie"[?] - he is never long content away from me. Here he is with a handful of pea pods

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which he is turning into butterflies. He seems to have a great deal more imagination than he used to - now the butterflies have been torn asunder & he has a fleet of boats which he is happily sailing on the "Sea of Sceau[?]".

He likes play things of his own devising. Mrs. Wright brought him such a lovely book on birds with excellent plates & simple, comprehensible reading matter. We study it together, and then hunt all about the lawn for nests and birds to illustrate

We had a real tragedy lately amongst our bird friends - a little song sparrow down in the strawberry patch laid her five eggs, and set on them and when they hatched the big black ants got in the nest and literally devoured the young birds: I did not know that such cannibalism obtained in the insect world.

than he used to. [Apire?] took him out for the whole afternoon lately - let him paddle and have a royal good time. The little fellow is so tired when night comes, that he just drops off to sleep like an angel. 10 hours is his allowance, and mine is not much less. 8.30 was my bed time last night though I am not usually so dreadful. I do want thee to get out of the city as much as thee can this Summer, and perhaps the Slide Mountain scheme might be very pleasant. Thee must paint some just for the love of painting without any ulterior motive. I believe there are some lovily, lonely & paintable spots to be found on Long Island. What sort and manner of "lover" is Ned, I can not even imagine him loving anyone so well as himself - what a really horrid thing for me to