ENPages
[2-5-1871]
5
I have just finished a long letter to Tim and a short one to Mary Lewis telling her I shall visit her on Wednesday. - and I must take a little recess and write to thee. "I love thee." I love thee, love thee".
Evening - And then I wrote to James and to father, helped get supper, eat and clear it away, and now have just finished "Little Women." They all like it very much. - and it is a capital story. I shall stay with Mary L. till Thursday morning and then start for home if the weather is not too bad. It is very cold now and yesterday there was a terrible wind, and ten degrees below zero made it most cutting. Mary and I had a most miserable time at Mrs. Marvins. I think I finished my last letter when she was spanking the baby, a little over 2 yrs old. After an awful application of her big hand she came into the room and got a raw hide and struck him as many as twenty blows Ive thought. It seemed as though we should burst and I could hardly refrain from knocking her down. What she would have done, I cannot tell, if we had not interferred and told her it was not right to whip so young a child, in such a way. It as brutal. She took no pains to make our stay pleasant and
we were pretty glad when Howard came for us the next day. - I'll tell thee more particulars when I see thee. I could overlook everything but that terrible whipping - The child had done nothing but was tired and fussy and needed to go to sleep. And her whipping him did no good for he fussed a deal more than before till Mr. M. came in and quieted him with a little kind talk. It was outrageous!! I've given her over. On our way back we called on Tempic who looked smiling and bright as ever. I fear there is some sad trouble there, but hope not. We stopped at Toms. Mary went home next morning and Tom brought me here last night. Friday night I slept alone and after I was snug in bed I reread thy precious letters, so good and loving I could not help a few happy tears as there was no one by to see them. - I looked over Dorean's Harper's and Leslies' [Ill.?] She has as many as 500 I judged, and among them are some I know thee would like to see very much. Thank thee, very much for the Almanac, but what a poor one it is - as far as the pictures and [reading?] goes. The tables are good to have in the house. I was so glad to get the sketches thee sent in thy letter, especially the "sugar-making." It is very pretty and not so incorrect as I expected, and I think thee did beautifully. Thee knows how I love to have thy sketches. - Many thanks, too for "[thy?] [window?]" with the new table, I'm glad thee is to have a drawer. I recognized all the little articles - even the sketch of the [price?] horseback rider - Did thee see a girl coming down the street just at that minute? What a dear old bear thee is, - I'll send thee some papers with [three?] "butterflies" thee didnt see before I
[in right margin:]
sent them. I've not seen the "squirrels" yet but shall at [Phironerys?].
[2-5-1871]
7.
Yes, thee's eight years older, but I weigh 168 lbs!! was weighed this morning. I suppose I can have lttle idea of sufferiing for food and warmth, as I have never seen any real specimen. It is a great cause of thankfulness that we can be so comfortable, physically. - and while we are [spared?] to each other, we have little reason to complain of anything. Thee'll send the trapping sketches, when thee can, wont thee? I'm glad thee's doing thy best in the [comics?] "though it is poor pay." - The "best" is always the best way and the only [underline]right[/underline] way. I know they look nicely. How I want to see them, they look so pretty on the wood. - Roberts gave a pretty good price for the trappping sketch didn't he? Has thee shown him the India inkers, and don't he want them? In the last Harpers are three pictures sketched by a stranger to me, of rabbit-trapping, duck shooting and turkeys. Has the tried "Wild Oats" now? Yes, my darling, I do feel just as free to get anything I need, as ever can be, I never supposed it would be "ours" and no "mine" and "thine", quite as it is with us. My expenses last month [deleted]week][/deleted] were $3.67, but this month they will be more. I have a great plenty for the present, dear, and will be sure to tell thee if I want any money [deletion].
Thomas asked me if I didn't want some, but I didn't. I'm glad for Reynolds. Thee wont sacrifice good correct drawing for any effect and yet I'm sure the'll in time get the knack thee desires. How would a group of pictures of "Our Grandmother's "Day"", or "Work" answer . Mary's work made me think some picture quite [taking?] might be made. - "Lost Arts" maybe is the name. An old woman spinning. - reeling warping the web. - weaving. - a child. (boy or girl) - quilling. - I can send thee sort of rough drafts of the performance, and I'm sure thee can get it as well as the sugar making [deleted]performance[/deleted], and that is well enough. - I wish thee coud have seen it all, an old woman, an old fashioned kitchen with its accessories - for the loom had to be where it was warm. Certainly if thee could see the implements, thee could make good pictures. - Poor little Bobby! I'm so sorry, - I'll get a Blue Jay to paint, I guess. I mean, to try the "[Rock?]" before long. - Lay the gray pants aside till I can sew them over by hand - and get another pair - do, for I know it must be very trying to have them give out at any time. I take on more "midnight journeys" since my Capt. left, guess I only went because I liked to train in his company. I mean sail
[2-5-1871]
9.
on the craft with him. - only that night at Marvin's was so tempestuous, there was great moving of the waters, and any schooner was preferabe to that dreadful bed - so thin we felt every identical slat in it, and Mary's hips have not yet recovered from their effects. I hope there are pieces enough to this letter. I did not think to [string?] it out to another kind of paper, for I've used all the big [?] I brought with me. - Too bad about Q. Meeting. Even we both would forget the snow drifts if we [underline]could[/underline] be together going over them, Mary is ready for bed, as she sleeps with me, I'll stop. A thousand kisses my [own?] dear love, my precious husband. Sweetheart [kiss signs] Monday morning. 9 o'clock. How I'd like to see thee, precious, just one blessed minute, to know thee is "pretty comfortable" but what a comfort these letters are. - Does thee know how I dread going home? I want to see father and Ann, and know it will be very pleasant there after I get settled, but how I shall miss my dear, dear husband. So many things to remind me of him, and so much to make one long for his presence in the accustomed places. Don't think I shall go [a-?] crying round, - guess not; bu thee understands. But how happy it makes me to hear thee is doing
