William Audley Couper papers

She is even begging him to come & visit her - I really think I will make him go with me there on Wednesday evening next = I shall have to go cunningly to work to get him to go. I do not know how it is but he attracts general notice. the ladies pet him & the gentlemen all seem to wish him to sit on their knee - I think Floyd begins to look like a cracker & is less jealous of Tip. Poor Lordy has shaved off his mustache he got tired of blacking it. I shall snip dear Malley tomorrow his seat is next to me, & he is so kind & attentive in helping me to red pepper. But it is best he should be at school - he says he is going to study hard so that he can go home with us. He has fix'd his heart so much I hope your Father will not object to my taking him home with me. Lordy has not done much reading this summer - he promises to do wonders when he gets home. I hope by Wednesday to hear again from those beloved ones in California - God! grant the accounts may be favorable. It is rather strange neither of them let us [know] any of their plans or what they are doing. It is only probable that they will return in Dec. But they write to you & I doubt not say as much to you as they do to us. You say you have no news to give us - your letters are far more interesting to us when you write most of your dear husband children & self with the little items about our poor old establishment If I could only find a gold mine - I would bring home enough to make you all think it was best I should come North

He has made quite an impression on the heart of the eldest Miss Jackson. She is rather pretty - but quite too bold for my taste. She has taken possession of the ring Malley's Father sent him & I am terribly annoyed fearing she may keep it. I have taken quite as great a fancy to her younger sister. One of the best little girls I ever saw, so devoted to her Mother. I have requested Mrs Jackson to let Eliza make me a visit this winter. They left here at 4 last evening - half-past 4 Lillie called in a carriage to invite your sisters to ride & with an invitation to me from her Mother to return with them to tea. So I dressed myself but could not induce Appy to go with us. She was sorry afterwards that she did not go. The girls had a delightful drive of 10 miles Not for me &c. Lord soon joined us - we had everything very nice & spent a very pleasant evening - soon after Tea D^r Matthews & Alic Couper called - so old S^t Simons had the majority in number at all events - for you know the Doctor was born on the Island. Other gentlemen called also. When I return I will have much to tell you You must begin at once to get over your prejudice against Lillie Shaw [who] is indeed a sweet girl just wait until I come home. When I came home I found Appy & Rhina sewing away & looking quite disconsolate

I had a long letter from M^r Woolley yesterday - written in old style he tells me that dear Amanda has been very unwell from a bad cold - they still adhere to their resolution to return home on the 7^th October. I hope the state of the Island may admit of your encouraging me to do the same. I do want so much to return to you.

This morning directly after breakfast Flora Appy & myself went down Chapel Street / the Broadway of New Haven / notwithstanding my resolves - I would give a peep into the crockery establishment - there I saw dear Mrs Baldwin pricing some beautiful tumblers. The girls left me with Mrs B. who had some shopping to do. We went into a place where they keep all sorts of conveniences for domestic purposes. I could get so many things of real use if ----- Well we eventually got through her purchases - & I went home with

her. She took me into the garden of a rich friend of hers - a most lovely spot - where I saw a great variety of new flowers - I could have spent hours there. Mrs Baldwin is expecting her daughter home this week. My walk gave me a terrible appetite - And Miss Lines had some very nice pork steak - I did eat a hearty dinner and was feeling unusually stupid afterwards - when who should come up with Lord but John King. I wish you could know him Too-tee, he is really a first rate fellow, his mouth & teeth are perfect, he reminds me very much of your Uncle David. he was on his way to N York. I am glad to say he is again in business. When William saw him - he had just failed - owing to the rascallity of his partner. He is very anxious that we should visit Springfield & I will try to do so. Louisa was delighted with his wife - She would come here to see us - but she has a young baby. Lord went down with him to the Depot & on his return brought me a very kind letter from Louisa. I have almost made up my mind to let G & Flora go down to N.Y. for a few days next week. I wish them to be with Louisa & Andrew. Louisa came very near losing her trunk of dresses when she went from here. Lord was her only comforter - he tried to persuade her it would be found whilst Andrew was trying equally hard to convince her it was lost, by mere chance it was recovered. You will admit they all had cause for rejoicing, especially as the mantau [sic] maker [cloak maker] she employs - has been sick ever since Louisa's return to N.Y. She is carrying home lots of dresses - Mrs Preston leaves us tomorrow I am really sorry to part with her - she gives room to a Mrs Derby - a real overdressed old fool who has succeeded in acquiring a foreign accent that she may be taken for a foreigner - I saw her in 1820 in Boston - a Miss Hart wife sister to Mrs Commadore Hull. She was then very beautiful there are still remains of beauty - but all spoilt by overdress & affecta-tion. She took tea in & has worn her bonnet the whole evening - because she thinks it becoming - they say she is 65 years old. Her husband was divorced from her on account of her extravagance - he is now dead - I must say I wish she had kept away - We have a very pleasant lady here

18^th September 1852 [upper right corner]

My dearly beloved child

I must begin my letter tonight - it must be put into the Office tomorrow night so that you shall not be disappointed next Sunday. My own dear Tootee too well do I remember the feeling of sick-ening disappointment when the Mail bag is opened & no letter from those we love meets the eye. I have been writing a great many letters the past week so that all that I have seen or heard seems stale. I rejoice to say my dear little Tip has recovered & [is] able to return to school today, he came to see me this afternoon & would have been glad to remain the night - he does love to be with his Mother. In one of my former letters I mentioned my intention to let Georgia & Flora go to New York for a few days. Lord concluded it would be just as well to go this evening as to wait until Monday, 4 o clock was fixed on - & after all the hurry of preparation - two dresses which were indispensible [sic] could not be had so they had to put it off until 1/2 past eight tonight. I got the girls all ready packed - but Lord went off to make calls - trunk unpacked when the clock struck eight. Then he put me in a perfect fever by his deliberate movements - Flora did not wish to go, but Andrew & Louisa were particularly anxious that she should ac-company Georgia & Lord declared he would not go without her So she got ready - Just when all was ready some gentlemen called & there I sat on pins for fear they would be too late at the Depot well to make a short story of it - they did get out in time. I do miss them so much - only poor Appy & myself left. I ought to have began [sic] with a day or two back. Upon the whole dear Tootee we really have been spending our time very pleasantly in New Haven. We cannot have all we want. If your Father Butler William yourself & the dear babies were with me perhaps there would yet be something more to form an if to perfect happiness. The anxiety on account of you dear ones & the want of money have been the only drawback I am very ungrateful dear Tootee not to appreciate my blessings more highly than I do - May God forgive me ------------------

I think it was on Wednesday the 15^th that I sent my last letter off to you On Thursday evening Georgia & myself first went to see Mrs Gordon to inquire after little George Gordon who was quite sick - after which we went to Maple Cottage - the evening was very delightful I do not know which was most pleasant the walk - the pleasant visit - or the beautiful garden, the late rains have set all the flowers blooming. G. made an arrangement to call with L.D. Flora & Lord on young Mrs Eli Whitney who lives some miles out of Town at Whitneyvilla / the husband is a Cousin of Lillies [sic] - Flora had headache - so the others had to go without her. They had a delightful drive & made several other calls - to my great delight / returning of calls is a terrible bore to me. After they went Mr & Mrs & Miss Reed called. This young lady has just returned from Europe. Lord thinks her one of the very best of young ladies - superior even to L. in some respects. I wonder he did not fall in love with her She had your sisters to take tea with her last year, when they were here. Mrs Reed is a very fine looking woman. Mr Reed paid Lord some fine compliments which of course pleased me very much. Yesterday morning we went again to see little George & sat some time with Mrs Gordon, the child was better. We there saw the young lady to whom George Cuyler is engaged - I thought her handsome I think she will not find much happiness with G.C. Last evening Miss Kerr & her daughter & son returned from Boston - We were all so glad to meet - Flora will tell you that Mrs Kerr & myself when together may be taken for two school girls - we laugh & are so merry together. I do like Mrs Kerr & her son because they are great admirers of your dear Father. We past [sic] a very pleasant even-ing together - Mrs Kerr & her daughter, Miss Lines & her three daughters - Mrs Ormstead (a very pleasant lady) - Mrs King & her three daughters Not a single gentleman except little Tip. You would be pleased to see how much Tip is admired - I am surprised at the attention he attracts - both from ladies & gentlemen, he takes it all very quietly. This evening Malley took tea with us. Mrs Daggett & Miss Lines seemed really glad to see him in his old seat by my side. There is an old lady here of 65 - who was the a great beauty in her day

She is Sister to Mrs Commodore Hull, her name is Jarvis - She married a minister of great wealth - her extravagances would have ruin'd him. After having 3 children they parted - & eventually were divorced. She has still the remains of beauty - but dresses most ridiculously for a woman of her age - Wears her own hair curled - & it is really beautiful hair - it must be dyed - has a full set of false teeth She has lived a great many years in France Spain Portugal Italy &c has quite a foreign accent - did I tell you of her in my last? I think I did. Well now that I have become accustomed to her I like her better - she is very pleasant & lady like - One reason that I like her better is that she likes Georgia's singing & takes a great deal of notice of all of my children - how easy it is to win a Mothers [sic] heart ---- (All the time I am writing this I am thinking of my dear Lordy & those dear girls. I hope they are near N.Y. by this time, poor children, I wish I had not let them go.) We shall all feel sorry to leave New Haven - & espe-cially to leave dear Mrs Daggett & Miss Lines - The former especially seems really to love the girls - & is never tired of hearing Georgia sing I It is now 11 - I hope our dear ones have reached N.Y. They went in the Express train. Good night my Tootee - I will finish this letter tomorrow evening. But I must yet write a few lines more I am really uneasy about my dear Amanda - it seems when she reached Allentown she was so imprudent as to wash her head this gave her a terrible cold - which she cannot get rid of - Had M^r Woolley written to me how sick she was I would certainly have gone to her - but he purposely kept it from me - as he did not wish to make me unhappy. I had a letter from him yesterday they intend going to Philadelphia on the 21[st] & from there by land home. I have written them no less than 3 letters this week trying to persuade them not to venture the land route or to return before you shall say it will be safe for us to do so. But I fear it will not deter them - He informs me of what I suppose you have heard of the distressing condition of Stephen King & his family - their being still shut up in that fort - sickness within & Indians without - he had offered $17.000 for an escort to

guard them to a place of safety - but could not obtain it - Oh! my children if such be their condition how much more are they to be pitied than those two who lay buried - Truly do I feel for them. May God! be merciful to them. Sunday evening 19^th September Appy & myself were among the last to go down to breakfast this morning - Lord has been trying to persuade me to drink Congress water - it does me no good - all the effect it has had was to throw me into a chill & deprive me of appetite for my breakfast - You have often enquired after Mrs Hall. I wrote to you that she had spent a part of a day here with us - Since then until this morning we have not heard a word of her or from her. Soon after breakfast one of the young gentlemen of this house brought me a letter which he had found at the New Haven Hotel. It was from dear Mrs Hall, written in her own affectionate style. She supposed of course we had gone to Newport - but had just heard that we were now in New Haven. Poor thing she has been quite ill for some time & is now barely able to ride out for exer-cise. I will answer her letter tomorrow. I must say I had began to fear she had taken miff at something, tho' I could not imagine at what -- This day you will perceive is the 19^th September - we shall leave this really pleasant place on the 4^th October on our way to Allentown. I would leave on the 1^st but that I am unwilling to lose by a single day my next letters from California. I am busy trying to get some warm clothing for your sisters & brothers - we all begin to feel the want of them - there was a frost at Springfield last week & we have fire now in the parlour & I would be glad of some in my bed room. I do earnestly pray there may soon be frost on our Island - to put a stop to these fevers & to admit of our returning home. If it were not for you & the expense I would be content to remain here until November. But the desire to be with you dear ones & the awful expense I am incurring - puts quiet or happiness out of the question. I cannot decide yet whether I will be able to get the carpet for the girls' room. I hope to be able to do so before I leave for home, & that your next letter may inform me of the reception of the two I have already sent - I am now sorry I did not send for your room 38 instead of 30 yds - I know 30 would be enough to cover our parlour as it formerly stood - & was of the opinion your bedroom was no larger that that was - I hope I was not mistaken --- I wrote to Euphemia Cunningham last week, & asked her to engage

[upper right corner] New Haven 22^nd September 1852

My own dear Tootee

Your most welcome letter of the 17^th has just been read. I ought to have got it last night, but there was no one to go to the Office for me. I dislike going out at all - but I did muster courage to go down Chapel street this morning. I wanted to enquire for letters I wanted paper - I do not now regret going - your dear letter is an ample reward. Praise be to God! you are still able to say you are well! When such joyful news greets me - how dare I murmur at the gloomy account of crops. Oh my Tootee I cannot but regret my having come from home - But it is too late now. So we will say no more about it - at least not now ----

Oh my Tootee it is not for us from short-sighted mortals to judge what is best for us. God! knows best, & if He witholds the riches of this world He permits us yet to enjoy that which no money can purchase - the possession of a numerous & a loving family! What would tempt you or I to part with - husband or a child: surely not the riches of the whole world! If we are scrimpt we yet will be able to live & should be content --- I have a great deal to be grateful for - My dear little Tip has quite recovered & the rest of us are all well - even Rhina is getting fat. But dearest I must begin in my old style or you will not understand what we have been after since my letter of Satur-day last. I ought to have written to you yesterday - but if this can get into the Mail Steamer it will reach you on Wedneseday next.

Well let us begin - L. G. & Flo got off in the 9 o clock train as I told you. On Sunday Appy & Tip intent went to Trinity Church - Floyd & myself went to S^t Thomas' - I go to this Church every Sunday & I like M^r Beardley very much. On Monday evening I had a great many calls - Mrs Esty & L. D among them. On Tuesday I believe I staid [sic] in door all day. Yesterday I paid a call which had been due many weeks. Mrs Isaac's neice [sic] Charlotte - I have no respect for her - but did not like to make an enemy of her. Mrs Horace Smith went with me - we listened to some wonderful stories

[written sideways, in left margin] be glad ---

which we did not believe - This morning walk put me quite in the notion of taking another walk after dinner - Malley had made me promise to go with him to Maple Cottage - I believe we neither of us liked it - as we have no love for visiting. I had got my sun shade broken & was hanging on to that circumstance -(it being impossible to go out you know without one) Malley found out that I really had as much as $2 in my purse - so he ran off with it & purchased a shade gave 1.75 for it - & as he had been so smart - I gave him the 25 cts for his trouble. Virginia laughs at the shade most unmercifully - but as she has lost hers - she will be glad to borrow it the first time she goes out. I love Mall to walk with me, he will do just as I please

We found others just about to ring at the door - well none of us were admitted as there was no one at home. I was determined not to have my walk for nothing so I stopt [sic] to see dear Mrs Baldwin - I found that her daughter Elizabeth had returned home. She certainly is a very agreeable young lady. I spent an hour there very pleasantly She walked with me to Miss Lines' - I had expected the girls & Lord home. Just before tea Mrs Devereux called - herself & L. had been making a visit in the country. The young people did not return last evening - Andrew had written to beg I would let them stay at least one week with them. In reply I left it to the girls to do as they liked - hoping all the while they would conclude it best to re-turn. I have missed them very much & I believe they are missed by all the boarders. There are some half dozen students just come to board here - they are either very sleep diffident - or very stupid & has thrown a kind of damper [sic] on all of us. Now G. & Lord are the life of the table. He talks to the students & they talk to Georgia -

This afternoon I accompanied M^r & Mrs Amstead to visit the library & the Mineral gallery. In the former I saw the Daguer-reotype of Hamilton among those who graduated in 1849 - a very good one it is. From thence we went to the Cemetary [sic] where we spent an hour. I forgot to say Mrs Baldwin sent her little son to invite us to tea this evening - but Appy would not go

in fact I was not very willing - (I do so hate to go out) - so I declined She called this evening when I was out. After tea I came upstairs to finish this letter - found that Tip had brought me one from M^r Woolley & one from Mary King. M^r W. & dear Amanda were in Philadelphia - her health I rejoice to say is much better. They were boarding at a private boarding house at the same price we pay here. He did not say when he would positively leave P. for home. Mary King very kindly urges me to go to Allentown - which I will do as soon as I get my next California letters & can get some money from Messrs Andersons [sic] - The want of money is a grievance & throws everything back. I think I shall return home more bear [sic] of clothing than I left it. I feel perfectly incapable of getting anything for myself. How you got so much done the short time you staid [sic] in Savannah I cannot understand - I wish I had dear Sarah Bourke here to help me out of my difficulties - these Yankees are such cheats - In fact I have found goods better & cheaper in Savannah than any I have attempted to purchase here. I mentioned that I had got a very kind letter from Mrs Hall. I answered it & the next day M^r Hall wrote me a very kind letter - begging me to let Floyd & Tip make them a visit. I am thinking I will do so. Lord & Flora has [sic] returned from N.Y. dear Flora could not be persuaded to remain there longer - tho' Andrew & Louisa did all in their power to induce her to remain. So much was said on the subject Georgia consented to remain a few days longer - Lord is to go back for her on Monday. I dare say dear Tootee if I was as able to remain in N.Y. as they are, I would do so too. Andrew really has business there & I could not expect Louisa to leave her hus-band to stay with me. Florence was very much pleased with her visit - She stuck close to Louisa - but she preferred being with me. Mrs Daggett & Miss Lines seem almost as glad to see her as I am. I am both glad & sorry that Geo has remained. I am glad because she may enjoy more pleasure & I really wish Andrew & L - to know her more intimately - for these reasons I would have liked Flora to have remained also - & I am sorry because I do miss her so much & there are a number of calls to be made before we leave here