William Audley Couper papers

but it may be the first of Dcr before we get away - I have business which will detain me at least six weeks after the close of my official duties - If my life is spared my resolution is to make arrangements to pass it with my family - I find this separation is wearing me out - I feel ten years older than when I left home less than two years ago - I am truly thankful that M^r Couper, yourself and your children continued - at the last dates from you - to enjoy health - I have nearly spent my life here in an effort to make some money for you all: what the result will be I cannot say - I hope favourable - Your husband and yourself are young - Industry and economy will accomplish much - You will have no difficulty in raising your family respectably - By the next Spring I hope to be able once more to take up my quiet abode on the Island - I suppose I shall be detained a month or two at Washington in closing my business - They do things so slowly there - I hope the Catterpillers [sic] will leave us something If the crop was as mature as it has sometimes been at the period of their appearance they will not diminish the product more than half - Your dear Mother writes that her health has been much improved by her Northern tour - This proves the wisdom and propriety of making it - I am sure the benefit will be lasting - I cannot be sufficiently thankful and grateful to you and M^r Couper for persuading her to go and for his kindness in accompanying her - I have a very lame finger and write with difficulty - You must therefore excuse

[upper right corner] New Haven 30^th September 1852

My own darling Tootee

Could you only have told me in your dear letter of the 23^d & 24^th Inst [Instant], that we could return home by the middle of October that letter would have been doubly welcome. As it is Oh! how grateful I am to hear that you be= -loved ones are still spared from sickness - It is hard for me to realize the quantity of rain & the heat you are suffer-ing from. It is so cold we have fires & every one putting on winter clothing & has been so dry a summer that rain is welcomed as a general blessing. Two mus'quitoes [sic] have been feasting on Appy & myself for some time. I killed one - but the other is hiding away until the next warm night. I do not think I have suffered from heat a single day or night since the first week we came to New Haven I am quite disheartened by this protracted stay. I have fully made up my mind to leave on the 16^th October. I still hope your next letter will tell me I may do so. I know my darling that you will be quick to tell me the good news. as soon as Before this reaches you M^r Woolley & our dear Cousin will have arrived in S - h. They left Philadelphia in the State of Georgia yesterday - The weather is calm & bright. I hope they will have a pleasant passage. I had a letter from M^r Woolley yesterday - he accuses me of being like a certain old animal whose ears had to be pulled off to get her to the ...... &c &c. That I was forced from home & will have to be forced from the North. Mercy knows I would be glad enough to turn my face homeward I tried to persuade them to wait until the middle of next month - but you may as well try to change the wind as turn either M^r W. or Amanda when they once determine on a thing. I can only hope they may neither of them get

sick - Oh Tootee dear I have been disappointed all round this summer. I dare say dear Amanda did not mean it - still I do not think I would have kept as much away from her as she did from me. I could not follow them - but they have been devoted to me at home & I hope it will be the same again when I get back. I have also been disappointed in Andrew & Louisa They are rich & I am poor - that makes the difference now Well - well - let it be so - We have put off going from here a few days longer - as you so earnestly advise us not to sail on the 16^th. I do not wish to remain in Allentown more than a week or ten days. I had a very kind letter from M^r Hall yesterday - regretting their not being at a house of their own - so that they could invite all of us to stay some time with them before we sail - renewing their invitation to Floyd & Tip, & offering to look for private lodging for us ~ he also promises to send you the Carpet'g for the parlour. I asked him to send 8 yds - you said 5 was required - I said 8 because here I notice there is always a piece of the same placed at the doorway to save the wearing of the carpet - I am going to try & see how my money will hold out - & if I can spare enough will get the other carpet for the girls room & send it out before I go - M^r Jackson informs me that he had sent Lords [sic] box to the Island. As you say nothing about it I fear as it was large those Cap-tains of Steam boats have never landed it. I am going to put into a box all of our spare clothing & send it out also - we have so much baggage it will be hard to get along with it. I shall also request the Andersons to send me some supplies before I go home - thank you my dear child for suggesting its being sent be-fore we go. I think the owners of the Planter is serving us very ill by starting leaving Savannah so as to make it certain that boat should pass in the night

I for one ought to go back to Old Stevens - By the way M^r Woolley mentioned in his last letter "the latest accounts from Stephen King's family - young Steve was extremely ill" Now I am in hopes this is not true. James Kings [sic] last letter to me was dated the 20^th September - in which he mentions - that the last account he had received was from his brother Stephen M^r Woolleys [sic] correspondents seem to know all about Stephen Kings [sic] movements - I can but hope this may not be correct. Truly is that afflicted family to be pitied. Poor James how much he feels the death of his mother how grateful for our sympathy -- --

You ask me about Lords [sic] affairs I would rather have told you of it them after my return - it is too long a story to send in a letter. Let this suffice - I believe they are really very much in love - Poor L - she did seem so confused when she was first introduced to us - I did not understand how matters were with them at that time. But let us let the matter drop until we meet - it would be unsatisfactory to write about it. Lord naturally feels reluctant to have it known after what took place last summer, I do not feel sure of it myself. Tho' they would both feel terribly grieved if they knew I thought so. You & William will keep this to your selves. There is [sic] too "many slips between the cup & the lip." And as three years must pass first, there is no knowing how it is to end. It is rather unfortunate for me - this love affair - for tho' Lord sees to all of my real wants - I do not see as much of him as I would had [he] no lady love to occupy his thoughts - & time.

The girls & myself have been talking over the time of our return - M^r Gordon told them today that he had already taken his mothers [sic] passage for the 6^th of November, & that every one who has to engage their passage weeks before hand. I must either go in the Alabama on the 16^th or 30 - It is fall time Lord should engage our passage The fact is I do not know what to do. It would be terrible for me either to stay until the 30^th or have run the risk of losing my children by going on the 16^th - I now be

[top right, in pencil] [23 broken, seemed very glad to see me & enquired very particularly after William and yourself. She soon got on the favourite hobby the surpassing good qualities of her son in law. I wonder if she really believes him to be as perfect as she would try to make people believe. Well! well! we all have our weaknesses & this is hers I suppose. Her son in laws [sic] parents live in this town, their house has been pointed out to me, a nice looking residence - Mrs. Wells called for Julia King & said she would very soon call to see me. Last evening Mrs Jackson & myself hired a carriage & sent our daughters out to ride - dear good Mrs Daggett accompanied them. What a truly good woman she appears to be

Mrs Devereux called last evening She has just returned from their summer excursion - She made me quite a long call - then came a Miss Reed - a very pleasant young lady an intimate friend of Lillie Devereux's - She has just returned from Europe. Our dear Lordy got home last night = he tells us that his Aunt & Uncle are quite well & very happily situated at the Metropolitan Hotel. This is said to be the finest Hotel in the world. It is 6 stories [sic] high & each story [sic] is calculated to accommodate 30 families & 100 single gentlemen It is finished & furnished from bottom to top with equal grandeur - The first day it was opened 300 persons were turned off - so quickly had it filled up. Andrew had his rooms engaged some weeks before the house was opened. I have a great desire to let G & Flora spend a week with Louisa before we go South. They will then be able to tell you all about this great house. Were it not for fear of these dear children being made sick I would return home at once. I am tired of the life I had - so unprof-itable, & so expensive. You & I naturally supposed it would be so easy to make good bargains here - I am utterly disgusted - so much cheating over-reaching, I never believed could be practised - One Landlady told us she want[ed] to get a carpet not long since at the best Carpet establishment here. She told the merchant what she wanted & added that she was willing to pay a fair price &c was no "jockey", &c &c - he agreed with her that jockeying was a shameful practice - he never was guilty of it &c / gave her the carpet at his very lowest price 87^1/2 cts., the very lowest he could sell for - it had cost him 80 cts at Auction in N.Y. The same day one of her neigh

[written in pencil] 10 Sept 1852] [centered] [3] [upper right corner]

-bors [neighbors] - got a carpet off of the same piece at 75 cts - & after her another neighbor one at 62^1/2 cts per yd - Miss Lines is a Yankee & has lived all her life in New Haven. It was from this very man I got our carpeting. There are a great many things I really do want - but I hate to be jockeyed - & have as yet got nothing except those carpets & feel that I was cheated then. I really am sorry that the parlour carpet held out so badly. I do not suppose I can match it even if I could recollect the colour & pattern, if you will let me know I will get some as near it as I can. Lord ordered the shade for the bust - it will have to be made. If I had you or William with me I doubt not we could make some capital bargains. I am myself quite incapable of doing this & the girls are even worse than I am. I shall look back many a day with regret at the sums here wasted, it is a little here & a little there. I put down every cent that is spent or I would be certain I had been robbed. Mrs R. King tells me she has 6 children with her. I presume she includes her immaculate Son in law & his wife. But she will not spend as much money as I shall - She stops more with relations I would rather suffer as I do than tax the hospitality of my husband's brother. I do hope my darling that I may be able to leave for home by the middle of October at farthest. One or two weeks may make but a little difference but I do want to get home so much. It is again distressingly dry here - the dust is insufferable & for the last few days it has been quite warm. M^r Woolley has determined to go home on the first of October either by way of Philadelphia in the State of Georgia or by way of Wilming-ton - He seems to have forgotten every other feeling in the love of sightseeing & as he has once been in New Haven does not care to come here again he is quite satisfied in his Dutch Tavern in Allentown. I do regret very much your sisters having been kept so stationary. I did want them to go to Niagara, but they seem quite happy here & are quite well. The little boys [sic] regular schooling began yesterday - Mallery will begin on the 15^th I hope the two[-]former may be pushed ahead a little so that I can get on better with them until your dear Father returns. Lordy says he will help Mallery with his studies - I have agreed to employ Mrs Lara

[upper right corner] New Haven 12^th September 1852

My own dear Tootee,

It rains too much for us to go out to Church today - Georgia has taken the little boys into one room to read to them. Flora has locked herself up in their room to meditate or write letters. Appy & the two Jacksons have taken possession of my room - & as I could neither read, write, or even think in so much racket, So I have taken refuge with Lord - he is getting ready to answer some letters - in the mean while puffs away at his cigar & brings to my memory the wars of your dear Father when he has letters to write & not the inclination.

I am not very fit to write letters myself - but I know I shall enjoy writing to you better than anything else. Now comes the stormy season & I do not know how you may get through it. Tootee dear you are never absent from my mind I can only trust to the mercy of God! that I may be spared to reach home & find all well who I left there. So many things crowd on - of little interest to relate - so little occurs which is really worth while repeating. I find it far more difficult to make out a letter here than when at home.

I sent you a scrabble of a letter on Friday in time I hope to go by the Steamer yesterday - so that you may get it on Wednesday. I write this as your Sunday letter ---- I think if I could only have the energy to walk more I should not only feel better but be more happy ----

it seems almost impossible for all to get to bed before twelve o clock - & even then I cannot sleep, so that I do not feel able to rise early enough to walk before breakfast - after that is over there is always much to be done. I will scarcely be sorry when the Jacksons leave here simply because they are much in my room. The youngest daughter is a dear good child - a real old-fashioned little girl. I love her for her devotion to her Mother. Mrs Preston is still here. I like her too. Last evening there seemed to be no end to callers on us. I had really hoped I had done with them - I will go the rounds once more & then stop. Lord was very much pleased with his visit to New York. Andrew & Louisa were exceedingly kind to him - in fact no fault can be found with them. It is not to be supposed that they could be content to settle down where we are - he has business in N.Y. & has also a taste for its comforts & pleasures - neither of which we can afford to enjoy. Even here the pennies fly faster than I can afford they should. I must now stop & not look forward, if I do I shall be moping again. I am trying hard to look on the bright side of things - I am trying to be more grateful for the blessings I enjoy. My beloved husband my precious children have been spared to me - how blessed how happy I ought to be, & how happy I would be but for money. Oh! Tootee what a poison this has been to human happiness - We all look to it with desire - forgetting that it is not all that is needed for human happiness

Mallery returns to School tomorrow. Last evening M^r Farrel called to see me - he gratified me very much by saying that Floyd seemed wakening up & was studying with a will - I hope this will continue & as the regular school has now commenced I hope they will both be pushed forward sufficiently to make my teaching of them until your Father returns - It will be 5 years come November since we have all met at home. What may not the next 5 years bring forth ----- I have read the announcement of Mrs SC King's death in a Savannah paper. Something in the style of their Summer excursion. Poor woman may her soul be at rest! I have heard nothing of young Henry King's coming South North - I rather think it was only a negro story, but for his persuasion pursua= -sion his Mother & Hannah may now have been alive - We all naturally think it will go hard with S C King Still he may survive all this anguish & out-live [sic] you or I.

I hope the carpeting & Lordy's box have been received You must tell me what you think of the stripe, it would be cutting too much to waste if you I conclude to use it for the stairs & get another for my bedroom. I begin to fear the 30 yds are too little for your bedroom & regret not having sent you more. The fact is the two just took all the money I then had - I may yet be hard run

for the means - at the same time I really would wish to get many things I really require - real necessaries I always have thought persons coming North can find no difficulty in shopping - My experience makes it really a most difficult matter to get any thing - I never enter a store unless I cannot help it, & then expect to be cheated out of my very eyes. Defend me from Yankee shopkeepers they will tell you fifty lies in selling even as many pins - There are many ladies here prefer going down to N.Y. to shop but I am not up to that either. It is beginning to be time for us to prepare for home. So the boys & girls too will have to get warm clothing. I have some idea of letting G & F go to New York next week, they could be better suited there than here. Please beg William to write to Mess^rs Andersons [sic] about the box & carpeting - I wrote to them when they left this. Do not neglect to let me know the colours & figure of the parlour carpet - it is too provoking it should not have held out. The money which I am giving to these Yankees I do begrudge - how much it would have added to our comforts at home. Georgia is hard at work making Uncle Andrew a smoking cap. Appy is working me one of that pair of ottomans. We left those that were finished at Allentown. I am now sorry that we did so as I could have sent them to Savannah to be made up ready for us to take home with us. I begin to dread making a move either by water or by rail road [sic] - there is not a week but some accident is taking place - Capt Lyon has now left [in] the Florida - I shall go either in the Alabama or the State of Georgia. Many are returning South - I would not think of my own safety - but will be loth [sic] to with the lives of your brothers & sisters. - You must keep