folder 15: October–December 1852

Florence & Appy send much love - Georgia has gone over to see Mrs Gordon - & so she is not here to send her share of love Malley spent this day with us - he is fat & hearty - I have not time to say more so I will just stop God bless you all Try & keep well my own precious one & let us all unite in prayer to God! that we may be permitted to meet in health & happiness - your devoted Mother

A M King

[upper right corner] Allentown 10^th October 1852

My own Tootee ----

I must omit writing to you today that I fear I shall not be able to give you as long a letter as usual You will perceive that we have returned to Allentown, & had you witnessed the hospitable greeting which met us yesterday you would not doubt but that we are really welcome. Everything looks so nice & pleasant, but we can talk over all this when we meet

Well to begin - We found it a pretty difficult matter to get ready to leave New Haven - there were so many begging us to remain - so many things to be collected & packed - I began on Thursday night & by hard work was all ready to start by 10 o'clock on Friday night - I met with an hundred interruptions - by callers &c but never the less we did all get ready. poor Lordy was trotted near -ly off his legs. Mall came to us after tea & did great service in seeing the baggage off at ten. By the way I may as well now mention that the box & trunk I mentioned were directed to be sent by the Florida yesterday, & I und wrote to the Messers Andersons requesting them to forward these to you as soon as possible - the Carpet^g went the were week before The trunk contains only the girls winter bonnets & some other light articles - & if dry need not be opened - The box contains all sorts of odd ends - if dry I would not give you the trouble of opening it - it would be too much trouble - but if wet it cannot too soon be looked into - did Lords box ever arrive. M^r Anderson said it had reached Savannah safe

We were really sorry to leave New Haven. This is the pleasantest season to be there - Oh! it was lovely - that green cannot be forgotten. And then we made so many pleasant acquaintances. In fact it required some little effort to leave. Lordy would have been so happy there too -- but we could not return home without taking leave of our kind friends here. & the longer we staid [stayed] in New Haven the harder it would be to leave - so off we came. The hack men said we had but five minutes['] grace - so our leave[-]taking was a hurried one It always requires two hacks to move us & our baggage -- Two young gents accompanied the girls to the boat / I had determin-ed to take the boat instead of the cars down. Well we did get down & found them still putting in freight - the young gents remained about a half hour & then took leave - We went into our state rooms & to bed - but the old "Traveller" never moved from the wharf until near one oclock. I rather think it was a trick of "M^r Hackmen." I slept however until awake before seven to prepare for leaving the boat. Two more hacks were procured & away we went to the North river to take boat for Elizabeth-town. I told Lordy I could not go all the way to Easton without breakfast - so he stept [stepped] around & found an eating house hard by - the Landlord of which promised us breakfast at 1/2 past 7. Lord had to run off to get some of as uninvi-ting stuff as could be produced - The coffee was worse than the second drawings which I give my negros [Negroes]. Sausages which smelt - bah! I will not tell you what detestable stuff we had - paid $2 - & came out no better off than when we went in . We did eat a little bread - Lordy was made all but sick - by having to ride 80 miles without breakfast - we had quite a comfortable ride up to Easton

there we got a tolerable breakfast for $1.75 for 7 of us 25 cts [cents] less than we gave for breakfast for 6 - then we got a 4 horse omnibus - to take us on 18 miles further to Allentown - for this we gave 9 1/2 including toll - Our trusty 7 in number were placed on the top, tied down & covered with canvas we 7 & 4 carpet bags were inside - it rained - but all was kept dry. Our omnibus - our 4 horses two drivers &c &c [etc., etc.] brought - every old man - woman & child to the doors & windows as we rattled along - It was difficult to say which were most amused, ourselves or these lookers on. Eventually we rattled up to BrothHenrys [Henry's] hospitable mansion - they were all drawn to the door by the noise we made - The fine dog Nero foremost - Our recept-ion could not have been warmer. Every thing looked so nice, so comfortable - soon after we sat down to a most beautiful supper - broiled chickens - ham- & cakes hot griddle cakes &c &c [etc., etc.] quite a contrast fr with our miserable breakfast - I got to bed early last night & had a good sleep - I received your dear Father[']s letter of the 30^th August. I wish I could know exactly how matters are with him. His letter does not lead me to suppose he has been successful - The drafts he sent me were on persons who owe him the money here I fear there is some doubts of their being paid. I have decided it will be best for Lord to go to New York tomor-row to see after it. I am sorry to give him the fatigue - but it is worth the attempt. I am so much afraid your Father will be for leaving Butler behind - Oh! I do not know what to be hoping for - for my child while we are so much blessed with health - with life - how can we murmur at what God! sees best we should not possess - Wealth is desirable

but it does not constitute all the happiness of this world We still have a little & I will try & be content ----------

Andrew & Louisa are still in N. [New] York. I hope they may come here before we leave - my present plan is to stay here until the 22 then go to New York to remain until the the 30^th when we will leave for Savannah. We have engaged passage in the Alabama for the 30^th - Hamilton took our passage for us - we were too late in applying to get births [berths] in the after cabbin [cabin]. I dread the idea of going to sea - but it is an evil I must encounter. Tip was so often sick I was obliged to bring him with me. I was t sorry to leave Floyd but he was well - & is improving two weeks will soon pass over & we will then meet in New York. I had to stop writing to go to dinner - & a hearty one has made me so stupid I can hardly finish this scrawl - I will write you again before the week is over. You will not receive my letters as quickly now as you did whilst I was in New Haven that was one of the reasons I liked to stay there Your sisters & brothers send thousands of love - Mary & Henry are not aware of my writing to you - Give the warm love of all of us to dear William - Kiss each dear child for us - in about 4 weeks more I hope to be with you my beloved child - God! grant we may then all meet in health & happiness - Rhina begs to be remember-ed. Howde [Howdy] to all of the negros [Negroes] -

Praying God! to bless you I am as ever Your devoted Mother AM King

M^r Woolley was so kind as to write me from Savannah they must be now quite settled at home ---