Browse All Letters (449 total)

Dayton O. July 12th. 1863 Dear Husband, I am distressed at your anxiety, and quite unable to account for the nonappearance of letters. I have written every Sunday and Wednesday since the baby's birth; the first letters were quite short and written with a pencil, but the last were much longer. It does seem very strange that the interruption should…

Dayton O. July 15th. 1863 Dear Husband, My writing table is adorned with a beautiful bouquet, which Mrs. Darst sent me this morning. Wouldn't you like to see and smell it; I'll send you a geranium leaf from it at any rate. Yet I fear the New York riot will stop our letters again I am anxiously looking for today's letter, hoping your mind has been…

Dayton O. July 19th. 1863 Dear Husband, Your letter written with a pencil alarmed me not a little, at first sight. The first thought was that you were in the City helping put down the riots, the next that you were ill. I could not but feel relieved when I found it was a sprain, although I knew you must have suffered, still it was not as dangerous…

Dayton O. July 22nd 1863 Dear Husband, I am sitting on our upper porch; the vines have grown, covering the front balustrade; and Father has put up Howard's old tent, so as to shield us from view, on the south side, leaving air holes at each end of that side. So I have a pleasant airy room from which to write to you. - Your letter came promptly this…

Dayton O. July 26th 1863 Dear Luther, Little Mary seems to consider it her right to be consulted about everything. She is about to make a protest against my writing and leaving her in the crib, although she has only been there five minutes. Mrs. *Fish* was sent for the very morning her four weeks had ended, so that I was fortunate this time. Since…

Dayton O. July 29th 1863 You must be very weary of your confinement, dear Husband, and I wish I could relieve the monotony of it by frequent letters this seems impossible however, so I hope you have other sources of amusement. You speak of still having pain; that I suposed, had gone by this time, is your foot swollen? And, what are you doing for…

Dayton O. Aug. 1863 We are all properly indignant, you naughty Papa! Give little May *paregosie* indeed! And hint too at having no affection for such children! - Oh what ought to be done to such a Brute? But seriously my dear, I don't think such drugs are good in the end. I fear the after effects. Baby was much worse two days this week, and I felt…

Dayton O. Aug. 4th 1863 Dear Luther, If I may be allowed, I will write a part of my letter tonight although it is now ten o'clock. The Baby has been better today, and slept an hour and a half at noon, on the sofa in the parlor. I had taken her down to the table, where she fell asleep, and astonished us all by the length of her nap. Her colic has…

Dayton O. Aug. 9th. 1863 Dear Luther, We have good news today; which we ought to have had yesterday. Howard telegraphed that he would be at the Barnet House last night and would be home before he left the state. Father would have met him, but as I said we only received the dispatch today. We are considerably excited, as you will believe; Mary has…

Dayton O. Aug. 16th 1863 Dear Husband, Where is my Saturday's letter again? It scarcely ever comes now till Monday and sometimes not till Tuesday. This is not as good a division of time as it used to be. Are my letters regular? They are sent every Monday, and every Thursday morning. Howard is sick. He has had no appetite since his return, which I…