Letter from Sarah Forrer, Dayton, OH to "children" (Augusta, Howard and Luther), 1861-09-13
[written different pen: I think 1st letter after Mother's arrival at Fort H. L.B.]
Dayton 13th Sept. 1861
Dear Children, [writen in different pen:(Augusta & Howard & Luther)]We received a note from Luther this evening saying you are all well. We are thankful for it, but would like to hear more in detail for the future, we are very lonely without you, I do not know how I would have supported myself the first few days if there had been nothing to force me into action, As it was I was obliged to exert myself continually, and when Joan came I put on as smiling a face as possible, and made her visit a pleasant one with Father's and Mary's help, but my face was so set to sorrow that it actually pained me to smile Joan is a real good woman, and her visit was a benefit to me. She came Tuesday morning, and left Thursday afternoon, Wednesday it rained all day and we were obliged to stay in the house most of the time, Joan and I went to the Fair ground a little while with Father but it rained incessantly, and we returned Thurdsy proved fine and we all went out and had our usual picnic. but we so many dear ones were absent that it was rather sad to me , Joan's friends insisted on returning in the evening, so she and I left the ground early, I suppose she was at home by nine at night, I wished much she could have seen you all I would have been so proud to show you to her.
Mary's basket is beautiful and took the medal, Emily's picture was there again but not entered, Mary is pleased but says she would rather have had more competition, E. arranged her veriagated plants in my fern case and set it on the new roof & land, then put a large graceful fern on top and sent it to the pan., She took the premium for variagated plants, and roses, and Henrietta for Bouquets, and Lili would have taken it on string beans, if Amelia had given good measure, so you see we have been reasonably successful. Dear Howard, Fahter has spoken to Mr Martin, And L' *Hommediw* on my behalf, And Mary has spoken to Mr Ferson (who ran over with his wife in the morning and returned in the evening) but to no effect, We will continue our eertions and not dispair, something must "turn up" I am disappointed that I did not get a line from thee just to say how thee is, I do hope thee will keep up thy spirits, sand try to get well Any unpleasant symptoms thee may have are no doubt occassioned by thy weak state, owing to thy late sickness, and thy time of life, also I suppose aggraveted by thy confinement to school, Air exercise, Sea bathing and healthful diet. Are all thee needs dear child I hope and believe Do not resort to Leach remedies for anything, Try to be cheerful too, there is much in being determined to be well, and to succeed, I think if nothing better offers thee and I can busy ourselves to profit, to our health at least, on our lot, for a few monthes, but something will it must and shall. We shall have to wait longer, and be satisfied with less now, than if we were at peace, but we will hope this state of things will not continue long. Write to me soon and often and freely, I have not spoken to Will about the school, but his Father thinks he is very tired already, However, we cannot know from what he says, Tiem will show, We miss thee every hour in the day, And the first thing I think of in the morning is Oh they are all gone! And the last things I think of at night are of you all, and how you are doing. We had Carter V. Maynard speaking at the Fair, and they were Serenaded and much attention paid them by John and Peter Lowe. Phillips Staff young and other, carter staid with Young.
Annie Achy was married to a surgeon in the Army, and left with him, Mary Brady who was present says it was a very sad wedding, Jerrie has not yet returned, E. had two letters from him last evening, She expects him tonight, He and Ed, have been coming along leisurely in the buggy and camping out at night, and he seems delighted with his trip, if one may judge from his letters, E. had a pretty toilsome time with the Fair, without him, or, rather, would have had, but for Father who did not leave for the North as he expected, but concluded to stay till after the Fair, much to our satisfaction, I am busy drying, and putting up peaches Of which we have many more than we expected to have, Those by the Cistern are beautiful to look at now they are *repe*, but they are not so rich as the others, Those by the wash house have grown much since you left and are quite fine peaches and as yet, we have lost none, Thankgs to Brunoe I suppose,
E. has just left, Sunday evening, and took Mary with her to pass the night, Father expects to go North soon and I shall want her with me, so she concluded to go tonight,
Everything is safe so far, at your house I am there every day and sometimes twice in the day, Father has locked the gate, and I think no one has been in but ourselves, The recent rains have started the flowers afresh, and all looks fresh and bright.
Tell me particularly how you are situated, and if Augusta and the children feel at home yet, and if Howard improves in health and spirits, I want him and Augusta to learn all about the Cooper Institute, that can be found out, And let us know, I am sure Mary would feel more confindence, after a time in the institute, then she can feel without it, And I am sure she deserve to be encouraged,
Tell dear little Sella that Grandmama wishes her to learn fast, and be able soon to write me a letter, and Frank must be able to read and spell when he comes home, I do not want them too closely confined, not by any means, but to be very attentive when Momma is teaching, and when lessons are *done*, run and play and grow rosy and well, Dear little Rob is too little yet, He must be a dear good boy, till I see him again I suppose you are pretty nearly settled by this time, and able to go about and be instructed and amused, Do take every opportunity to see, all that is worth seeing, You may not have another opportunity so good,
Luther seemed in good spirits when he wrote I hope his hay fever has left him long ere this, Kate seems quite well, and Ann told me that Hugos sips say, Mett and she, or rather Mette and Mr. Phillipps, are trying hard for Mr. Cook. Mr. and Mrs Lowe assisting Mette, and Mr. Phillips working for Kate or Louie, and the good people are much amused, Of course you will not repeat what I write, but "they say" Mr L. s are quite neglected, and thrown in the shade, by the others, and do not fail to make sarcastic remarks on the subject, But enough of such stuff,
In view of the distress of the nation, it is a shame to trifle so_
I received this note addressed to Augusta through the P.O. and it was thought best to open it, Did I do wrong or not, We are in usual health, but very anxious about you, Do write soon after and fully to your affectionate mother
Sarah M. Forrer
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September 13, 1861
Forrer, Sarah Hastings Howard
Dayton, OH
8 pages
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Forrer, Sarah Hastings Howard -- Correspondence
Catharine Mitchill '31 Collection of Family Letters, Wellesley College Library, Special Collections
MSS.6.336
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/336
