Letter from Sarah Forrer, Dayton, OH to Sarah "Sella" Bruen, 1861-11-10
Dayton Nov 10th 1861
My dear little Sella
I have set apart this sweet Sunday morning to write to you, and tried to tell you how much I love you and your dear little brothers, now this is not easy to do, for I love you so much that I cannot find words to express myself clearly to you, you must understand it is a great deal, as I used to say when I was a little girl "100 bushels"
I am glad you are going to Sunday school, and hope you will learn to be a very good child, and be kind. Oh how kind two little brothers, and papa and mama. Nothing makes a little girl so sweet as kindness in her behavior to her friends and the way to do this easily is to be really good and kind, then you will not have to only seem.
I was pleased to hear of your fish. Cannot you get up a little aquarium? I wish you had my fern case, or rather, that I had you and the fish and mamma and all here Give love and kisses to little Brothers and accept much for yourself from Grandmama.
dear Augusta I intended to write during the week, but on reflection thought I would only write on Sundays, unless something more than ordinary happens. Then they will receive a letter on Wednesdays, and then, if thee writes on Sunday too, will write so that I will get mine on Wednesday following.
We are in usual health, but I fear thee is confining thyself too much to work indoors, Do try to go out every day and walk either with or without an object. I am much better since I exercise more in the open air, and sew less Tell Frank, Grandma is glad he helps mama, and she hopes he is going to be a very good boy and give him a kiss and Robie too,
Mary says if she gets the Demerest to winter book, and has done with it, send it to her, or any pattern she may think desirable. If the cost is trifling, git it for her anyhow, we gave Louisa Earnstine's letter, I have not seen her sisters lately, but they were well some days ago
I am much obliged to Luther for the interest he takes in Howard, we hope to get the place of secretary to the Board of Public Works, for him, He would like the army much better, but has promised to take that if we can get it, the board meet the 13th of this month when we will know, If he does not get it, I have very little hope of keeping out of the army. I hope in case he does go in there may be no danger of being in the ranks as a common soldier, All is distasteful to me but that I feel would be more than I could well bear
Sam Davies is promoted to Mr. Cook's staff, we have no news of the great expectation, no news from Western Virginia, and Fremont is superseded, rather gloomy I think
John says he has written to Luther, what has he determined to do about recruiting?
We have not sold yet, I hear *Iddings* and *Kiinny* talk of buying if the sale of the old Cooper lot falls through which it is likely to do on some accounts or other
Perhaps you had better not mention this, as it may result in nothing. Aunt Lib is easier, but does not sit up.
Howard will write to Luther as soon as he learns the decision of the Board. All is doing well at your two houses, but poor Foster is slow pay
When the repairs about the pump are finished I will try to get some more money from him he has only paid me in all $18.00, I have paid *Joelorn* 1.75 for the picture; and will pay the gas bill, the 16, I have on hand is in gold, and state bank paper, and I feared Foster would give me some notes which I would not like to keep, but with which I could pay the gas man. I will attend to it soon
I received a letter this morning from cousin Sarah McMorris telling me of the death of her mother, my aunt Mary Brian. She died in March last. Why cousin Sarah delayed so long the information I do not know, she blames herself for it, and very kindly requests me to write to, and visit her
She says Aunt left a "trifling remembrance of her" to Joseph, Mary, John and myself, in the shape of $100.00 to each. I do not know how much she left at her death, but it was very kind of her to remember us, and I assure thee I prise this small legacy highly. Peace to the dear old Aunt, She was an honest straightforward woman with great business talent and a kind heart, two things not always found together. She was the last of my dear mother's family, I have no doubt they both rest in peace. They were both duty doing conscientious women and humble Christians, May we be like them, dear Augusta I cannot express my love for you all. As ever thy mother
S. H. Forrer.
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November 10, 1861
Forrer, Sarah Hastings Howard
Dayton, OH
4 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.6.340
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/340
