Letter from Augusta Bruen, Dayton, OH to Luther Bruen, 1861-03-10
Dayton O. March 10th
1861
My dear Husband,
I have been highly favored yesterday and today; for there was a letter both days from you, and this evening on returning from Jere's, one from Mrs. Williams was handed to me.
Your's of yesterday I have already answered, but will write again, knowing that you are just as glad as I am when a letter comes. Your news is rather more encouraging in the last; and yet I hardly dare hope; Mother declares that she is not going to be lifted up by anything short of the *smudged* self.
Sella is delighted with her letter, and I believe proposes to answer it; she said tell you that she liked it very much and would like another; I told her that she must not expect that; for Frank was entitled to the next, if you had time to write more before coming home.
No doubt the little fellow would be highly pleased, but I think a sight of you would be still better; as he is constantly telling me that you have "staid enough" and asking why you stay so long.
This morning he wanted to know whether you were talking to "Mr. Washington".
Mrs. Williams' letter was an answer to me I sent last Monday. She sent me the seeds, and accompanied them with very friendly words; hopes that Father may suceed and wishes me to let her know about it. _ Edward and his wife live with her, and she seems much pleased with the marriage. She will no doubt need their society as she says that Granville is obliged to go to New Orleans to be absent two months.
We all went out to Jere's about noon and remained till evening; all are as well as usual there; and the windows look beautifully.
Here I stopt, and ate corn that Mary parched; then I asked her impudent Ladys hip, what I should write to you she pretended to think I could not love you much if I wouldn't fill up this sheet; I told her I could easily fill it up with love, but didn't want to. She then advised 'raising a rookery' by telling you that I had received a letter from Gran today. Of course I would do nothing of the kind so that she didn't help me much. She says too that she hopes you have not forgotten to give her love to Mr. Lincoln and respects to Mrs. Lincoln! Sauce box! I am going to send her to bed soon.
Mary still suggests items in spite of my having ordered her off. She has changed her tactics and now proposes the smart doings and sayings of Rob. and Frank._ She thinks Rob was very funny, because when I refused to give him more apple he turned to Jere, held out his plate saying "Jay, Jay he will omit the Uncle.
She says that she showed Frank a girl at a spinning wheel and told him she was spinning, where upon Frank asked where the top was. I think I have seen them both do much better things, but they did amuse us at the time, and may you also._There she goes now, and I mean to follow, for I am tired and "Teepy".
I do hope another Sabbath evening will find you safely at home; I don't know but it may be better to be separated a short time on some accounts, but I do not feel inclined to try it soon again, if I can once get you back. If I had not the children and Mary I couldn't get along at all. So just come home, as quickly as possible with good or bad news, just as you can._ I hope this is the last letter you can get before leaving Washington. of course I don't want you to come before your business is done, I only hope that it is nearly done.
Goodbye dear One.
Love and kisses from All.
Thy Augusta
Wednesday Morn._ I got your letter (10th*!) an hour ago, just before breakfast; and a good one it was too._ I was very sorry that mr. L had to leave when he did but suppose we had no right to expect anything else. _ Uncle John will be at home today from Columbus and we will hear from Mr. *. through him.
Frank is delighted, and refuses to part with his letter; he will show it to his Grandmother himself, but not allow to be sent. _ I hope you can be at home by Sunday; my heart beats fast at the idea, still I must not hope too much. _ I must close in haste as it is now eight o'clock and Mary is trying to get this in the mornings mail.
Goodbye Dearest
Augusta
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March 10, 1861
Bruen, Augusta Forrer
Dayton, OH
6 pages
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Bruen, Augusta Forrer -- Correspondence
Catharine Mitchill '31 Collection of Family Letters, Wellesley College Library, Special Collections
MSS.6.5
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/5
