Louisa Wylie Boisen to Hermann B. Boisen, 02 May 1875

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Louisa W. Boisen, Bloomington, Indiana to Hermann B. Boisen, Terre Haute (no envelope)

Bloomington, May 2, 1875 [Sunday]

My dear Hermann,

            After all I am glad you did not come yesterday, because the day was so very disagreeable, so rainy and cold that you could not have been out of doors at all. But I won’t say that I was not disappointed. I waked up about the middle of the night before last and staid awake two or three hours thinking about you and wondering if you were not just leaving Greencastle, and thinking how unpleasant it would be for you as it was raining and blowing quite hard. I watched for you until I saw the freight train leave and I couldn’t help looking again in the afternoon, although I did not think you were coming. I was very glad indeed to get your letter. I had so certainly expected a letter on Friday for I knew my letter had been put on the train Thursday and I did not think of the possibility of it not reaching Terre Haute, or that perhaps you might not go to the P.O. that day. So that until your letter came, I did not know what to make of your silence and of your not coming. The letter made it all right. There was no urgent necessity for you to come on this particular Saturday and your class needed you. Next week I hope you will be more successful in finding a substitute. It would be too bad to leave the class without a teacher. Why can’t you get the new minister?

            Anton went to church this morning and he has been up here ever since till a few moments ago, talking so that I have not been able to write very connectedly. Toph expects to leave for Muncie on Wednesday next and will take Anton with him. We shall miss him very much. He is such a dear little fellow. I don’t think that I ever saw a child more free from faults than he is. I am so sorry that they will be gone when you come. I wish they could stay until Monday and go up with you.

            What a dear, sweet letter Mother’s is. I don’t wonder you cried over it. I did too. It seems as if this dear little child brings us all closer together. It belongs to us all. One thing that has kept, and still keeps, my courage up, has been the thought of the great joy it will be—if I pass safely through the hours of suffering before me—of seeing our child lying in your arms, dearest Hermann, and the thought of the happiness it will give to those dear ones so far away who are hoping and praying with us for the safe arrival of a perfect and healthy child. And when love and good wishes are so constantly with us, makes me even more anxious that the needed strength and courage may not fail me when the trying hour comes, and that you may be able to write to them glad tidings only. My parents, I know will rejoice with us too if all goes well. It will be a terrible blow to them if I do not recover, but they have other grandchildren and it will not give to them the new and peculiar joy which it will to your parents if they hear “Mother and child are doing well.” I had not thought of their making so many things. Mother said, you know, in the last letter that Father said it was nonsense to think of sending anything, so when Anna wrote that they were going to make some things I thought it would just be some little things which could easily be sent by mail. I believe I understand what Mother calls “Luren” but I am not quite sure. There were two or three words which she used whose meaning I am not quite sure about, and I shall have to wait till you come before I can be sure that I have guessed right. I have no dictionary here. I thought there were two or three about the house so I did not bring mine. I wish you would bring it, if possible, as occasionally I want to look for a word and can’t do it. I will write again to Mother. I would like to write in German as I think she would be better pleased, but if I do, I will not send it before you come, so that you can correct it. If   should come before you come down, it would be very pleasant for you not to open it until we could do so together, but then I would like Mrs. Statz to see it, since it would gratify her so much. So do as you please about it. I sewed all day yesterday, but I have very little done as yet. I hope to accomplish something this week.

            Dory is well enough to go to College tomorrow. Mag is better. I am glad Toph is going to be with her. I think he will be a great comfort and help to her, especially as Arthur is away from home so much. Toph has worked like a man since he came home. I think he has done more in these three weeks than the other boys have done in a year. I think he is a boy of good principle and I believe he will succeed in good steady work. I feel quite troubled about the other boys sometimes. They don’t do as they should.

            If you come next week, and if your students are through with the book, hadn’t you better bring back Rene’s Whitney? I told her you only wanted to borrow it for a time. I don’t suppose she needs it, but I thought if they were through it would be better to bring it now as when you come next time there will be so many other things to think about, examinations, Commencement, etc. or you may have to come in great haste, so that you had better bring it now if you can and Corinne too if you are not using it, as Pa will want to get all the books together before Commencement.

            I am sorry that I have not yet been able to go to Anton’s grave. The weather and roads have been so bad and we have had so much sickness that I could not go, though I have spoken of it and thought of it often. Perhaps we can go next week. I wanted to take out some lilies of the valley.

            Five short days, dear Hermann, and I hope to see you. About half the time of our separation will then be over, but the last part will be the hardest, for I shall find my need of you more than ever when I become still more helpless. If you find that it will be impossible for you to come, try to let me know on Friday. [6 German words, a question] And now good night, may God bless and keep you ever [5 German words]

Immer deine  Lou

You are right about my going to T. H. If you think of it please bring the German songs which Heinl has.

Monday noon—cold, damp and dark.

Theophilus Adam Wylie Family Correspondence, 1806 - 1930, (bulk 1850 - 1930), Collection 2005.003.2849, Wylie House Museum, Indiana University, Bloomington.