Margaret Wylie Mellette to Louisa Wylie Boisen, 28 October 1875

Scroll down to view additional scans of this letter. 
Full transcription (referenced excerpts are bolded):

Maggie Wylie Mellette, Muncie, Indiana to Mrs. Prof. Herman Boisen, Terre HauteIndiana

Muncie, Ind.

Oct 28^th 1875 [Thursday]

My dear Sister Lou,

            When I think that I have not written to you since I left home and that I have only sent two letters home in that time, I feel so ashamed of myself that—well I must not try to describe my feelings for I cannot. It has been delayed from day to day thinking the time would come when I could write. Now you are wondering what I have been doing. When I got home for a good many weeks I had no girl and found the house badly torn up—then I got a girl that was half a girl, had a chill every afternoon and had to go to bed till the next morn. Then thinking I could better myself, I took a girl that was the picture of health paying her the highest wages and find that she has most all the pains and aches you every heard of and is in such a way to get her sewing done so she can get married that she don’t really do me the good she might. Then came Mary’s wedding. I helped her a little and then another wedding in country then a week for my rag carpet, rag sewing, then all my winter work and trying to pay about 50 calls. I have only paid 17. All this has kept me busy and now comes winter sewing  and I am going to try and do without a girl this winter as Arthur lost so much in that trial. 11 hundred extra he will have to raise this year. It’s going to be very hard on him.

            I can’t give you any news from home. They don’t write often. They were all well last week.

            Some one tried to break into Si’s house the other night. Bun was very much frightened.

            The Odd Fellows are having a great day. They have invited 100 lodges to help dedicate their new building.

            Synod met here last week. Mr. Bishop (that used to live in Bloomington) was here. I went to the church and waited to see him but he was so far in front and I could not stay from home so long so each time I missed seeing him.

            I never wanted to see little Anton as I do now, but don’t know what I would do with him if I had him.

            I was very sorry we did not meet Mr. Wilson. We had gone to a wedding in the country. I do wish you could have been to the supper. You could hardly think of anything that they did not have—cakes of all kinds, oranges, stewed raisons, cranberries, prunes, peach, blackberries, cherries, [fellus?] float etc. after turkey potatoes etc. The bride was dressed in white tarleton with orange blossoms in her hair—looked so nicely.

            My flowers are looking well. I have so many that I can’t bear to see them die this winter.

            The baby has changed so since you saw him. He looks better and can climb. I am afraid he will fall and kill himself. His chief delight just now is to get on a chair and try to rock it back and forth or to go up stairs to make me run after him. Wylie, Baby and I have been having the chills. Wylie looks very badly. He and Charlie are taking great interest in learning to write. I have written this badly but part of the time have had Baby in my arms and I remember how good you are at making out bad writing. Write to me often. You ought to write 20 letters to my one. Love to Herman

Maggie           

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