Louisa Wylie Boisen to Hermann B. Boisen, 08 September 1880

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Louisa Wylie Boisen to Hermann B. Boisen, 08 September 1880

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Louisa W. Boisen, Bloomington, Indiana to Hermann B. Boisen [Lawrence, Kansas]

Bloomington

Sept. 8, 1880

My dear Hermann,

            Your letter was received today. Many thanks for it as well as for the enclosure. I was completely out of money. I had borrowed some, was obliged to, and cannot repay it out of this. I am sorry to trouble you about money, for I am sure you need all you make yourself. I wish I knew certainly just what we are going to do. If it is so that you can’t get these debts paid this fall, I suppose, according to our agreement, I will be here until you do and if that should be until Christmas, I know I can lessen my expenses. I wish, dear Hermann, that if you think it probable that we shall have to be separated till then that you would tell me so, so that I can make arrangements accordingly. I would like to know as soon as possible for winter is coming on and I must prepare for it. It seems pretty hard for us to be so far apart, but I know there would not be any satisfaction in leaving debts behind us. I don’t believe I could feel contented at all if we did.

            The weather has become very cool. We are sitting by fire now. If it clears off tonight I fear there will be frost. You remember last year how Anton was poisoned and we supposed he had handled poison ivy! He has been poisoned again this year and I discovered that it was done by a pawpaw so that we shall have to keep them from him. The doctor says he thinks it is only the handling of them which hurts him, not the eating.

            The lump on baby’s head still grows and Dr. Van Nuys says it is a tumor, a blood tumor Dr. Harris called it. Dr. McPheeters says a blood wart though both he and Dr. Maxwell call it a Mevis or Nevus, I don’t know if I spell it right. I want to have it taken off as soon as possible, but the doctors have been so busy with a boy who cut an artery that I couldn’t have it done. Dr. McPheeters says it can be taken away in three ways—by burning with caustic, by tying until it sloughs off, and by vaccinating. Dr. Maxwell said he would vaccinate it. I dread to have it done, and have wished so much that you were here, but I don’t suppose there is any danger at all and I will get Ma to come tomorrow when it is done. That is if I succeed in getting the Doctor tomorrow. Don’t feel uneasy. I will let you know about it as soon as it is done. The little darling is so lovely. I know you will think so. Pa says there never was a sweeter baby. Saturday when I took her down street, I believe more than a half dozen persons stopped me to speak to her and said she was so pretty and one said she was the prettiest baby in town. Now laugh, if you want to, at my foolishness, I had not thought she was remarkably pretty before. But she is so sweet and has such pretty baby ways. She and Anton play real nicely together. I am so glad that Anton seems so fond of her.

            Sede is still about but I suppose in about ten days she will give her party. She drove up town today, but most of the time she does not feel at all well. Tell Christian I will answer his letter as soon as I can. I have very little opportunity for writing. Had a letter from Mag several weeks ago, or months, and have not yet answered. The children sleep very poorly at night, did not go to sleep till after 9 tonight. Baby takes a short nap during the day, and she is creeping and climbing so the rest of the time that it is almost impossible to do anything but watch her. After they go to bed and to sleep I feel so tired and sleepy too that I am scarcely fit for letter writing as you perceive.

            Jennie Campbell is here now. I have not seen her. Mrs. Taylor says there were 60 applicants for the place she got.

            Mrs. Seward is still suffering from carbuncles. She has had them for ten weeks I think.

            Are you having plenty of peaches and grapes in Kansas? Peaches are quite plentiful here and grapes are abundant, selling for 3 cents a pound, peaches 50 cts to $1.00 per bushel. I see by the paper which you sent that living in Kansas is somewhat higher than here, though perhaps as that paper was published in January it is hardly fair to judge. Do you want me to send the Graham Phenographic books? I think not. I will try to get the others off tomorrow. The Encyclopedia is at the express office. C.O.D. $6.00 Shall I have it sent to you? Or do you want me to take it out here? If you do I’m afraid you will have to send me some more money as I owe all you sent me.

            But it is late and I must stop. Don’t forget to answer about the Encyc. And do please, dear Hermann, write me some of the “many things.” Do take a little time for me please. Ruby says she misses you so much and Aunt Em says she did not think she would have missed you so much. Please write soon to your loving wife

            Lou

Thursday

Dear Hermann,

            I send you all the books I can find on Takigrafy. I think you must have taken most of them with you. Mr. Philputt bought the bookcase in your room. I thought it was just as well to sell it as it is so awkward to move. If you think best to keep it please say so as it is still here and I suppose I can keep it. He takes one of our stoves too. You said for me to sell the stoves. He and Annie are to be married on the 23rd. Shall I sell the cooking stove or do they use wood in the kitchen in Kansas? The stoves and the bookcase were all I thought of selling. Don’t worry about us, Hermann. I’m afraid you will get sick if you do. We get along very well. Of course we miss you and want to be with you but we will all have to wait patiently. Anton asked me the other day, “How does Papa look?” I said, “Have you forgotten Papa?” He said, “No, but if he smooths up his whiksers, then I wouldn’t know him.” He seemed quite pleased when I told him about the Kindergarten. I think he as grown very much this summer and he seems very well. If I can only keep him so.

            Why does not Christian write to Dak? Charlie says his father has not had a word from him since he left them.

            Now I must stop or I shall be too late. I’m afraid I am already. Goodbye, do please write soon and often. You don’t answer half my questions. Love to Christian. With all my heart

            Your Lou

Are there plenty of applies in Kansas, or had I better can some? They are very plentiful and cheap here.


Source

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

Date

September 8, 1880

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Citation

“Louisa Wylie Boisen to Hermann B. Boisen, 08 September 1880,” Wylie House Exhibits, accessed March 28, 2024, https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/wyliehouse/items/show/181.

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