Sarah Seabrook Mitchell Wylie to Rebecca Dennis Wylie, 30 December 1884

Seabrooke M. Wylie, Philadelphia, PA,  to Mrs. T. A. Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana, Monroe Co.

Philadelphia, Penn. Dec. 30

My Dear Mother:

I have just come up from the kitchen (9.30 P.M.) and am very tired. Today was wash day and it is always a hard day as we have to hang all the clothes in the kitchen to dry over night, and some in bathroom. The yard is so small they won’t dry in winter. I have a nice washerwoman (Annie Doland!) and pay her a dollar a day. Making washing & ironing $2.00 but I don’t feel that I can do the ironing now with poor little Sammie as he is. I have not the time now that I should have for him but I am doing my best. I don’t mind the work but it is the anxiety. Sammie has not been as well for last two days as he was last week. Dr. came yesterday. He says there is something the matter with his stomach and he would study his case more thoroughly & return tomorrow. Sammie has no appetite. He has eaten about one slice of bread and jelly today. He is getting very thin. I get dreadfully blue about him. You can see that from my letters. Each day I hope to see him better and I still hope on. I can not help but have confidence in Dr. Guernsey. He is so attentive & careful about everything. No one sees just how Sammie is but myself. I am with him constantly and watching and thinking of him all the time. Your nice box was received yesterday and Mother, we thank you so very much. Was it not a long while coming? But every thing was so nice. The chicken & turkey were sweet & are now both baked & down in the cellar. I just took them out of the oven. Thank you so much for everything. I assure you these boxes are a help to us for we are pulling through. Sammie went around gathering up the corn to “feed the chickens, papa” Theo and Sammie thank dear Anton much for his little remembrance of them. Theo says to day “I believe I’ll pack my toys and take Harry his new companion and go back to Anton.” Theo is going to “write” to Anton and Mary. I often wish I could see little Mary. Tell her Reba is not a “big girl” yet but she has the brightest eyes & the sweetest little face that she ever saw. That she puts her tiny little fingers in her mouth & puts herself to sleep while her Mamma works She is a dear good little baby. Mother I think you’ll be quite proud of your namesake. She is very bright and getting real pretty. But I must stop and rest. Tell Lou I’ll write to her soon. She is my best and dearest sister. Much love to Charlie. I will write him soon. Thank him so much for his beautiful card. I value it much. It was my only one. I have it put up in my parlor. Next week I will attend to your things. After the holidays I think I can do better. But write me if you wish the bonnet & I suppose you want canton flannel for curtain I will do my best for you. Much love to Father & all. Reba is better of her cold. Theo very well. So is Brown.

Ever your loving daughter

Sedie

We are invited to Aunt Susan’s to dinner N- Years. Tell Lou I got to lovely plush frames with the $2.00 she so kindly sent me for Sammie’s & Theo’s pictures—and from Jennie I got two beautiful handkerchiefs. I have not seen Jennie & Lulu has only been here once since Sammie was sick—4 weeks—Aunt Jessie has come quite often & been very kind. So has Aunt Susan & Maggie Black.

[in same envelope as above]

For Mother only

Sunday night

My Dear Mother:

Our babies all go to you tomorrow night. I feel it such a burden for you and I am so sorry but all has turned out so differently from what I expected. The whole world looks different now and time can only change it. Della can take real good care of “baby” She is very kind and good natured. Do not feel afraid to trust her. Baby needs careful care in one way—but I think it is the milk & perhaps the change will help him. I have tried every thing to give him relief

I shall try very hard to do all I can to make up for all you are doing for us. Do not think you have done anything to hurt my feeling- for indeed it is not that. You and Father have always been so kind and I love you both. I could not see you or any of the family for I am almost crazy and I cannot talk. Brown is having a hard hard time and he is so good to me. Instead of decreasing the debt now I am increasing and fear I can not see any of you until I help to decrease—or it seems I am a dreadful burden to everyone. Do not judge me too severely for I am suffering bitterly. Please do not censure until you see Brown again. About the babies clothes—I have arranged everything in the bureau that belongs to you (in the little room over hall- front) I think it would be better to take the bureau down just as it is—for it goes home anyway—And also the little wash stand in same room—as it is all arranged with their things. The baby’s things can be kept in there. Then the baby’s basket is all arranged & the cradle & there is a basket with soiled clothes—please have Mrs. Bates do the washing for them. I can not tell you yet dear Mother, how any thing will be—but I trust some day all will be brighter.

Please only say I am gone for a change—until you hear more. Do not let Father worry, and if you think best don’t let him see this—tell him that it concerns the children’s things—for Brown will make all right –for just think, for one moment then I felt a little happy & I believe that God will carry me thro’ all right.

Affectionately

Sedie

P.S. Della understands about the milk for baby I make it nearly ½ water. The only trouble is the attachments are apt to sour.

I love my babies oh so much, & it is so hard to leave them.

P. S. There is a colored woman that says she will do the washing for little ones for things I have given here—try her- She will come for the things.

Please take plush clock down to the house too; it is in little room with other things.

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