Louisa Wylie Boisen to Hermann B. Boisen, 15 May 1875

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Louisa W. Boisen, Bloomington, Ind. to Hermann B. Boisen (no envelope)

[May 15, 1875]

Saturday morning—

My dear, good Hermann,

            Last Saturday at this time I was happy in being with you. Today I sit in my room alone and can only reach you by means of pen and paper. Well, I am thankful that our letters can go and come so quickly.

            It is quite cool again today. We have had some rain but the sun is shining now and I think the day will continue clear. I suppose you will enjoy very much a walk out to Scott’s. Do you go morning or afternoon? And how long do you stay? I envy “Fred” and the girls your company. To think that they can see you every Saturday and every other day too, and I cannot see you again for seven weeks! Your visit cheered me up a great deal, dearest Hermann. I believe I have not felt as hopeful or as cheerful since I came home as I have this week. Oh, if everything goes well, how happy we shall be dear Hermann. I hardly dare allow myself to think of it. I am so undeserving of so much happiness. But God does not give to us according to our merits, freely and out of His abundance and goodness and mercy He gives us.

            Mrs. McNary, I think, is not feeling very cheerful. She says she is not so strong as usual at such times and you know she was so sick last year. Belle Miers, they say, is looking wretchedly. I wish, Hermann, that if you conveniently can, you would ask Dr. Küster, or some doctor, whether there is really any danger for me to have Dr. Maxwell now that his cancer is healed up again. I suppose he will not attend me if it should break out again, for he is very careful, and, I think, gives up all his cases when he is doctoring his cancer. Eva Buskirk said that Belle Miers and herself were both going to have Dr. McPheeters, though she did not say it was on account of Dr. M’s cancer and I don’t know that she thought of that. I am sorry that I did not get you to speak to him about attending to me when you were here. I had much rather have him than any other doctor here, if it is safe. But I would not like to run any risk. Ma says she will speak to him for me and I know he will tell her truly if he thinks there is danger, but still—thought I would like to have the opinion of some other physician and for that reason would like you to ask Dr. Küster. Sometimes I hardly think it is possible that I shall wait till July, but I hope I shall for I want to have you with me all the time. But be ready at any time and especially at the last. Arrange to have your examinations over as soon as possible and get through with books and papers before Commencement if you possibly can so that you can leave them with another Prof or bring them with you so that you will not have to go back immediately. I mean if I wait till the last days. Of course if it is before the end of the session you will be obliged to leave me. But somehow I look for it about the end of the session. And I believe I shall need you even more afterwards than before for I think I shall be very sick. And you do not know how helpful your presence alone is to me dearest Hermann. But I am writing a great deal on this selfish self.

            Prof. Atwater’s house is now getting the roof on it. It is going up very rapidly and I think will look very well and be very convenient. There is a great show in town today. I have been hearing the music as I write and as I sit at the west window I can see the tents over in Jim Howe’s lot across the railroad rising above the houses and trees and so moved by the wind that they look like huge breathing monsters. I see I am at the end of my sheet. I wonder if you have patience to read my letters? Do you know, Hermann, that it seemed to me that you were very absent and preoccupied when you were here. What was it [rest of sentence in German, plus closing]

Lou

I suppose the boys will be home today. M Ford did not get the prize, as you doubtless have seen. I do hope the box will come today. I am glad Mrs. Byers saw the things. How did you manage to tell her and show her? My love to her when you see her.

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