Sara Seabrook Wylie, Philadelphia, Pa to Mrs. Louise W. Boisen, Bloomington, Indiana, Care Prof T. A. Wylie
Title
Sara Seabrook Wylie, Philadelphia, Pa to Mrs. Louise W. Boisen, Bloomington, Indiana, Care Prof T. A. Wylie
Subject
Life of Sara Seabrook Wylie in PA
Creator
Sara Seabrook Wylie
Source
Theophilus Adam Wylie Family Correspondence, Wylie House Museum Collection
Date
February 7, 1885
Language
English
Text
Philadelphia, Feb 7th 1885
2227 North College Avenue
My Dear Lou,
While I am waiting for Brown, I can commence a letter to you, altho’ I am too gloomy tonight to write to anyone. For the first time I feel to give up. I am completely discouraged and heart sick. Today at noon Theo had a hard chill and is now asleep. He still has some fever and seems to feel very badly. Poor little fellow, he has been my dependence, helping me in every way and always so willing and patient. I do not believe I have written home since he hurt or was hurt, out sliding. I fear this is the cause of his sickness now, as his blood seems to be in a bad condition. While sliding (a large boy pulling him) he was thrown from the sled and cut his cheek just below the eye. He came to me but evidently caught cold in coming home, as the place did not and has not closed but inflamed and has discharged badly and every little scratch or hurt on the hand will gather and become very sore. The cut seems to make him very badly, as he fainted and became quite sick at the time, and fainted once again while I was dressing the place. Lou, it is dreadful to be alone at such a time, and I feel at such time I can not stand it any longer. Then when it is over, I take courage again. There is a telephone not far from her that I can or could telephone to Brown but now it is out of order and I can’t even have this advantage. Sammie is better, yet the last two days he has not seemed quite as well and has had a very sore nose. If we can only come back to Bloomington and all be spared to come back! I never want to see Philadelphia again, at least I never want to live here again until “our ship comes in.” It is all very nice when you have plenty of money. Yet I would prefer to bring my boys up in a small place. I do not believe in the side-walk education, and you can not tell who your child is with or what he is learning.
Monday afternoon: Theo had another chill yesterday and seemed to feel very badly this morning but seems much better now. I trust he will continue to improve. Brown went to the Dr. for him, but as yet it has not been necessary for Dr. to come. Yet I feel he ought to see the cut. It discharges so much and does not close as it should. I feel so in need of a true, interested friend in such a case. I have no one here to ask. How I miss Mother! Dr. G. is far from us and of course his charges are high, but if Theo is able Brown will take him to Dr. Wed. and let him see the place. There are three places on his hands that have gathered and are discharging. But, dear Lou, I must not fill my letters so with my troubles, but tell you something else. It is striking ten and I must write very fast for I want this to go tomorrow. Tomorrow is wash day and I have no time to write. We dry all the clothes in the house! And I feel this dampness is bad for the children as the house is so small and I cannot keep them away, and they are very fond of the washerwoman—Annie Doland. Don’t you ever say or think it is a trouble for me to get anything for you or Mother. It is a pleasure, and I am only too glad I can do this. If I could only do more to repay you both for all you have done and are doing for me! Send at any time. I await these opportunities “to get to” go out. I can get Annie at any time to take care of the children. She is tender hearted and I am sure trust-worthy. Of course I have to pay her—50 cts—for all the afternoon. I have had her but once, to go with Aunt Lizzie to select her cloak and when I got home (came with Brown) found Baby happy, table all set for supper, fire made and tea kettle on. She thinks Reba perfect. So don’t hesitate a moment about sending. Now Lou, everything is selling of cheap, under clothing especially. I can get night dresses very cheap, and everything. Now is the time for bargains, so if you wish me to get anything for summer, you had better send now. Embroideries are very cheap. Maggie Black said there were bunches of ribbons for “crazy quilt” are selling for ten cts a bunch. I told her to get one for me for Mother. But I have not seen her since Saturday. Maggie comes every week to see us and I find her very pleasant. I find no trouble to get along with her. Aunt Susan comes as often as she can, but she is always obliged to meet a man somewhere, so I do not see her as often as I should like. She is lovely I think and I should like to know her very well. Aunt Jessie has been very kind, comes to see me quite often and I like her much. She urges my coming there to tea at any time. I am always glad to see her. She was much pleased with your last letter. Lulu was not here for two months until last week. I began to think I had done something wrong, but she said she had been so very busy. Jennie has been here since the first Sunday after we came. Lulu says Susie may come home in the spring. She won’t be married tho’ until fall. Of course I have been unable to go to see any of them as I should. Mrs. Smyth (Maggie Faires) called last week, made quite a long call and was very friendly. She is very sweet. Wants to have us there to tea. Aunt Nellie has not been in but that once. Dr. hasn’t gotten over her talk yet. He asked about her and says she intended to insult him. He is a “very fine” Dr. Stands at the head (he is Mr. Faires’ Dr. also) and he can’t get over Aunt Nellie’s talk. Lou, he has brought 4000 babies into this world and only two deaths! Aunt Lizzie is still with Miss M. Miss M. is worse. I don’t think she will live much longer. Aunt Lizzie will be quite independent too, and I am very glad. She will have near ten thousands we think from present will. [the last sentence was marked “private” in margin] Don’t mention this tho’ if you don’t know it already. Aunt Lizzie deserves it and I am so glad for it. I mean don’t tell any one but Mother and Father. Now about College. I do hope things will go better or well with legislature. Oh, Lou, we are so anxious to come back. Brown is as anxious as I am. This has been a pretty hard lesson, but I hope it will some time end well. It has certainly taught us the value of home, friends, and money! Do not wait a moment when you hear what is done. We are anxiously awaiting and all our hopes rest on that now. If we are to come back, could I come (with the children) as soon as the weather permits. I feel this is a hard thing to ask, but tell me what you think of it. Father and Mother have already done so much for us, but we are sinking money dreadfully here. I feel dreadfully to leave Brown. I thought I had been all through that for a while but I must do whatever is for the best. I will write Mother about it and do all I can to make this arrangement easy for her. If she thinks it not best, Lou, be honest and tell me. I will feel it perfectly right, as I know about all the circumstances and know it is asking a great deal. But if life is spared, it shall not be forgotten. But I must stop Brown says. It is late.
Much love to Charlie. I shall write him soon. And kiss the dear little ones for me. Sammie says “Aunt Lou made me, cut me out, sewed me, and made me all nice and pretty.” Ever so much love Your Affectionate Sister, Seabrook
[Notes from letter margins in no particular order]:
I think Miss Graydon’s mind has become affected over this matter. Her ideas are crazy. What she must be suffering, poor girl! Tell me all you hear. What about Hattie, what is she doing? And what about Mrs. M? Do you ever see them?
Theo has a little girl he plays with and she told him today that her Uncle killed a man. Theo says “if her Uncle is that kind of a creature he guesses he won’t play with Gertie any more. Tell Anton and Mary Theo will write to him. He and Sammie often talks about them.
Mamma H. has been very bad again. She has been 17 weeks confined to the house. I feel very anxious about her and I am so far from her. I do wish you would write her, Lou. As usual, burn this letter.
I send both accounts in this.
Lou, I thank you so much for all you have done for me, but I’ll write you about this soon. Brown says “stop your scratching.”
2227 North College Avenue
My Dear Lou,
While I am waiting for Brown, I can commence a letter to you, altho’ I am too gloomy tonight to write to anyone. For the first time I feel to give up. I am completely discouraged and heart sick. Today at noon Theo had a hard chill and is now asleep. He still has some fever and seems to feel very badly. Poor little fellow, he has been my dependence, helping me in every way and always so willing and patient. I do not believe I have written home since he hurt or was hurt, out sliding. I fear this is the cause of his sickness now, as his blood seems to be in a bad condition. While sliding (a large boy pulling him) he was thrown from the sled and cut his cheek just below the eye. He came to me but evidently caught cold in coming home, as the place did not and has not closed but inflamed and has discharged badly and every little scratch or hurt on the hand will gather and become very sore. The cut seems to make him very badly, as he fainted and became quite sick at the time, and fainted once again while I was dressing the place. Lou, it is dreadful to be alone at such a time, and I feel at such time I can not stand it any longer. Then when it is over, I take courage again. There is a telephone not far from her that I can or could telephone to Brown but now it is out of order and I can’t even have this advantage. Sammie is better, yet the last two days he has not seemed quite as well and has had a very sore nose. If we can only come back to Bloomington and all be spared to come back! I never want to see Philadelphia again, at least I never want to live here again until “our ship comes in.” It is all very nice when you have plenty of money. Yet I would prefer to bring my boys up in a small place. I do not believe in the side-walk education, and you can not tell who your child is with or what he is learning.
Monday afternoon: Theo had another chill yesterday and seemed to feel very badly this morning but seems much better now. I trust he will continue to improve. Brown went to the Dr. for him, but as yet it has not been necessary for Dr. to come. Yet I feel he ought to see the cut. It discharges so much and does not close as it should. I feel so in need of a true, interested friend in such a case. I have no one here to ask. How I miss Mother! Dr. G. is far from us and of course his charges are high, but if Theo is able Brown will take him to Dr. Wed. and let him see the place. There are three places on his hands that have gathered and are discharging. But, dear Lou, I must not fill my letters so with my troubles, but tell you something else. It is striking ten and I must write very fast for I want this to go tomorrow. Tomorrow is wash day and I have no time to write. We dry all the clothes in the house! And I feel this dampness is bad for the children as the house is so small and I cannot keep them away, and they are very fond of the washerwoman—Annie Doland. Don’t you ever say or think it is a trouble for me to get anything for you or Mother. It is a pleasure, and I am only too glad I can do this. If I could only do more to repay you both for all you have done and are doing for me! Send at any time. I await these opportunities “to get to” go out. I can get Annie at any time to take care of the children. She is tender hearted and I am sure trust-worthy. Of course I have to pay her—50 cts—for all the afternoon. I have had her but once, to go with Aunt Lizzie to select her cloak and when I got home (came with Brown) found Baby happy, table all set for supper, fire made and tea kettle on. She thinks Reba perfect. So don’t hesitate a moment about sending. Now Lou, everything is selling of cheap, under clothing especially. I can get night dresses very cheap, and everything. Now is the time for bargains, so if you wish me to get anything for summer, you had better send now. Embroideries are very cheap. Maggie Black said there were bunches of ribbons for “crazy quilt” are selling for ten cts a bunch. I told her to get one for me for Mother. But I have not seen her since Saturday. Maggie comes every week to see us and I find her very pleasant. I find no trouble to get along with her. Aunt Susan comes as often as she can, but she is always obliged to meet a man somewhere, so I do not see her as often as I should like. She is lovely I think and I should like to know her very well. Aunt Jessie has been very kind, comes to see me quite often and I like her much. She urges my coming there to tea at any time. I am always glad to see her. She was much pleased with your last letter. Lulu was not here for two months until last week. I began to think I had done something wrong, but she said she had been so very busy. Jennie has been here since the first Sunday after we came. Lulu says Susie may come home in the spring. She won’t be married tho’ until fall. Of course I have been unable to go to see any of them as I should. Mrs. Smyth (Maggie Faires) called last week, made quite a long call and was very friendly. She is very sweet. Wants to have us there to tea. Aunt Nellie has not been in but that once. Dr. hasn’t gotten over her talk yet. He asked about her and says she intended to insult him. He is a “very fine” Dr. Stands at the head (he is Mr. Faires’ Dr. also) and he can’t get over Aunt Nellie’s talk. Lou, he has brought 4000 babies into this world and only two deaths! Aunt Lizzie is still with Miss M. Miss M. is worse. I don’t think she will live much longer. Aunt Lizzie will be quite independent too, and I am very glad. She will have near ten thousands we think from present will. [the last sentence was marked “private” in margin] Don’t mention this tho’ if you don’t know it already. Aunt Lizzie deserves it and I am so glad for it. I mean don’t tell any one but Mother and Father. Now about College. I do hope things will go better or well with legislature. Oh, Lou, we are so anxious to come back. Brown is as anxious as I am. This has been a pretty hard lesson, but I hope it will some time end well. It has certainly taught us the value of home, friends, and money! Do not wait a moment when you hear what is done. We are anxiously awaiting and all our hopes rest on that now. If we are to come back, could I come (with the children) as soon as the weather permits. I feel this is a hard thing to ask, but tell me what you think of it. Father and Mother have already done so much for us, but we are sinking money dreadfully here. I feel dreadfully to leave Brown. I thought I had been all through that for a while but I must do whatever is for the best. I will write Mother about it and do all I can to make this arrangement easy for her. If she thinks it not best, Lou, be honest and tell me. I will feel it perfectly right, as I know about all the circumstances and know it is asking a great deal. But if life is spared, it shall not be forgotten. But I must stop Brown says. It is late.
Much love to Charlie. I shall write him soon. And kiss the dear little ones for me. Sammie says “Aunt Lou made me, cut me out, sewed me, and made me all nice and pretty.” Ever so much love Your Affectionate Sister, Seabrook
[Notes from letter margins in no particular order]:
I think Miss Graydon’s mind has become affected over this matter. Her ideas are crazy. What she must be suffering, poor girl! Tell me all you hear. What about Hattie, what is she doing? And what about Mrs. M? Do you ever see them?
Theo has a little girl he plays with and she told him today that her Uncle killed a man. Theo says “if her Uncle is that kind of a creature he guesses he won’t play with Gertie any more. Tell Anton and Mary Theo will write to him. He and Sammie often talks about them.
Mamma H. has been very bad again. She has been 17 weeks confined to the house. I feel very anxious about her and I am so far from her. I do wish you would write her, Lou. As usual, burn this letter.
I send both accounts in this.
Lou, I thank you so much for all you have done for me, but I’ll write you about this soon. Brown says “stop your scratching.”
Original Format
Letter
Files
Citation
Sara Seabrook Wylie, “Sara Seabrook Wylie, Philadelphia, Pa to Mrs. Louise W. Boisen, Bloomington, Indiana, Care Prof T. A. Wylie,” Wylie House Exhibits, accessed April 18, 2024, https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/wyliehouse/items/show/645.