Edwin surprises Susan with a visit.Acton Thurs. Eve. Sept. 20, 1866
My dear friend.
Knowing of no better way of passing this cold stormy evening I will answer yours received last evening, and I must ask your pardon for not doing it on the evening of its reception so that you might receive it today agreeable to your request.
I was intending to go to the agricultural fair at Concord today with mother and thought I would carry a couple of bouquets which I made last evening and being late when I got through I felt too stupid to write and do justice to you and myself suggested that I should defer writing till this evening. The rain prevented our going today and this evening I carried one of the bouquets down to mother and the other to Martha. They thought them very handsome and I thought of you and wished I could hand them to you though I think they were rather larger than you would wish to manage. I did not expect to compete with the larger and more skillful horticulturists but being a member of the society wished to help what I could in the exhibitions. I have usually carried down apples but have not so good a show as usual this year. My brother and wife expect to go tomorrow if pleasant and I expect to stay at home.
How do you enjoy this weather? I think the sunshine will be prized all the more when it comes. Quincy returned tonight from the camp and has had a wet time of it and he finds not so much fun as he expected in a soldier's life.
I thank you for your good long letter which has been read more than once and I am hoping that Saturday evening I shall have a later edition with a "review of the week" to read. Shall I be disappointed?
I think I can appreciate your feelings in regard to your thoughts of the future and I trust you will have no reason to regret the confidence you have placed in me. I thank you for the freedom with which you have written, as it shows that you have true ideas of what constitutes a happy home, for without that true sympathy for one another I feel that no home can be happy but with it, "be it ever so humble there's no place like home."
It seems that you did not receive my last till Tuesday which was not a fault of mine but of the P.O. Department, for I put it into the office in season for the Monday morning mail. I trust you will receive this in season to give me an answer by the Sat. eve mail for you know that is a favorite of mine.
Please give my regards to Mr. Hills. I have been a little shy of making his acquaintance fearing chastisement for the prospect of my interfering with his school arrangements. If you will guarantee to make that satisfactory with him I shall have no objections to meeting him and making his acquaintance.
My brother and wife think of making another visiting tour next week to Lowell, Billerica and Lawrence and possibly may go to Danvers. I shall try and find a space week to leave and where do you think I want to go? And who do you think I want to see?
When do you think we shall have a change of weather? I hope you are taking good care of yourself through this storm. I find a fire quite comfortable this evening and which I am having all to myself. Isn't that selfish? You must feel that you are sharing it with me by receiving this letter. And now my dear friend I must bid you good night and hoping to hear from you again Saturday I remain with much love yours truly,
Edwin "With much love…" It only took five months for one of them to say the word!
Edwin managed to meet with Susan. He travelled to Danvers over the weekend and left her in Lynn on Monday, a school day. He then continued to Boston for the day. By the tone of the next letters, it seems an understanding of sorts was reached during his visit. The lightened tone of their correspondence is laced with subtle humor, from both parties.
Lynn. Sept. 25, 1866 Tuesday afternoon
My dear Friend.
The rain is pouring down still (alas! for my fair weather) & I am sitting alone in my room. I have felt a little lonely since you went away this morning & to prevent anything like homesickness I thought I would write to you. I was not a very good weather prophet this time, was I? But then the rain did not trouble us any & I do not think our enjoyment depended on the weather.
I left you very hurriedly this morning & was just in time to get into the schoolroom (I would not often like to come so near being late) & soon I had to lose myself in Latin verbs & equations & the kings and queens of merry England.
Mr. Hills brought into my Algebra class, Mr. Topliff, who was in pursuit of a teacher for the high school in Weston. When hearing the last recitation Dr. Drew, one of the committee, came in, & was quite surprised that I had yet, no means of heating my room & said there had been some misunderstanding with the stove dealer, & it should receive immediate attention. He carried a favorable report to Mr. Hills, of the condition of things & soon after left. Recitations went pretty well under the circumstances & we started for home at the usual time. On reaching there, I was glad to find your letter, for it seemed next to seeing you again. The rose-bud was beautiful & in remembrance of you it shall have a place in my herbarium.
Evening.
About this time last evening I think we were riding in Danvers. I presume now you are spending the hours quietly at your own home, where I trust you arrived safely after a dull day in the city. I conclude you did not visit the Public Gardens as you intended under a clear sunny day. I am anticipating a rain for our visit tomorrow, but hope we are to have sunshine soon, for I think too much of kind friends & home in such dull days.
Perhaps you will think I am old enough to put away such feelings, but I am not to blame for loving home better than any other place, am I? If I am guilty, I do not think I stand alone. Notwithstanding the pleasure derived from letters, I do think, as you, that there is "more happiness in meeting friend."
Miss Brown inquired for you & says she feels slighted that you come to Lynn so often & never call to see her. I tried to excuse you from all blame & concluded she will not treasure up any hard feelings. She is obliged to you for the photograph & thinks it very excellent.
I have a collection of books before me & as I see them in full view am reminded there is work to be done. You are not here to listen to the Caesar & tell me if my translation is a correct one. It begins with, "Ubi jam se ad earn sem paratos esse," & extends through "doms effene jubent. This day has seemed a long one to me & I think you must have received a similar impression, considering the early ride & the usual routine since. I am aware my letter will be a little in advance of the promised time & perhaps not quite as acceptable, but I did not know as you would be particular, & then I think if I should scan the motive closely I should find a little selfishness. Thinking it best to retire early I will not stop to write more now. You know it will give me pleasure to hear from you as soon as you find it convenient to write which I hope will be soon. Thanking you for all your many kindnesses & wishing you a "God bless you," I am your dear friend, with much love, aff. yours.
Susan
Susan's first use of the word! Their recent meeting must have been most fruitful. Perhaps he popped the question during their carriage ride. As she stated, even the poor weather didn't dampen their enjoyment!
Acton Wed. Eve Sept. 26, 1866
My dear friend
What an evening we are having and haven't you had a nice time at Graves End? I hope you returned before the rain began to come down in torrents. I think you were a very good prophet concerning the weather today, but of the day previous I have nothing to say only that I enjoyed it much even to its close and the rain in the morning made it all the more social, don't you think so? I hope you did not take any cold for I may want to try it again if I can get your consent. Shall I find that a difficult task? I thank you for writing in advance of the promised time for I was wondering what I was going to do with myself this long rainy evening, but now I am having a nice time "at home" and should be all alone were it not for the thoughtfulness of Mr. Black, who is very good to provide company and I have no doubt has made a great many people happy in his way.
I was glad to learn that you were not late at school. I think we calculated very close and had no lost time. I trembled for you for I knew how much you feared being late. I supposed we had ample time, till we got to the last three minutes. After leaving you I was soon on my way to Boston taking the 8.10 train. I had as much time as I wanted for such weather though I managed to have a pleasant time.
I spent a part of my time at the Republican headquarters where they have a very nice reading room and also visited the Merchants Exchange reading room and took another look at the fine paintings at Williams and Everett and several other places. I welcome the result of my visit to the tin shop. How do you like my purchase?
I think I shall now be able to go on the turnpike again if I can get you to drive and pay the toll. I took the four o'clock train for home.While Edwin's meaning here is unclear, his reference to turnpikes is interesting. Gated, "piked" private toll roads for profit dated back to Colonial America. By the 1850s, most of these operations had ceased. The railroad became the most popular means of travel. No longer was the fee of twenty-five cents per coach, and four cents per passenger necessary.
After the train started I thought I would look back and see if there were any that were "too late for the cars" and was amused in seeing one man going through the same exercise that I did and could see how I looked the week previous as he gave up after having about the same chase that I had. I don't believe he got as paid for being left as I did.
I do not think anyone too old to love their home and I hope that you will always have the same attachment to yours, but I wish to have its location changed. You will not blame me for that, will you Susie?
I am sorry that Miss Brown feels slighted. I plead "guilty" of neglecting her and hope at some future time to make up for all past deficiencies.
My brother and family started this morning for Billerica where they spend the night. I think they had time to reach the end of their first day's journey before the rain commenced. I hope they will have a pleasant day tomorrow as this weather if it should continue it will have a tendency to make them homesick.
The former teacher of the Weston high school is an Acton man and is now teaching in Belmont. I hope you told Mr. Topliff that you could not serve him as you had a scholar who needed your services more than he did.
It is time to close and Saturday evening I shall look for another of those substitutes for a happy meeting. You will not disappoint me will you? Good night.
With much love I remain very affectionately yours,
EdwinSusie? Such familiarity!