Attached Clipping Death of Judge Arrington. Chicago, Dec. 31. Judge A. W. Arrington, one of the ablest lawyers in this State, died at his residence in this city, to-day, aged 57 years.
St. Louis
Jan. 2, 1868
[1868/01/02]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
You will see by the enclosed scrap that Judge Arrington is dead. Poor Mrs. A! I feel the deepest sympathy for her & the children they have been in a dreadful state of fear & anxiety and now I fear he has gone without grace to fortify or prepare him or leaving any certain hope to comfort them. I have heard of his death only through the paper. Yesterday Clara Sallie & I received one hundred & twenty calls & among them all I think there was not a whilom Rebel. Mr. Gantt called with Admiral Lee. We are well and anxious to have you home again. Many of the Officers called yesterday but not all of them. Col. Brown & General Donaldson did not call. I find I am in too great a hurry to write this morning so I will attempt no more. You do not write to me & if I get no more letters I shall confine my correspondence to replies to yours.
Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis.
Jan. 3, 1868.
[1868/01/03]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
I enclose a letter which I have just recd from Dr. Bigelow. Several days ago I wrote again to Mr. Stanbery in regard to the Doctor's appointment to the Marine Hospital. If you would get him this appointment it would probably be better. I think your simple recommendation would secure it to him. This is the day you were to take Minnie back to New York. I do wish you could get home soon but I know it is not your fault if you do not come. The young folks are all going to attend a party at Mrs. Ballantine's this evening. The sun is shining brightly and Elly & Rachel are making the most of it by living out doors. Tommy started to school this morning. A load has been taken off my heart & spirits this morning by the good news that Mr. Arrington received the Sacraments before his death. The poor widow & her children can bear their sorrow with that hope to console them. Give my love to all & beleive me dearest ever yours,
Ellen E. Sherman.
[EES]
St. Louis.
Jan. 6th, 1868.
[1868/01/06]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Your very interesting and most welcome letter was received yesterday. I do hope you will soon get away from there for I perceive you are getting quite tired and we want you at home badly. Everything goes on smoothly and well and all are very happy but miss you greatly. I hope you will not forget to write to poor Tommy for he has been counting the days since he wrote to you and expected a reply to his letter by return of mail. Lizzie was delighted with her letter from you & seems very ambitious to learn and to improve. She is deeply interested in all the accounts of Minnie. It is time Minnie had returned to her school. I am very glad that John & Cecelia have been so friendly & kind in their invitations to Father and the family. Father enjoyed Minnie's visits to him greatly. You must tell me all about the dinner at the President's. I never heard of a young lady being invited to dine at the President's. I am glad you got over your sickness so soon. It made me deeply anxious for a few days, until I heard that you were better. All send love to dear Papa. Cumpy points to your picture. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis
Jan. 8, 1868.
[1868/01/08]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
I enclose the first letter I have received in reference to poor Mr. Arrington's death. I wish you would send or take it to Father and when he reads let Tom & Charley read it and ask Father to return it to me.
Mrs. A. would like me to come up but I still feel my cold, & I am loath to leave the children, but should the weather moderate I may possibly go for a day or two. A letter written the day after this shews me that she is feeling very desolate & lonely & I know there are very few persons she could take any pleasure in seeing.
I have forgotten to tell you that Mr. Bowman sent on Cumpy's Bank books some time ago - $250 in two different Banks. Of course I made prompt & suitable acknowledgements but I am sorry I forgot to tell you as they would probably expect you to mention it. We have been greatly interested in your letters. Tommy was delighted with his. Cumpy will be a year old tomorrow and I intend to have him weaned within the next month. He can walk by a chair & generally whistles as he goes marching on. He has a great desire to get hold of the fire & makes the most sudden & rapid movements on it but thus far we have succeeded in flanking him. Give my love & thanks to John & Cecelia for their kindness to Minnie & their attention to Father. Ever dearest Cump your truly affectionate,
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis,
Jan. 10, 1868.
[1868/01/10]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
I have written you frequent short letters. We are all freezing these few days past; the thermometer has been below zero & the northwest wind blowing against the windows of my room until it seems a very barn - My hands are not sufficiently thawed to admit of my forming the letters. Tommy Elly & two of the girls have had sore throat but the Doctor has this moment called & pronounces them all nearly well. I have given him one of your Havana segars (I had a few stored away) & the aroma in my room is delightful & moreover reminds me vividly of you. I hope you will soon be smoking by your own fire side with no Politicians to molest you. I will enclose one of many circulars which have been sent here to you and me. I want you to tell me what to do about it. You will see our name is used & we are no doubt expected to be interested in some way, by distributing circulars &c. &c. I hope to hear from you today again. The weather is now moderating, the Doctor says & the wind has changed and we may look for snow before long.
Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis.
Jan. 12, 1868.
[1868/01/12]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
You should not suppose that I want you to feel the letter writing to us a burden. We are most happy to hear from you as often as you can write but it was not a letter a day that I seemed to demand. I think you were probably not conscious of the interval that had elapsed between some of your letters. When I know with what ease & rapidity you write I felt disappointed. Minnie has written two very satisfactory letters since her return and I have also had a very pretty letter from Madame, which I answered, telling her that we both were exceedingly well pleased with the school &c. I sent the money, or rather a draft for the amount of Madame's bill & I sent Minnie $50 besides - $20 or $25 of that she already owes Col. Bowman but as you left her $25 she will be quite well off for a time. I have written her four letters since the one directed to Washington & which you forwarded to her - this is four since the 2nd inst. We have been in a state of blockade almost owing to the ice. The mail & passengers were detained one day. & I fear they may be tomorrow as it has been bitter cold all day & all night last night. The first of the Assembly Balls took place at the Southern on Tuesday - I enclosed the card they sent to you recommending you to subscribe. Tickets were sent here to the Misses Sherman & one blank, all enclosed to me. Mr. Felt leaves with his family for Chicago on Wednesday where he takes an interest in the Tremont House. Poor Mrs. Felt is overjoyed. Father De Smet told Tommy yesterday that he had just given the last Sacraments to Maffit Turner who was dangerously ill of Thyphoid fever. I heard that he was a little better today. I will go or send tomorrow and see how they all are. We are all over our second severe colds except Mary the dining room girl whose only fault, you say, is that she is Irish. Dr. Hageis office has been no sinecure this winter. Genl Nichols was looking forlorn the last time I saw him. He says as fast as the Dr. gets one of his family cured another one gets sick - they have not been without an invalid in the family since November and as to his horses he is thrown into utter despair of ever keeping two at a time on their legs.
Poor Col. McCoy's family had a terrible seige of sickness - really dangerous some of them, and when Mrs. McCoy was worn out nursing the children the servant girl was taken ill & the weather was so severe she could not be removed for some time. The Colonel looked if possible more forlorn than the General - he looked dejected not tosay despairing. Dayton stays the greater part of the time at Cincinnati, but each time he has been here he looked like a Mummy he was so sick & woebegone - and said he could not live if he did not go away sick from here. From the way in which he squeezed my hand the last time he went away I think perhaps he never expected to see me again. I really think poor Dayton is in wretched health & am sorry I was once so cross to him but he did behave like a boor, yet I think it was partly from ignorance & partly because you never required him to shew us any politeness. When Tom Reynolds acknowledged the receipt of the money for the horses he said that Genl Hickenloper had written to him that Dayton was visiting Cin: with an ulterior object. I presume he meant matrimony but I do not know. Audenried, according to Genl Nichols, went about for several weeks as if the affairs of the nation were pressing upon him and after weeks of anxious care and unparalled responsibility he got a house in order & Mrs. A. & the baby arrived. New Year's day, when he called he said Mrs. A. was to have received visits with Mrs. --- (I have forgotten the name) but the nurse took a tantrum and put off and the house was in a state of confusion & dismay that day. If we have good weather this week I am going to see Mrs. Haines Mrs. Audenried Mrs. Thomas Mrs. Merrill the Col.'s mother & the Marcy's again. I see the Marcy's & McClellan's hate the squib which is going the rounds of the papers about the Cheap Boarding McClellan obtained in Switzerland. They were not so sensitive when McClelland connived at the slander against you. He must recognise the retributive justice that has been dealt out to him since that time. And as to you, you sought no revenge - "Vengence is mine & I will repay saith the Lord". You left them to the Lord of all & your name has not only been vindicated but crowned with the glory of earth & they, each & all of them (I know who they were) have met their just punishment. Dr. Linton has never sent in a bill for services last winter. I wrote him a note lately & he called & said that must stand as a present to you. Give my love & thanks again to John & Cecelia & praying that to your earthly glory may be superadded hereafter a crown of immortal joy I am your ever affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI
St. Louis,
Jan. 14th, 1868. Tuesday noon.
[1868/01/14]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I have stopped in at your Hd Quarters & am not sitting at your table. Col. Audenried is here & has a fire in your room. Col. Dayton has not returned from Cincinnati. Genl Nichols is sick and has not been here since Saturday. I am just from the funeral of Maffit Turner who died at 11 o'clock Sunday night. I went to the house and from there Mrs. Hugh Campbell went with me to the Church where Father De Smet said Mass and Father Garasche preached. It was not the Jesuit Church but their parish Church St. John's.Father Garesche spoke of the young lad having "gone to join his fair haired Brother who died on the field of glory" &c. Mrs. Turner did not go to the Cemetery but remained in the Church until the crowd left. I could not go out for the weather is still severely cold and the Church was very cold & we were there a long time. All are well at home today. I fear you will not get back very soon.
Ever your
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis
Jan. 16, 1868.
[1868/01/16]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I fear you are being worried & troubled by the turmoils & discords of the Capitol. For my part I deeply sympathise with Mr. Johnson personally & would like to see him sustained politically. Of course I have not got all the facts but I am surprised that Grant suffered Stanton to go in to the Department without first notifying the President. Grant wants to secure the Radical Nomination, but by working to that end no matter how quietly he will lose and not gain friends. When he becomes a partisan he leaves the grand position which he has hitherto occupied.
I received a letter this morning from Col. Bowman, the first I have had for some time. He tells me of Mrs. Bowman's condition & then says "I am not alarmed but somewhat uneasy about her". I am convinced that Mrs. Bowman will never recover and I am very glad that you called to see her when you were last in New York. She has always shown me tender kindness & interest and I feel attached to her, moreover I know how she has suffered when very few beleived she was sick. We are all quite well & are now enjoying sunshine. I wrote you after the funeral of Maffit Turner on Tuesday. The poor Major looked badly. I felt sorry for him. There were very many friends at the funeral both gentlemen & ladies among them many whom I knew & spoke to. There was no one with the family but the Pattersons & Charley Hunt. The Lucas' &c. were with the other friends. Mrs. Lucas stood for a half hour & the other end of the parlor from the seat I occupied. Poor Maffit looked thin & very much like Julia. We have been nearly ice bound here - for one day the mails could not be carried over the River but I presume the ice is melting now. The Felts have left. Mr. Felt says the offer Mr. Drake made him is better than he had intended to ask - the contract is signed & everything is couleur de rose.
All send love. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
If you have time I am sure you will feel interest enough in Mrs. Arrington to read the enclosed letter. You were right about their means being limited.
St. Louis.
Jan. 21, 1868.
[1868/01/21]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I fear you will not get home as soon as you expect. It has been now nearly two months since you left. We are all well and I assure you I am thankful that you are well. Do help the President all you can. I am sorry for him personally & I think it a scandalous thing to treat the Chief Magistrate as the Radicals treat him. Yesterday I went into Leitch's to get something for Lizzie's chillblains & Mr. Leitch said to me in his dry way, "Grant has killed himself dead as a kick". The expression was new to me but not the idea, for I felt that at once when I saw the simple statement that he had quietly walked out of the Department without shewing the least respect for the President. "With what measure ye meet it unto others it shall be meeted unto you". When Grant comes to be treated in a manner so insulting he will know the full import of his quiet contempt of his lawful Superior. I think, but I have never seen it intimated that the President ought to suspend Grant or in other words put him in arrest, for disrespect to his Superior Officer. Grant would very soon do it to his subordinate. Grant is playing for the Radical nomination & will get or has got it but he will not be elected. I for one would not influence a vote for him if I could. The enclosed was sent to me by Fr. Anthony of Cincinnati, written just as Mrs. Lutz was leaving the Hospital to come back to St. Louis. It was not delivered to me until yesterday. Lizzie & Tommy are very faithful to school. Cumpy is the most entertaing member of the family - he is a Sherman out & out - and he will be out-breaking after awhile. We are making drawers for him. Elly & Rachel have been making pies in the kitchen & having disposed of the work they have gone in to dress their doll babies. They play out at stated times. Trusting we may soon have you with us, ever, your affectionate,
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis
Jan. 23, 1868.
[1868/01/23]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Unless something new detains you in Washington you will soon be with us again, of which I am heartily glad I assure you. We are all quite well, my cold still lingers but is not severe. I beleive Genl Nichols is confined to his room still but none of the other Officers are sick that I am aware of. My last from you was written just before you started to see Com: Porter. I hope you enjoyed the visit and that the presentation of watch came off according to your taste. I called to see Mag Reber a day or two since and found her in distress at the news she had received that Dr. Linton had got his leg broken and would not be able to attend her in her confinement. I wrote a note of sympathy to the Doctor and have heard nothing since but I presume he is doing as well as possible under circumstances so disagreeable. Tom's friends Mr. or Dr. and Mrs. Carpenter dined with us yesterday. They go to New Orleans, Havanna, Savannah & Washington. This being Thursday, Tommy has availed himself of the icy condition of the pavements, to execute some brilliant maneouvres on skates with Elly & Rachel as an admiring audience.
I scarcely knew how to write to Mrs. Velé about that Circular. Can you find out anything about the scheme? If Mrs. Robert Anderson is still in W. you can learn something of it from her as her name is on the list. I will send you today's Republican with some letters &c of Grant's revived for present & future application.
All the children send love and hope to see you home soon.
Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis.
Jan. 29, 1868.
[1868/01/29]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
From the news by telegraph published in this morning's paper I find that the Radicals are determined on a Cromwellian course and that our hopes of seeing you home soon are vain. I take it for granted you will be kept in Washington. I know you will act from principle & take what in your judgement is the proper course. The whole thing might have been averted, had Grant not joined the Radical conspiracy. I have lost all confidence in Grant & would infinitely prefer Chase for President. As it is still possible you may be home I will write no more but assure you that all are well. The Doctor was out again to-day and burned my throat which has greatly releived it. Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis.
May 20, 1868.
[1868/05/20]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I telegraphed you this morning but I almost fear you may not receive the dispatch although I sent it as you directed to Fort Union & ordered it to be forwarded by mail. I got home late last night with Minnie & found all well here and everything going on nicely. Minnie is improving slowly at least I hope so but I feel that I can scarcely yet tell what is the matter with her. She has no pain but she is exceedingly weak and has not a particle of appetite. I can tell in a few weeks but before that time I shall not allow myself to hope that she will recover. She is so happy to get home that I look to that to be of great service to her. We staid at Mr. Hayes and there are no words to describe the extent of the kindness & gentle tender and refined attentions. My picture is pronounced a good likeness & certainly it is a fine picture. Poor Mr. Healy made the greatest effort to have it a success & he feels quite proud of it as a work of art. The complexion & hair are beautifully given. He leaves Chicago on Sunday & feels very gloomy about going away from his old freinds.
An immense crowd had assembled there when I got there last Saturday night and I was glad to get home before the regular day for the Convention as I do not wish to meet the Politicians. I feel very much disappointed that John did not stand out from party like Trumbull Henderson Grimes &c. I would have been very proud of him if he had but it cant be helped and one good thing is that Impeachment is dead. All send dear love to Papa. Ellen Lynch as just arrived & I have my hands full having only arrived last night at 11 o'clock. Ever your devoted
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis
May 24th, 1868.
[1868/05/24]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
This is Sunday morning. I have been to Church & now write to send by Minnie who is going in the carriage to the half past eight Mass. Minnie is slowly improving in strength and appetite. She was very much reduced by diptheria and the other trouble is not entirely over so I cannot yet form anything like a correct judgement of her case. She is far too much reduced to ride on horseback but I take her out every morning in the carriage and get berries and young chickens to induce her to eat. The rest are entirely well but Master Cumpy does not try to talk as much as he did some time ago - he thinks too much of running about & getting into all manner of mischief with as little loss of time as possible. He undertakes to do everything that he sees any body else do & he gets very mad if he don't succeed - very much as his Papa used to do when a little fellow. We are all very anxious for you to come home. Indeed I am getting tired out of this way of being a wife & a widow at the same time. It is too lonely here when you are gone & outside visitors cannot fill the gap. I trust you will be back by the 17th of June & I doubt not you will be called to Washington Political news you will get from the Papers - It will be to my interest to have Grant elected as I should so much like to move from here & for myself would prefer Washington to any other point the only drawback being your dislike to it but with Grant President you would probably be satisfied there. - Father has got home and is having preperations made for our Summer there. All your freinds here are well so far as I know. I am going tomorrow to call on Mrs. Dayton Mrs. Clark & the ladies at the Arsenal Mrs. Haines & Mrs. Audenried. The Ballentines move this week. It is very dusty but weather pleasant. Do get home as soon as you can. I hope Minnie will be able to attend the wedding on the 26th of June. All send love to dear Papa - Minnie is writing. Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
I have telegraphed and written twice.
St. Louis.
May 27, 1868.
[1868/05/27]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Yesterday I was surprised & rejoiced to receive a letter from you written at Trinadad. Minnie & I, who read it together in the carriage before Head Quarters, amused ourselves at the idea of the world renowned Lieut. General attending a fandango & attempting revive the "lingo" of "los Mexicano". I warrant you kissed any young girls there may have been present, with bright eyes, to see if their lips were as sweet as in old times. It is a lucky thing you can take pleasure from all that presents itself & I have no objection to your kissing pretty girls in an innocent way, but you must always bear in mind that I seriously object to widows be they Mexican or American - a French widow would be indeed awful and an English widow abominable - But one thing certain you will do as you please but knowing that you are the only man in the world I ever could have loved you are true to me in heart and soul, if your prejudices do run away with you sometimes. Our time will soon be over now & we must begin to prepare for eternity where God is our Love, where Willy will be our elder brother and where he & dear little Charley are awaiting our coming with a love surpassing that of earth. You will be pleased when you return to find Minnie so much improved. She was too weak to get into the carriage without assistance but now her complexion is gaining color, her appetite is improving and her strength returning fast. The rest are entirely well. Cumpy thinks more of running & lifting and throwing balls & marbles than of talking. He is a regular Sherman. I have written you several times of late and telegraphed you but you did not receive the dispatches. Impeachment is abandoned - the Court adjourned sine die. Fessenden, Grimes, Trumbull, Henderson, Fowler, Van Winkle & Ross having covered themselves with honor & stood in the breach heroes & models of moral courage. I keep very quiet politically & am personally very anxious for Grant's election. I am tired living without you & in Washington we could live together.
Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis.
May 29th, 1868.
[1868/05/29]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I have written you several letters since I got home from Chicago. The last received from you was written at Trinidad when you were prepared to attend a Mexican fandango. Yesterday we had a most delightful rain and all nature and every body seems refreshed. Tommy & Lizzie are at school this morning and Minnie and I are going out in the carriage soon. The rain prevented a croquet party at the Arsenal which Minnie was prepared to attend. We are going down there to day. Cumpy is out with Patrick enjoying the fine morning and Elly & Rachel are circulating over house & premises their field being limited. All are well and happy & anxiously looking for your return & for the time to start to Lancaster. Grant's letter of acceptance has not yet been published. It does indeed seem that we are never to have a settled home for now we will be in a state of uncertainty until after the election. One thing to my mind is however quite certain. Even should Grant be defeated he will want you to remain in Washington next winter as he will not wish to be there under Johnson. We can rent a furnished house there I suppose. It is so uncertain about my letters reaching you that I feel no encouragement to write long ones. My picture has not come yet and Mr. Healy has left Chicago. All send love to you & want to see you home.
Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis.
June 4th, 1868.
[1868/06/04]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Since I have heard from you Genl Nichols has had a letter, which makes me quite anxious lest you should have been offended at not having received letters from me. My greatest happiness is to hold pleasant communication with you when possible nor would I neglect my duty to you who hold the first & highest claim to to my respectful and loving attention & the only cause of my not writing was the impression I had that there was very little probability of letters reaching you. Had you expressed a desire to have me write, or told me how often to write & how to address my letters nothing would have prevented me from writing regularly. We have all talked over your journey - Genls Nichols, Marcy and the rest and have come to the agreeable conclusion that you will be home by the 15th inst. I must say that I am growing quite impatient for your return. It seems to me you have been gone so long. Minnie is getting along quite well & the rest are flourishing as usual. Nothing new that I know of. I spent last evening at Col. Gantt's with Minnie & Lizzie to hear some wonderful music & met Mr. Frank Blair & many other agreeable people & enjoyed myself very much. I have become quite disippated since you left & have seen more of the Army people & of other friends than ever before.
Trusting to have the happiness of soon welcoming you home I am as ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis
June 15th, 1868.
[1868/06/15]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
You will be home so soon that it seems hardly worth while to be writing much, especially as you are generally annoyed by long letters and hardly have time to read them. Your letters have come quite promptly much to my gratification. Yesterday I received yours of the 7th inst but the one to Minnie which you spoke of having written is not yet received. We do not know whether Mary's wedding is to be in the morning or in the evening but Minnie has written to Mary to ascertain & will be able to tell you when you get home. Minnie is hardly well enough to go as Bridesmaid but I suppose she will make the effort. I will have your clothes put in order and all will be ready for your welcome return home. We are growing very impatient to see you. All are well but Minnie & she does not seem to get beyond a certain point in renewed strength. The trip you propose will do her good. The Pay Master gave me $600. which has taken me along nicely, leaving you $400 there some of which I shall use this week and $200 of which you will probably draw. I paid an extra bill of $150 for Minnie at the school and $150 to the Doctor, that with her Travelling expenses &c made her account quite large. The gray horse has a sore shoulder & I have had to get another horse but will not close the bargain until you get home. The Exhibitions both occur on the 25th. Lizzie's in the morning & Tommy's in the evening. All send dear love. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
July 8th, 1868.
[1868/07/08]
[WTS]
Dearest Cump; I was much gratified by the receipt of your telegram announcing your safe arrival & that you were well, I trust you have had no return of your asthma. By this time you are snugly domiciled with Maj. Turner & I trust you will suffer no more from heat than you did here. It has been cooler & more pleasant ever since you left. Frequent showers of rain have fallen. Tommy has taken two lessons in swimming and Minnie has had two pleasant horse back rides. I put up nine gallons of currant jelly today, which is super excellent. I shall have the jars packed with straw in a barrel & sent out when I am ready to go home. I have had carpets taken up & the floors left bare which improves the comfort of the rooms and I have made various changes in the arrangement of the beds & have them now much more to my satisfaction. All are quite well and send best love to you. I made no arrangement about stopping our paper - please speak to Roberts about it. Tell him that I received the gloves he gave to Genl Nichols to send to me - gloves that were cleaned. Did the woman come for your washing? I hope you will write to me often and arrange to stay awhile when you come for the children. I am not sure but the schools commence before the 12th of Sep. as I told you & if it be healthy in St. Louis I will take Tommy & Lizzie back in time for the first day of school.
Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
July 10th, 1868.
[1868/07/10]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Colonel or Capt. Dickey, formerly of 13th has written to me that he has sent to my address one dozen Buffalo tongues. Please tell Roberts when they come, what to do with them. I presume they had better be hung in the attic - on the side over the dining-room. Minnie & I are expecting a box from the dress maker at Albany N.Y. If it comes there please have it forwarded via Adams Express. We are all quite well and enjoying the change in the weather. Cumpy holds his own with the other children whom he compells to play with him. Tommy has learned to swim "Froggy" and despises small boys who swim "Doggy". Patrick is quite proud of his pupil. I beleive I forgot to give you an account of Rachel's party which was a great success. At the close of the evening when several nurses & messengers were waiting to take the guests home Elly & Rachel, assisted by Tommy sang with great eclat "I feel just as happy as a big sun-flower" and "The charming young widow I met on the train". Next morning I asked Elly how the party closed & she said "splendidly". They are anxiously awaiting Elly's birthday that it may be repeated. I intend to arrange to have Minnie Lizzie & Tommy remain in St. Louis or in Chicago for it will be necessary to go out so early to the Schools that it will not be worth while to have them take the journey here and spread their clothing. I hope you will come to this conclusion - they can make a little visit to Notre Dame & you can introduce your protege young Carson. Best regards to Major Turner.
Ever yours
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
July 17th, 1868.
[1868/07/17]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Your letter of 14th reached me yesterday. I am very much gratified to hear that the picture of myself has been received & that you are satisfied with it. After spending so much money on it I should have felt very badly had you not been satisfied with it. He had more trouble painting the mouth than any other feature & he seemed to consider it as large as Henry Clay's for he made several allusions to Clay, whilst working on the mouth, which indicated an association of ideas. He need not have contracted the forehead on account of the scar for he might painted me without the scar. He & Mrs. Arrington seemed wonderfully satisfied with the shape of the head as he gave it & with the complexion - which he certainly made as fair as possible. We have had the most intensely hot weather that I ever experienced except in the Tropics at Sea. Last night the thermometer fell five degrees and the change was gratefully hailed by everybody. Even Cumpy slept better & longer & seems brighter this morning. When we retired it was 88 in Father's room & this morning it was 83. Since the hemmorrages that Father had on Sunday he has been apparently ten years older. He has had no return & can now ride out but he is pale & thin & stooped & aged. He seems to cling to life. By the vigorous use of certain remedies I have got Minnie's system in good condition. She is now all ready for the trip which will be splendid for all the children as well as for yourself. We keep remarkably well, considering the weather. Croquette, riding, swimming & picnicing are vigorously pursued. Mr. Willock had sun stroke yesterday & is very ill owing probably to his habits. All send love & hope to see you soon. Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
July 19th, 1868.
[1868/07/19]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
We have had some rain yesterday & today but it has not made much change in the temperature as the heat is still great. We see from the papers that you are enjoying yourself at Leavenworth. The children will be all ready for the western trip when you are ready for them but I hope you will remain with us here a few days first.
Father has had no return of the hemorrage since Sunday night but he is greatly reduced and changed by the attack. I think he is at any time liable to a return of it. I think you may miss this letter as it will probably be forwarded about the time you set out on your return to St. Louis. Did you get tired of the Major, that you prefer staying at our house when yet get back? I hope you will find your room comfortable there. If you turn down the bed clothes you will find clean sheets & pillow cases on the bed. I hear Minnie caressing Cumpy in the hall below. He is the best baby ever was. He seems to be growing quite tall since we came here. All are well & send best love. Ever yours,
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
July 24th, 1868.
[1868/07/24]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
By the time this reaches St. Louis you will be there and altho' you will be on the eve of starting here you will probably wish to hear how we all are. Father is better than you would suppose he could be after such an attack, yet he is very weak and much broken, notwithstanding he keeps up wonderfully. Minnie is entirely well and the rest are flourishing. Cumpy is rather thin but he is perfectly well and enjoys himself every day & hour. Minnie continues her horse back rides and Tommy swims almost every evening. I have the horses brought up an hour or two before Minnie rides & Elly & Rachel take turns in riding with Patrick as Groom. You would be surprised to see how well Rachel rides. She sits with perfect ease whilst the horse trots, & she guides him like an old rider. Elly rides pretty well too but Rachel excels her. We will all be happy to see you again.
Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
P.S.
Please do not let Roberts give away a bucket of our rain water. We will want the cisterns filled when we get there & if he begins to allow persons to get water there will be no end to it & when I return to clean house &c. &c. I shall have to pay for hauling river water.
Lancaster O.
July 28th, 1868. Tuesday morning.
[1868/07/28]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Yesterday I was expecting to hear that you had got back to St. Louis & you would be here by the last of the week & I was very much disappointed therefore on the receipt of your dispatch to find that you cannot come before next Monday & not then certainly. I wish you would look in one of the lower drawers in our wash stand & get my india rubber shoes & bring them to me. If they are not there, they are in the closet between our room & the nursery. I have two old pairs & a new pair with very broad soles - it is the new pair I want but if you cannot find them bring one of the old pair. There are several pieces of white muslin on the shelf in that closet. I would like you to bring me the piece of the closest texture - not the unbleached but the bleached. I shall draw on the Bank by the first of next week, for some money. We are all quite well - Minnie Lizzie & Tommy attended a pleasant party at party at Charley Garaghty's last evening & they are now down in the yard playing croquette with Jule Reese, Lizzie Deshler & Allie Bartley. Cumpy is doing finely & Elly & Rachel are enjoying the days hugely. Father rides out twice a day but he is very feeble. I hope you are well. Please bring that asthma remedy that Mrs. Felt sent you. Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
P.S. I have heard with great regret of the death of Tom Collier.
Lancaster Ohio
August 14th 1868.
[1868/08/14]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Your letter to me from Minnie reached me yesterday, & I must own that I had begun to feel a little uneasy at not hearing, although you had notified me, by telegraph of your safe arrival. I wish you would get Dr. Magruder to give Tommy some treatment for his sore throat. He has been subject to it so long & it debilitates him & makes him so nervous that I always dread an attack of it. I hope Minnie will continue well & if she does I am sure she will enjoy her visit to Leavenworth and beyond. I have great confidence in Dr. Magruder; much more than in Dr. Hazen. Minnie says that Mag wanted her to remain in St. Louis but she ought not to think of such a thing. Of course you would not permit her to remain there. All are getting along nicely here. Father is very much improved & rides twice a day. Elly & Rachel had another party yesterday. Their guests, eight in number, came at nine o'clock in the morning and left at eight in the evening & at their departure both Elly & Rachel cried audibly, if not "becomingly". But Elly consoled herself by going down to the Office, where Rosy had a dance, and dancing the Scottish for an hour. However, she was again despondent when sent to bed. Cumpy has improved in his Croquet playing & will not strike a ball a second time until some one else has played, in their turn. Patrick exercises the horses twice a day & they do splendidly. John is furiously jealous and has actually groomed his poor old nags & given them the benefit of the curry comb for once in their lives. I will start Patrick & the horses on Monday & I shall make all my arrangements to start from here on the 3rd or 4th. Sis will come up to the house. All send love to you. I miss you greatly & sincerely hope you may be with us next winter. Remember me most kindly to Col. McNutt, Dr. Magruder & Genl Sheridan & all the rest that I know.
Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
P.S. Make the children write to me.