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July 3rd 1880 329 E 15th Dear Julia Your letter came in the beginning of a hot term, I could not take my 'pen in hand' - it has been dreadful - but to day the air is thin, clear and cool. Larry came home from Mattapoisett Tuesday, and in an hour began to break out with his old enemy hives - Monday I am going to post him off to Mrs Taylor in Penn - where she and Lily are absolutely alone, amid ruins - the place, house, garden, orchard, waterworks, hot house, vineyard, grape houses, furniture are literally used up - gone - by Bayard's family who have lived
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there at his expense 20 years, and now Marie is burdened with paying the interest on a debt to the old people - and has another principle and interest to pay for her scoundrel of a brother - a respectable Dr in Philadelphia - Still Marie has much to be thankful for - that she is independent with income enough to be clothed, fed and roofed. I look upon people who have any money now with an awful awe and admiration - How did they get it, How can they keep it? I have written you various [ ?] in the last two years - we have been slowly and surely drawomg towards the jumping off place - have got there, and cant jump - nothing to jump into. We are badly in debt, have no prospects, no friends, that is so influential
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friends to put Stoddard on his feet once more - He writes and writes articles - but ten hours writing every day will not pay our living bills - Now enough of this - Stoddard wanted me to thank you especially for your mention of him, in your last letter - He was touched and gratified by Harrys letter and the one from his [ ?] friend too - How do you feel about Harry's walking in your poetical track - with your poetical feet. Mrs Taylor and I were talking lately how strange that Bayards and Dick's children had no love for verse - Neither of them that we would swear to, has read a single poem of their fathers' - Perhaps Stoddard's hash will be settled when his Life of Poe comes out - they are getting ready to fall
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on him - It is a terrible book - therein is calmly a - la Radamanthus set down all Poe's lies, meanness, falleness to women, calumny of men - his wretched attempts at poetry are all explained and defined - They cannot be disproved, not one of Stoddard's assertions. I suppose you are about to have high summer jinks with your family - sons and daughters - how lovely! We do not expect to go anywhere at all, unless we do go to Marie for a few days - to help her wile away the time - but neither of us can bear to go where the past was so happy and is now so dead. Larry will stay with her several weeks - the poor boy is a prisoner here - he hates the city streets & walls in summer as I do - is never willing to go out - but Oh what a comfort he is to me Julia - but you can understand all that - remember to me to Seneca - accept our mutual regards - Yours EDBS
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this is a copy of a typed transcription of the previous 4 pages
