William Audley Couper papers

it seems almost impossible for all to get to bed before twelve o clock - & even then I cannot sleep, so that I do not feel able to rise early enough to walk before breakfast - after that is over there is always much to be done. I will scarcely be sorry when the Jacksons leave here simply because they are much in my room. The youngest daughter is a dear good child - a real old-fashioned little girl. I love her for her devotion to her Mother. Mrs Preston is still here. I like her too. Last evening there seemed to be no end to callers on us. I had really hoped I had done with them - I will go the rounds once more & then stop. Lord was very much pleased with his visit to New York. Andrew & Louisa were exceedingly kind to him - in fact no fault can be found with them. It is not to be supposed that they could be content to settle down where we are - he has business in N.Y. & has also a taste for its comforts & pleasures - neither of which we can afford to enjoy. Even here the pennies fly faster than I can afford they should. I must now stop & not look forward, if I do I shall be moping again. I am trying hard to look on the bright side of things - I am trying to be more grateful for the blessings I enjoy. My beloved husband my precious children have been spared to me - how blessed how happy I ought to be, & how happy I would be but for money. Oh! Tootee what a poison this has been to human happiness - We all look to it with desire - forgetting that it is not all that is needed for human happiness

Mallery returns to School tomorrow. Last evening M^r Farrel called to see me - he gratified me very much by saying that Floyd seemed wakening up & was studying with a will - I hope this will continue & as the regular school has now commenced I hope they will both be pushed forward sufficiently to make my teaching of them until your Father returns - It will be 5 years come November since we have all met at home. What may not the next 5 years bring forth ----- I have read the announcement of Mrs SC King's death in a Savannah paper. Something in the style of their Summer excursion. Poor woman may her soul be at rest! I have heard nothing of young Henry King's coming South North - I rather think it was only a negro story, but for his persuasion pursua= -sion his Mother & Hannah may now have been alive - We all naturally think it will go hard with S C King Still he may survive all this anguish & out-live [sic] you or I.

I hope the carpeting & Lordy's box have been received You must tell me what you think of the stripe, it would be cutting too much to waste if you I conclude to use it for the stairs & get another for my bedroom. I begin to fear the 30 yds are too little for your bedroom & regret not having sent you more. The fact is the two just took all the money I then had - I may yet be hard run

for the means - at the same time I really would wish to get many things I really require - real necessaries I always have thought persons coming North can find no difficulty in shopping - My experience makes it really a most difficult matter to get any thing - I never enter a store unless I cannot help it, & then expect to be cheated out of my very eyes. Defend me from Yankee shopkeepers they will tell you fifty lies in selling even as many pins - There are many ladies here prefer going down to N.Y. to shop but I am not up to that either. It is beginning to be time for us to prepare for home. So the boys & girls too will have to get warm clothing. I have some idea of letting G & F go to New York next week, they could be better suited there than here. Please beg William to write to Mess^rs Andersons [sic] about the box & carpeting - I wrote to them when they left this. Do not neglect to let me know the colours & figure of the parlour carpet - it is too provoking it should not have held out. The money which I am giving to these Yankees I do begrudge - how much it would have added to our comforts at home. Georgia is hard at work making Uncle Andrew a smoking cap. Appy is working me one of that pair of ottomans. We left those that were finished at Allentown. I am now sorry that we did so as I could have sent them to Savannah to be made up ready for us to take home with us. I begin to dread making a move either by water or by rail road [sic] - there is not a week but some accident is taking place - Capt Lyon has now left [in] the Florida - I shall go either in the Alabama or the State of Georgia. Many are returning South - I would not think of my own safety - but will be loth [sic] to with the lives of your brothers & sisters. - You must keep

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[written in pencil] [12 Sept 1852] [upper right corner]

me advised of the real state of the Island depend on it I shall come as soon as you will let me. If I take passage by the middle of October - which is the time Andrew thinks of leaving for Havana - I will remain here until the last of this month - then go to Allentown for three or 4 days - I would like to pass the balance of the time in the City of N.Y. if I could do so at a boarding house - I could not stand the expense of a Hotel. Malley, F & T will stay here until we are ready to sail. When Lord will come up, pay their bills & bring them to us. There is no pros-pect of Lord & the girls seeing Niagara this year - I regret this - but it cannot be helped. There has been a great many deaths in this place from disintary [sic]. I have not heard of measle [sic], or whooping cough - & often think how happy we would have been could dear Anna have been with us, dear little girl I think it would have done her good. I have not heard from Amanda since I last wrote to you. I am sure had it been left to her choice she would have been more with me. I can only hope her travelling has done her health good.

I am obliged to put this letter in the office this evening so as to insure your getting it on Sunday next = I was invited to go to Church to day [sic] with Mrs Devereux it rain-ed too much this morning - They have just called to invite us to go this afternoon - but none of us were dressed for going out - so none went. She is very beautiful ---

but more of this when we meet. Georgie is to be home soon. - Yesterday L. sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers I divided it between Mrs Gordon, Mrs Pope, Mrs Daggett & myself. a few days ago a young gentleman sent your sisters more than a peck of fine peaches - what are called fine here - but every peach I have tasted here require [sic] sugaring. The Isabella grape are ripening. A very fine vine grows in the Fontine & has run over a tree in this yard. They say people here have permission to eat of these & depend on it the way they are disappearing is not slow. Floyd & Tip dine with me every Sunday - I was amused today to see how they enjoyed their dinner. You or I would feel mean if 20 persons sat down to one small piece roast beef - 1 very small ham & one dish of beef steaks, & yet there was enough left to feed them in the kitchen - If I could only learn how to make good bread I would try this Northern fashion of having but one piece of meat on the table. We seldom had more than one dish at May Kings [sic] - they fill up the table with vegetables & bread --- & yet when you become used to it you would like it - What we have here is all very plain - but well cooked & clean. We have one nigger waiter a clumsy looking fellow with a squeaking voice who does all the carving on another table & helps those who first take their seat. Mrs Matthews was here last evening - her little grand daughter is much in love with Tip - but I can't say he is with her

She is even begging him to come & visit her - I really think I will make him go with me there on Wednesday evening next = I shall have to go cunningly to work to get him to go. I do not know how it is but he attracts general notice. the ladies pet him & the gentlemen all seem to wish him to sit on their knee - I think Floyd begins to look like a cracker & is less jealous of Tip. Poor Lordy has shaved off his mustache he got tired of blacking it. I shall snip dear Malley tomorrow his seat is next to me, & he is so kind & attentive in helping me to red pepper. But it is best he should be at school - he says he is going to study hard so that he can go home with us. He has fix'd his heart so much I hope your Father will not object to my taking him home with me. Lordy has not done much reading this summer - he promises to do wonders when he gets home. I hope by Wednesday to hear again from those beloved ones in California - God! grant the accounts may be favorable. It is rather strange neither of them let us [know] any of their plans or what they are doing. It is only probable that they will return in Dec. But they write to you & I doubt not say as much to you as they do to us. You say you have no news to give us - your letters are far more interesting to us when you write most of your dear husband children & self with the little items about our poor old establishment If I could only find a gold mine - I would bring home enough to make you all think it was best I should come North

but as that is not likely - you will have to agree with me it would have been better had I never come. All I shall gain is flesh & that I do not want. When you see Mrs Cater again see if she will let me have a mate for poor little Tootee. I would rather any other bird had died before that dear little beauty William Couper. Why could not M^r Bowtie have gone, or M^r Fraser. I did not value either of them in comparison with W.C. I have not seen so pretty a bird as he was since I came North & I have looked at a great many canaries. Rhina is half dead to get home - she is not very well today - & never looks really pleased except when we tell her we shall soon get home. Poor thing she is lonely - I do not encourage her going out much - In fact after Davys [sic] conduct I have confidence in none of them. Your sisters & brothers unite in much love to yourself & William & thousands of kisses to the dear little ones. I feel that this is a miserable production but I really feel incapable of writing a decent letter. You see I have got through my large letter paper, & have to use these miserable little sheets I ought really to write to Euphemia & Sarah Bourke but writing to any one but yourself & those dear ones in California is a perfect tax. Gods! [sic] Mercy protect you all my precious ones - kiss dear William & the children for me - Speak kindly to my negros [sic] in my name - & remember us to M^r Dunham -

Your devoted Mother AM King

14^th September 1852 [upper right corner]

My dearly beloved Child

Your last letter is now 11 days old - I felt certain I would receive one from you today, but I have been disappointed God! grant sickness has not caused this disappointment. Yesterday I received a hurried letter from your beloved Father & a more lengthy one from our dear Butler dated 15^th August. God! be praised! they were both quite well - your Father mentions having written to William - I think there must be another letter from him of the 14^th Aug. he begins the letter I did get with "Since I closed my letter of yesterday & sent it to the office the Mail Steamer has come in & brought your letter of the 30^th June" Would you not think he had written me another letter to come by that Mail? I have not received it however and fear it has been lost - These we have are terribly water soiled - in fact his to me was open. I do hope their next letter will be more explicit as to when we may expect them home - I do not like the tone of these last letters - your Father makes no allusion to returning & Butlers [sic] has too many ifs. In their two former letters they both mentioned their intention to send me some -- -- I am sorry to say I need it & unless it does come shall have to save more to enable me to return home. I had begun to calculate all the comfortable things I was going to carry home. I must give that up. When I go near the shops I make a point of looking the other way. What I have been obliged to buy has run off with too much money already. The girls & boys too must have some winter clothing. But let me drop this subject for the present. I will go back to Saturday Sunday night when I finished my last letter to you. It rained as I told you all day - Monday it cleared off & was really cold. In the a At twelve dear Malley took his trunk & was off to school - you cant [sic] think how I miss him, he is a dear good boy

[written sideways, on left and top of page] 15^th We are all up this morning - the weather still cold enough for us to be uncomfortable without a fire - I have not yet sent to the Office - Lord is a lazy fellow & has not yet been down. I do hope the day may not pass without bringing me a comforting letter from you my own dear child Once more adieu my beloved child your devoted Mother AM King

He has made quite an impression on the heart of the eldest Miss Jackson. She is rather pretty - but quite too bold for my taste. She has taken possession of the ring Malley's Father sent him & I am terribly annoyed fearing she may keep it. I have taken quite as great a fancy to her younger sister. One of the best little girls I ever saw, so devoted to her Mother. I have requested Mrs Jackson to let Eliza make me a visit this winter. They left here at 4 last evening - half-past 4 Lillie called in a carriage to invite your sisters to ride & with an invitation to me from her Mother to return with them to tea. So I dressed myself but could not induce Appy to go with us. She was sorry afterwards that she did not go. The girls had a delightful drive of 10 miles Not for me &c. Lord soon joined us - we had everything very nice & spent a very pleasant evening - soon after Tea D^r Matthews & Alic Couper called - so old S^t Simons had the majority in number at all events - for you know the Doctor was born on the Island. Other gentlemen called also. When I return I will have much to tell you You must begin at once to get over your prejudice against Lillie Shaw [who] is indeed a sweet girl just wait until I come home. When I came home I found Appy & Rhina sewing away & looking quite disconsolate

I had a long letter from M^r Woolley yesterday - written in old style he tells me that dear Amanda has been very unwell from a bad cold - they still adhere to their resolution to return home on the 7^th October. I hope the state of the Island may admit of your encouraging me to do the same. I do want so much to return to you.

This morning directly after breakfast Flora Appy & myself went down Chapel Street / the Broadway of New Haven / notwithstanding my resolves - I would give a peep into the crockery establishment - there I saw dear Mrs Baldwin pricing some beautiful tumblers. The girls left me with Mrs B. who had some shopping to do. We went into a place where they keep all sorts of conveniences for domestic purposes. I could get so many things of real use if ----- Well we eventually got through her purchases - & I went home with

her. She took me into the garden of a rich friend of hers - a most lovely spot - where I saw a great variety of new flowers - I could have spent hours there. Mrs Baldwin is expecting her daughter home this week. My walk gave me a terrible appetite - And Miss Lines had some very nice pork steak - I did eat a hearty dinner and was feeling unusually stupid afterwards - when who should come up with Lord but John King. I wish you could know him Too-tee, he is really a first rate fellow, his mouth & teeth are perfect, he reminds me very much of your Uncle David. he was on his way to N York. I am glad to say he is again in business. When William saw him - he had just failed - owing to the rascallity of his partner. He is very anxious that we should visit Springfield & I will try to do so. Louisa was delighted with his wife - She would come here to see us - but she has a young baby. Lord went down with him to the Depot & on his return brought me a very kind letter from Louisa. I have almost made up my mind to let G & Flora go down to N.Y. for a few days next week. I wish them to be with Louisa & Andrew. Louisa came very near losing her trunk of dresses when she went from here. Lord was her only comforter - he tried to persuade her it would be found whilst Andrew was trying equally hard to convince her it was lost, by mere chance it was recovered. You will admit they all had cause for rejoicing, especially as the mantau [sic] maker [cloak maker] she employs - has been sick ever since Louisa's return to N.Y. She is carrying home lots of dresses - Mrs Preston leaves us tomorrow I am really sorry to part with her - she gives room to a Mrs Derby - a real overdressed old fool who has succeeded in acquiring a foreign accent that she may be taken for a foreigner - I saw her in 1820 in Boston - a Miss Hart wife sister to Mrs Commadore Hull. She was then very beautiful there are still remains of beauty - but all spoilt by overdress & affecta-tion. She took tea in & has worn her bonnet the whole evening - because she thinks it becoming - they say she is 65 years old. Her husband was divorced from her on account of her extravagance - he is now dead - I must say I wish she had kept away - We have a very pleasant lady here