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a change. He looks feeble and is in a nervous state. Tootee dear we have neither of us appreciated your Aunt Mary's character. She is truly a devoted wife to your uncle. In fact should he now love her - I do no know how he could exist. She is never one moment idle - no fussing- but seems never to forgo a single duty. An admirable house keeper and manager. Always cheerful but I feel that I cannot do justice to her merits & will proceed to tell you what we have been after since Sunday last. I try to write so that you shall hear from me every Sunday. Last Sunday eve of course all went to church morning and evening. I find it hard now to keep a correct run of the days. Mary expected Lord on the 7th and invited company to her & which is drark(sic) here 6 o'clock. Mr. & Mrs. & Miss Gregory Mrs Cushing & daughter. After tea Mr Longnecker (who is here every evening) on the violin - we had some delightful music and in fact a most pleasant evening party. Mary & your sisters are horror stricken at my short dresses, so I have been kept very busy letting down not only dresses but petticoats - this is no little annoyance to me - I can scarcely walk in these long dresses. So they tell me I must take shorter steps. Upon my word it is hard for a gray headed woman to be beginning to learn how to walk again. Do you see the condition of this letter? Can't you guess how this this happened? That fool of a [Rhiner?] was talking to the old dutch gardener. She had got him to change her some money - he brought her an old penny which she objected to- he said "tis was hard times monies" She said I don't want any of your hard times talk". Their negro & dutch lingo sounded so queer I "bust" out laughing. & you see the consequences - On Thursday evening Mary Georgia & myself made several calls - & also visited the cemetery - where they "stack" away the Dutch. It was to me distressing to see the rows of new made graves. This is considered a very healthy town but with 5,000 inhabitants I should not have wondered at the number who die & yet it is a rapidly increasing place - Yesterday evening we rode
over to the water cure establishment. Mary Georgia, Virginia, Mr Longnecker the boys and myself. Lord was tired, Flora was lazy. I could not if I tried ever so hard give you an idea of the beauty of the scenery. The farmers are now in the midst of their grain harvest. Which seems to be a fine one this season . We past a farm belonging to one old dutch man of 500 acres - the largest & richest in this county. He has but 3 daughters to inherit this wealth. And these daughters go bare legged in the summer. The situation of the water cure establishment is beautiful - just on the slope of a beautifully wooded hill. The propsect of Bethlehem & country around is beautiful but the house itself is very uninviting - little regard to nicety I should think. The Dr can speak but little English - he seemed delighted to hear of Miss Gould & begged to be remembered to her. He has very few patients this season. He seemed prouder of his white turkeys of which he has a fine flock & of the water/which was indeed finer than anything else. Our ride home was along the banks of the Lehigh river dear Tootee I never see a beautiful prospect - but I wish you & William were with me to enjoy it. You have often heard me speak of the beautiful banks & river of the Lehigh. As we rode on one side (a rode dug from the side of a high mountain) shaded by beautiful trees - close on to the river - this running and jumping over little rocks on the opposite side the road is shaded by trees - carriages and foot passengers - then just out side the road is the canal - the boats moving slowly up & down the way we found Flora & Lord as well as dear Henry ready for their supper which we all partook of with good appetites. We lived well here all of the very best. Breakfast at 8. dine at 1 - tea at 6. I never feel hungry & yet always enjoy my meals. I actually am getting too fat. It will be hard for me to let out - as well as let down my dress. I think we all sit up too late at night - the fashion here is to sleep in the afternoons - this is what I most dislike. I have not yet indulged in this. But I insist on Georgia's doing so - Flora requires no urging- Appy seems not to need it. It is very pleasant to see how pleasantly Georgia & Appy get on. Flora is still devoted to Adele [Ricos?] time & absence will cure her of this folly. Poor Flora is weak in some points - but
She has many good traits of character. Georgia's voice has [been?] much improved and in no way spoilt. She is a lovely little being this some [illegible] I believe her to be truly pious. Her conduct shows this more than her words. Gods [illegible] will I trust rest on my precious little girls [illegible] is to serve Him. I am very anxious to have Floyd and [Tim?] at school Floyd is growing rapidly - and poor fellow he is so rough - I find that I cannot [illegible] as I did at home. My ideas seem confused. I hope [illegible] even to be able to remember to tell you all when next we meet. Dearest [Footer?] how much I wish that happy moment was at hand - Oh! my darling you can scarcely imagine how much I feel this separation very severely - I have yours and [illegible] and Willies [illegible] on my toilet which I look at many times a day - and always before going to bed. Tomorrow we shall of course go to church. The nect day Lords goes out [illegible] with [illegible]. In the afternoon we are going out to [illegible] [Lewis?] [illegible] Tuesday we shall pack up and leave here on Wednesday. I must write [illegible]. I'm [illegible] today and beg her to remain at Brooklyn until the 16th so that we may meet in N.Y. I am sorry they are so [illegible] - but they came for pleasure and sight seeing - I cannot give you their address as I do not think they will remain in any one place more than a week. If you desire to write to her [enclose?] the letter to me. I think the [fatigue?] of the constant motion too much for [illegible]. He says she was quite well when he wrote. Mrs Halls address is to the care of "Benedict Hall and Co No 21 Park [illegible] New York." You must not let those sweet children forget me my [Footer?]. God! [help?] the sweet babes. How I do long to see them You need not fear I long for the time when I can return home. for after all - a home let it be ever so lonely or poor in the best and [sweetest?] - [illegible] place for me. It is hard for me to be [acustomed?] to being among strangers I am as happy here as I could be when from home. I have just eaten dinner and am more stuffed than ever. How often dear [Footer?] have you and I said "if we were from home we would never be at a [loss?] for subbjects to write on" Now that I am here I find it more difficult to write than when I was at home. You my darling must write me about everything beginning with yourself - husband - children - then all that I left at home from [W?] Durham down to my birds and chicken. tell Marien she is not to forget that she is to have 25 [illegible] for every bird she raises. There are some beautiful birds here - quite as pretty as " William [illegible]" they call them May birds - large flocks of them. They are beauties. but I can't catch any - you must tell me everything that takes place - all the sweet talk of those darlings - tell them how much I love them and long to return home to them. You say nothing of the things Georgia sent home - [illegible] two trunks. Have you recieved them? have you recieved from Sophie [illegible] the bills which are yet to be paid? I will try and not forget to put in this letter a line or two [illegible] Andersons - which you will beg
{ Mrs. William A. Couper Frederica St. Simon Island Georgia}
San Francisco 14th July 1852
My Dearest Tootee
In my distress about your dear mother your letter of the 5th ulto gave me much consolation. I feel quite sure that under the protection of your good husband she will be as well taken care of as circumstances will permit and that she will be comfortably lodged in some quiet place where she may enjoy the society of your brothers and sisters and be cheered by pleasant scenes and the company of agreeable people. You cannot imagine my dear Tootee what a shock the intelligence of your dear mothers indisposition has given me. I am in a constant whirl of business which gives little time for reflection and requires all my energies to manage. This is a sad relief to me - yet it is a relief - else I know not what I should or could do. I am struck almost dum by the idea that your dear mother who has ever enjoyed such strong health has at last been prostrated by a derangement of her nervous system. It will now avail nothing to enquire how it has been done. Her exposure has been I am sure, mostly unnecessary, but I would not now say so to her. She has taken the best means to recover and may God in his mercy
bless and restore her to health. I shall await the arrival of the next mail in fear and trembling. If she can but escape fever until her arrival in the healthful atmosphere of New Jersey, all will be well. What I dread is fever at sea - but the voyage is now so quickly performed by Steam that there is much less danger than formerly in a sea voyage. I hope for the best. Dear Brother has been quite sick with mumps, but is now quite well. He will write to you. I am greatly indebted to your good husband for taking charge of your dear mother. I pray tender my best thanks to him. I hope you had some one to remain with you in his absence. I feel much anxiety on that point yet I suppose of course you would not remain alone. I console myself with this idea. Pray write to me frequently. The intelligence of your dear mothers indisposition has made me almost as nervious as she is represented to be. I hope Mr Couper will take care of the plantation. Your mother mentions that Mr Denham is in bad health and that Mr Couper has promised to attend to the plantation. He has, therefore, enough on his hands. I cannot say how soon I shall return. If God in his mercy grants our prayers for the recovery of your dear mother I may remain here until November or perhaps longer In fact I could not get away sooner, were I to resign tomorrow. Such is the extent and nature of the business of which I have charge. This separation