[Letter of 1869 December 3]

[Letter of 1869 December 3]

1869-12-03

Housewives

African American women

Wiley, Edward A. [recipient]

image/jp2

Correspondence

This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. For access to the original letter, or high-resolution reproduction, please contact the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (blockson@temple.edu; 215-204-6632).

Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

William Still Collection

Blockson manuscripts

William Still Collection

Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Libraries

blockson@temple.edu

BMS010X0041

Phila" Dec. 3rd" /69/ My Dear Edward:/ Your letter reached/ me this afternoon and of course I was/ very glad to hear from you. First/ let me tell you how pleased I am with/ your penmanship. You have left out/ several words in your letter however per=/haps through haste. Well I have had/ my hands full thus far; it is no sooner/ morning than night is here it seems/ and I do get so little done. This morn=/ing Ma, and I went out shopping we/ started before ten returned after one o’clock./ Then ate our dinners since which time we ironed without ceasing until nearly/ seven this ev'ning. It is now half past/ eight and not a little tired I attempt to/ write you, Oh the sewing and the work/ to be done would almost frighten you!/ I am not sorry for you know I like to be/ doing something that keeps me hard at it./ I am in no mood to write I assure you for/ folks are talking and sleep knocks at my/ door. You remember how sleepy I was the/ last Saturday night I spent in O. well imag=/ine me now only in Phila. under the same/ influence. So O. looks not a little dull I/ dont wonder I am sure for just think/ I am gone. (Now dont laugh) Last night/ I attended a fair and of all crowds I met/ one there. I was glad enough to get away/ the room was handsomely decorated and the tables quite full. I made no pur=/chases save a plate of ice cream./ A great many entertainments take place/ this Winter. I do not care to go to any/ of them yet it will be almost impossible/ I suppose to remain in the City and stay/ home. So you really had a share of bad/ feelings left for me did you, where I/ left? Wednesday night has come and/ finds me just finishing your/ letter it is a shame I confess/ but if you could only see just how/ I [Dare?] to pitch into the work it/ would make you laugh. Well I am/ taking some little responsibilities on/ my shoulders you know I can’t leave/ younger and I might as well pre=/pare now for that Harper’s Ferry/ home. You know my mind is made/ up to go there if such a thing is pos=/sible dont you? Today another letter/ from you: you are real good to/ write so often. But pray tell what/ else do you have to do but eat study/ and write. Good exercise I tell you/ Have the Thomas' left the City? What/ do you all find to do anyhow? How/ is Jennie Coburn? Did Ms Hudson/ ever send you those things she prom=/ised you? Ms G. was good, but why/ do you say for once is she not at/ all times? What do you know to the/ contrary Mr. A lady asked me/ the other day what you eat. I told/ her I did'nt[sic] know. She thought it/ awful funny because she know just/ what her dearly beloved liked and/ what he did not. That lady was/ Maggie. I staid with her all night/ Sunday Night/ and we had a good/ old Chat but I am not going to/ tell you any more of it./ Now I know you will/ excuse this short letter as I have/ so much sewing on hand to do be=/fore the Sabbath and I hope soon/ to have a little more time for wri=/ting now I have none./ Farewell dearest,/ This is only an apology for your/ loving letters./ Affectionately,/ Carrie./