[Letter of 1885-September 21]

[Letter of 1885-September 21]

1885-09-21

African American teachers

African American women

African American sisters

African Americans -- 19th century

Anderson, Caroline Still, 1848-1911 [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

BMS010X0127

Cross Roads, Tanner's Creek/ Norfolk Co. Va./ 9-21-'85,/ Dear Carrie:/ Yours of a recent/ date was received a few/ days ago. I came out here/ Sat Evening about dusk./ Mr. Spiller drove out with the/ two children. It was just/ light enough for us to see/ that the house was a country/ one. I entered a large room/ when in the corner I spied/ the bed. The teachers room/ last winter had been partition/ed off, a nice little square/ room made. So here I sit,/ as it has been raining, and/ the wind blowing, there's a/ huge log fire in the big/ room. There are four three in family/ Mr & Mrs. Firbee & son, they/ seem kind, and I think I'll/ get enough to Eat. Its[sic] in/ the Country sure, But I am only/ four miles from Norfolk, the/ people go in every day./ Yesterday, I spent after/ Sunday the time with the/ two teachers below me./The lady is from Washington/ a Miss Schumman. They board/ at a place in Slavery time/ must have been beautiful./ The "White house" still stands/ surrounded by the "quarters",/ and smaller houses. They are/ on Tanner's Creek, and can/ see all the large steamers/ as they come and go from to &/ from Norfolk. Had I gone/ where the Superintendent wanted/ to send me, I would have been/ worse off. Well I shall try to/ get along as well as I can./ School opened today, it rained/ but few came out. The School/ house is a good one, but small,/ that is for the number of children/ The Trustee told me he intended/ to add a wing and have two/ Teachers. I am very glad I/ got the school, glad that I/ can soon pay off, no providence/ preventing, what I owe./Ask Mr Anderson if there's/ more than ten dollars coming to/ him? I think Mr. Spiller said/ he got a check for twenty dollars/ maybe more or less, for kindergarten/ if so he can keep the five/ that was due me and I will/ send the other as soon as/ possible./ Before leaving Norfolk, I was/ about to write you, that good/ milk was an unheard of/ luxury. Here they have a/ cow, and I can get all they I/ want./ Badger must be crazy/ Is he still with you? Its[sic] a/ pity he and Rob are so inti_/ mate. Is Will still in Louis_/ ville?/ When next you write I/ hope you will have heard from/ Dr. Alexander, if so, what then?/ Mother knew, also Pop that I/ wrote for the things, I told him/ to send them C.O.D./ You did not send the letter/ you spoke of. Yes I think/ I can stand it./ I suppose he braced himself/ with an unusual amount of liquor/ to write that letter. Well there/ may be a brighter day, but I/ can not see it./ I answered/ Fannie's letter a week or so ago./ I heard from her last week./ I knew she would be hearing/ reports my being here &c. I/ told her just enough of the affair/ to satisfy her curiosity. She was much/ surprised even at that, and said/ the people were quite busy trying/ to find out what was the trouble./ I must now write my/ wants to the Trustee. Several/ things are needed./ Hope you will write soon./ Mother wrote to Mary and Pop/ also I believe./ It is raining/ so hard I am afraid it has/ set in for two or three weeks./ Love to all. I am feeling/ quite well. You will find/ my address at the heading./ Did you ever find out/ [x?] if Mrs. Badger got my/ letter?/ Your aff sister/ Elle./