Writings by Susan Dickinson


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           Poughkeepsie N. York
          October 22d 1861

From Neds old black
nurse "Aunt Abby" [in Susan's handwriting]

My dear Mrs. Dickinson -

     Could I sit down +
scratch off letters as easily as you + Mrs. Cogges-
hale[?] can. I assure [added: you,] your last kind letter
would by no means, have remained so long
unanswered. (+ the same I can say of the
young ladies)- but between the letters Miss Julie[a?]
has to write for herself + those to my children
she is kept pretty busy in her leisure moments.
I was very much pleased with your kind
letter, + was so glad to hear about him +
Mrs. Coggeshale[?] is as impatient + anxious
to hear from him as I am - I long to know
how he gets along - Whether he has grown

fat + whether he can laugh + play yet?
     Our baby is 8 weeks old to-morrow, + is as
fat as a little butter ball, which she has
been ever since she was born. I should
dearly love to take her + run[?] in + introduce
her to Jacky -      I feel anxious also
to hear Mrs. Dickinson, what kind of a girl
you have, for I have so many many times
thought of you + wondered how you were
situated, whether you had to be much con-
fined with Jacky or not?      I know the young
ladies help you a great deal with him, for
they must love the little fellow very much -
     I think very often of the young ladies +
shall never forget their many little kindnesses
to me - I am glad they had so pleasant a
visit away this Summer - I wish they would
remember "poor old Aunt Abby" often in the
way of a little note occasionally - I really
fell in love with them -      How do Bridget
+ the four cats get along now? Please give
much love to Bridget for me + a kind regard

to "Tobey" if still alive - I do'nt see Bridget's
marriage in the paper, so infer she is
still with you.      I do not know
hardly where I shall be this winter _ I
wrote to Mrs. Bowles some time since, asking
her if she knew of any one who wished a nurse
if she would, be kind enough to interest her-
self in my behalf but as yet have not had
an answer - If I do not get a place there
shall remain some time after leaving here
with my daughter in Yonkers[?] who is anx-
ious to have me go there. Should I return
to Springfield, shall not forget my promise to
run[?] up and make you all a call - Please
remember me with all respect to Mrs Dick-
inson and the ladies - I don't forget their kind
remembrance + [?], all of them. I hope
Mr Dickinson has left the corner far behind
as Miss Anna or Miss Clara wrote "he had got
round it". A kind remembrance to him + many
to yourself, if you please - It would afford me
a great deal of pleasure to hear from you or


H bMS Am 1118.95, Box 9


 from the young [added: ladies], for I am more than anxious
to know how you all are + whether you ever
give a stray thought to your old nurse
          "Aunt Abbie"

p.s. Please remember me kindly to Mrs. Cutter[?]
+ her dear little children, also the old lady
that first nursed the baby - I cannot get the
name right - Am glad to hear she has a
granddaughter - Will you be kind enough when
you write to let me know how your sister is
who lost her baby? I hope she has got over the
shock it gave her -

[upside down at bottom of sheet in Susan's hand:]
Neds first
nurse -


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Image reproduced by permission of the Houghton Library, Harvard University.
Not to be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.
Transcription and commentary copyright 1998 by Martha Nell Smith,
Laura Elyn Lauth, and Lara Vetter, all rights reserved
Maintained by Rebecca Mooney  <rnmooney@umd.edu>
Last updated on January 23, 2008

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