Abby Hopper Gibbons letter to Sarah Hopper Gibbons Emerson

New York Sept 5/73

My dear and always dear first
born daughter, what did thee dream
on the first of August? If it was a dark
dream why did thee not remember, that
dreams go by contrary’s, for nearly all
things here were prosperous & promising
and soon I have the happiness of [?]
that Julia is at home again, arriving
last evening - and this morning a gentleman
called to enter his 16 year olds daughter -
Lizzy Gay called too, and wishes ever so
much love sent to thee - school of pens on
the 16th Bonny dear child comes
with her mother on the 12th we shall
keep thee green in her memory, and I have
not a doubt her fathers return will
give her renewed thoughts of [Aunty?]
Sally - a letter from Kate Cobb answers
that Mary Dewey will come
to us tomorrow Aug 6th and she will
bring us tidings, if not new of thee -
I do hope Paris will present active
interests, and no doubt drawing
will lend a charm to every day
life - I long to hear of thee, first with
our dear Doctor Stearns & family

[left margin]
soon as Bonny comes, I will send a letter, [underlined] full [/underlined] of love

and that thee may accompany them
to Paris, where I sincerely hope thee
may pass a pleasant winter, for I
am greatly set upon that charge for
a thorough repair of all breaks in thy
constitution, and if thee comes to us
in the spring renovated, it will be the
choicest & best of blessings to us -
Frank comes to [?] Mary and
both will stay with us - Kate is
going direct to Sheffield as Frank
is not willing to endanger the present
good condition of the children
by consenting to their breathing
the atmosphere of New York - which by
the way is very healthy - the
anticipated Cholera did not appear
in a simple case - The city has
been well cared for by the New
Health Department, and great
credit is awarded them - a great
many are out of the city yet - Uncle
Samuel [?] with aunt Rachel
of Dutchess, and the Powells enjoying
life at [Pinchose?] and remarkably
well - Wilson thinks going there
a great success - Dr Putnam of
Boston passed an evening with us last
week very pleasantly -

What does thee think of Dr Mary Putnam[’s]
marriage to Dr Jacobi - he [underlined] was [/underlined] a Jew,
but calls himself an atheist now, and
it appears she possessed herself of the
same opinions while in Paris, which
caused her father much sorrow - she
is only his third wife, and I am told
that her husband inclines to assume
and hold to the profession, but will
not recognize her position as public
Dr Jacobi is called tyrannical and
it is said will assert himself -
So all Mary Putnam’s years of study
and gathered knowledge is in a measure
set at naught, unless she
can live upon the contemplation -
They went to the City Hall, and
were married by Mayor [Haremeyer]
that was an added subject of
gossip, the reason for which has
not yet come to light.

George Ireland was buried last week
Kathys Father - from Dr [Bottoms?] Church
thy father was there - and last 1st day
he went to hear James [?] Clark
Mr Sinclair wishes his love sent to thee
very particularly - they are all at Croton
How sorry I am for John P. Hall and
how he lingers - but I am thankful
that he suffers very little

he cannot hold out much longer.
Father sent a basket of [?] this
week to dear Dr Walker - I wish
he could do the same for [underlined] thee [/underlined].
Mr Cobb is going to send us all
our [Cod Fish?] next winter - what
a dear steadfast find he is to us
all

Julia seems wonderfully well
and all ready for her writers work
it is very warm but this is the 5th
of Sept and not weather is not
likely to last beyond the 15th so
we take comfort in the thought
the nights are comfortable, and that
is much - I was surprised to
hear it was so warm with you
give my love to Charles and tell
him I hope to take them by the
hand or this side within one year
By the way I enjoy to see if
Mr Rusch can move in the matter
of an opening for him, and
Julia is in favor of such a
course and thinks there is a
hope of it - about their country
home I cannot speak
now but I shall do the best
I can to advance Clarke’s interests
- Farewell my dear

Keep the eye of hope wide open and let thy dreams
be pleasant - thy father is very happy about thy movements
And believes entirely in the [corridor? ?]
Thy loving mother