Abby Hopper Gibbons letter to Sarah Hopper Gibbons Emerson

New York Sept 26/73

Sally my darling I do think [Bonny Morse]
the greatest grandchild alive
she was here to lunch yesterday, and I took
a tumbler to put her milk in, when she
said, “[underlined] no [/underlined],” aunty Sally’s cup of tea with
a little woman on” - [underlined] there [/underlined]’s a memory for
you, as she had all seen or heard of it
since thee left these shores - it was thy little
china that Mrs Drury gave thee - when she
beheld it, she laughed all over - she went
to the different places, and demanded all
her belongings - Thy letter dated Sept 5th
came today, and glad enough are we to
hear that all is well, but awful sorry to
have thee parted with our dear Doctor &
his wife - I hope thy Drawing lessons are
pleasant and up to thy anticipations - by
the way, Lisa began to day, and the school
is fairly underway - Last 3rd day aunt Rebecca
and aunt Sarah Harper came - remained
until 5th day, and no sooner turned
their backs, than uncle Lou appeared, and
at G. Pell made Washington and aunt E
the three last without notice - we
turned the two latter into the same bed
of the previous occupants, and postpone
under Lou in thy room - the first time
it has been occupied by any but Julia
they all depart tomorrow - uncle Samuel,
aunt Rachel and myself expect to
go next week to see our dear old angel
aunties

[left side]

in Maryland returning in about 10 days -
stopping in [Philadelphia] for two or three - long enough
to visit aunt Sarah Poleman - shall be
at uncle Edward’s - I shall feel as if I
had done something to please [underlined] them [/underlined] and
my own Father in Heaven -

Yesterday I asked Bonny what Julia
was, aunty Dule as she calls her -
she said “Bonnys own niece” She says she
is the only grand child - she said uninvited
till aunty Sally to come home - she was
wild for he “Garfader” to come home
and when he did, she engrossed him
entirely - he built house after house
with the blacks, and is just as fond
of her as he can be - and she of him
Mr Morse came the day he arrived and
was very affected, [underlined] he [/underlined] with Lucy and
Homer dined with uncle Edward & aunt
Anna here, and we had a very
pleasant evening - [Three?] days ago. I
received a very nice note from Mr
Rusch, with [underlined] three [/underlined] Cheques in, for one
Hundred Dollars each - one for
the “Infant Asylum”, one for
the “Isaac T Hopper Home”, and one for
the “Diet Kitchen” - he added if
there is anything more, I am at
your service, and are holding
something back from their coming in” -
I was mightily pleased -

[right side]
I wonder if I told thee the 30.000 we
got at Albany is in our treasury, well
invested, and earning six dollars a day.

I suppose news of the panic ([?])
has reached thee - Joy Cooke’s failure
and Homes & Macy, with many others -
matters soon simmered down, and
all seems the same as ever -
Thy father has been better since his
attack, which only lasted 24 hours,
then for many months - he is in
better spirits decidedly - goes down
to his office daily about 10 - returning
from 3 to 4 -

I mean to read “Their Wedding
Journey” - and wonder if it is a sequel
to “A Chance acquaintance" as I have
counted upon a continuation of the
story, - I am now engaged working
a little cricket the size of the
square ones in the parlor for Bonny’s
Christmas - it is pleasant [evening]
work

Kate & Fisher come home tomorrow
Julia says she misses Kate very much -
she reads her the more for thy being
away - Be sure and give us early
notice of any change of base on account
of directing letters - I shall
write to our dear Doctor & wife
thanking them for their kindness and

attention to thee in a land of strangers
The picture of the day you were passing
from past to pillar was faithfully portrayed
[underlined] [hit?] [/underlined] be [farming?], as good
This letter is one of distinguished stupidity,
for from the moment I took the pen
in hand, I have been expecting the
folks to return for dinner - they left
for Stewart’s and Arnold’s from
there to the Park

Little Dula will be
delighted with her letter - aunt Mary
was here yesterday & said all were
well - we rejoice to hear of thy
improved condition, and shall further
rejoice when we hear of the
day set for Mr Cobbs coming to
New York - how we do miss him
but hear that he is coming soon
he anticipated was has happened in
the financial world and was
wise to take the course he
did - Farewell my dear
daughter, and if a letter from
me should fail thee, which I think
cannot happen, it will be because
I am on my journey South -
thy loving Mother

[left margin]
I am very glad thee meets familiar characters,
if new faces, and the English Tongue is pleasant I know