Abby Hopper Gibbons letter to Sarah Hopper Gibbons Emerson

New York Jan 16/74

My dear daughter Sally must excuse
me if I have missed a mail for I can
hardly call my soul my own, in those
days of Reports and things - I am so
glad thee finds Mrs Hoe’s family all
my words have painted them - so good
common sense and time - I wish thee was
coming in May with [underlined] them [/underlined] for I think
of equinoctial storms & rough sea for
April, so if thee writes that such is
thy wiser conclusion I shall think it
just right as will all of us - Mrs
Cheever made me a lovely call and said
among other things that Lizzy & Mrs Coates
was coming then, in a [Conard?]

I went again to see poor Mrs Putnam
who looks so sad, and yet she smiles
and tries to be cheerful - her address
is now and for the winter 132 West 23rd
she sent me Lizzys photograph and it
is lovely -

Say to Mrs Hoe that the Home
prospers - good charities always do
The Ball is over for Infant Asylum
and nets 11.000 & over - so much
for Diamonds & empty heads - Well
it is all right - if there is no [underlined] mind [/underlined]
to work, they must dance to the fiddle
and keep going from Year to Year

[left side]
Just here Mr Rusch has called to take
Julia a sleigh ride - I am thankful not
to be the one - By the way I had the
honor of presenting Mrs [underlined] Hoe [/underlined] John Bigdon
with three Ball tickets - of course
the kingly man who is fond of his
free side did not go, but madam
did, as the world knows - I went
with Julia to call upon them - and
such an uproar - the handsome man
was summoned for the third story
so persistently, that he called out to
allow him to get his clothes on as
he was dressing - When he appeared
he looked very attractive, enquired
for all, and bade me send his
distinguished love to [underlined] thee [/underlined]

We took up the paper yesterday
and & saw the death [Charles A Bristel]
announced - we heard he was
sick, but did not know his case
was serious, nor did [Stella?], as
Julia called thine only a day or two
before - What will Grace do poor
thing for she is so dependent and
he was everything to [underlined] her [/underlined] - she is
better off than many a poor soul
but it will be very hard for her
Mrs Minot called to see me when
in Boston

[right side]
Bonny is a jewel - The other day she
was full of glee, and said she wanted
my scizzors to cut, I told her mildly
I would rather not - She looked at me
mischievously, and said, “You know I am
your only Granchild” - Of course she got
what she asked for, as she always does -
The Brown’s have lent Julia their
sled - and yesterday she dragged Bonnie
up to 58th street taking the family
by surprise, as they had not allowed
the youngsters to put their [noses?]
out

I intend to write to Mrs
Hoe - meanwhile give my love
to her and say how [struck through: I] grateful
I am for her kindness & attention
to [underlined] thee [/underlined] - Mrs Holsted sends her
love to you all and was delighted
to hear from them -

I am glad Mr Mott is improving
and was going today, I wish
he was coming home - his mother
said one day, in a tender, affectionate
tone, “oh I sometimes long so to
see Thomas” - she was lovely when
I was in Philadelphia

Aunt Anna went to Swarthmore
day before yesterday, which proves
her condition fair at least - Maria
writes cheerfully and so we are hopeful
- Thy letters come in quick
succession and make us very happy
the enquiries are constant from
all thy friends, and they are proved
to be many -

Thy father says he sent
thee one circular of Randalls [Island?]
[?] - I sent one to
each of the Commissioners, accompanied
by a letter, demanding
a change from dead heads, to
living men - father feared I
might give offense, but instead
[underlined] they [/underlined] though General Bowen
sent me a kind letter of explanation,
and that Mr Bowen would
call very soon to talk with me
and to devise a plan - and so
my lists are active in behalf of a
way to give home life to the poor
neglected children, with best
blessings thy mother -