Abby Hopper Gibbons letter to her family

Cambridge 8/20 1889

Dear ones all

Who more than the donor is deserving
of this nice sheet of pure white paper? It
is a singular fact that I am rather in the
habit of taking up an inferior scrap to write
to those who know me best, for if there was anything
elegant in the appearance, it would not seem
as coming from [underlined] me [/underlined], so to be perfectly true, I
must be in character. This sheet therefore may
appear out of place.

We arrived at Dr Walkers door about
1/2 past 5 on 5th day last, received a most
cordial greeting, and all made as happy & comfortable
as a beautiful and well around home, and
the kindest attitudes can make us. No time
seemed to be lost. The next day the Dr
ordered a carriage, taking his wife & ourselves
to Mount Auburn, from there to Waltham
the latter his native home, and the daughters
of his most intimate fruit living in New
York, a fund & so worker of wine.
She was there on a visit, and a beautiful
home they have, outside & in, the family
gracing the whole. Dr Hobbs, for such
is the name, was Dr Walkers chum in college

[left side]
In the evening, Charles Emerson who is about
to enter College, and James I Lowell possessed the
evening with us, next day it rained, and we
lived a pleasant day within doors, in the open
room. Mrs Lowell & daughter called to invite
us to visit them. Next day (1st day) we
took seats in a carriage with Dr Walker
and proceeded to Cambridge port where he
was invited to preach, and an excellent sermon
it was. Susie Lesty, James Thayer & others
passed the evening with us, to day the Dr
accompanied us to the Library, where we passed
the morning in looking at pictures, some very
old engravings, and a great variety of [?]
& Raphael's. This [evening] we passed at
Mrs Lowells. What the morrow may bring
forth I know not, sore that a call from
Sall Grimke is expected, which will be an
event in the old & honored town, her costume
will be quite new here, but the Dr will enjoy
I know, he is not an old fogy at all.
He is in advance of Cryond & Bellows, having
cast aside wholly the white choker, and is
willing every man should think for himself, he
seems very happy in absenting himself from the
meeting of the Alumni, and says he shall never

[sideways along left margin]
Now dear Willie delighted in his life at lowbridge, it
seems when Im here, as if I were fulfilling a
wish of the beloved child.

[right side]
attend another, that he saw long ago what they
were grooving into. He speaks of the [underlined] Sermon [/underlined], as
one of Mr Bellows [underlined] huches [/underlined] laughs a great deal at
the various ways of and getting him, and is a reader
of the newspapers an all days of the week,
Sunday not excepted.

And all this time where are [underlined] you [/underlined]! I
hope your journey has as delightful as was
anticipated, but I could not reconcile
the passing through New York and not a sight
or sound of you. Sister Rachel told me of
the hurry I drive, and I was dreadfully
sorry that we had not appointed 37 Park
Row as the meeting place. They have the
office to themselves now, and we can hold
private council when we choose.

I suppose you know that Sally is in daily
attendance at her fathers office at regular
labour, her mind has worked as well as
her body, and every day I see some new
development. She needed just such employment
as she has at length found. I beg you
will read the Century in number 33, you will
find a story she has translated for it from
the German. "The poor Fiddlemaker & his Child"
I have heard it said that the Century is dry,
and uninteresting, and upon an investigation, find
all who make that assertion are not its readers,
now be careful, Dr Walker says

[sideways along left margin]
I remember to whom I am indebted for the engagements
of the present time, and am grateful

no such paper comes to him, that he hears
it is too good to prosper, that he reads it
[underlined] all [/underlined], and the only complaint he has to make
is, that it is a time-consumer, [underlined] hear hear [/underlined].
We were very glad to have Julia back she
is remarkably well, and doing up her chores
to be ready for her classes, both she & Lucy
are again engaged in the same school.
Do my dear Lue write & tell me what
sort of a new baby that is. I suppose its
name is Louis Lenot, such is the prediction
if we are mistaken, pray what [underlined] is [/underlined] the name.
A letter will reach us if sent to G P Drumy
anytime this week to President Wather.
This is third day, and Lucy says the 16th of
the month, she may be right, which will
prove me [underlined] ahead [/underlined] of time, the rest of the
letter was written yesterday when I was called
to see Mrs John Ware, a number succeeded
her, tea time came, and then we [?]
Dr Walker & wife to the Cambridge Observatory
where we remained until 11 oclock. We
had there a grand entertainment, it being
my first chance to look at the moon and
stars through a telescope.

To day we make a few calls, and Lucy
is invited by James Lowell to accompany
his sister & himself to Fresh Pond, I never

[sideways along left margin]
fancy going on the water, but Dr Walker says let her go
that it is safe, and the company all right. AHG