Lucy Gibbons Morse letter to Abby Hopper Gibbons

New York April 26th/63

My dear Mother,

Your letters were first rate. Many thanks for them. Grace arrived
the other day, I forget when and Julia lunched with her at Mrs. Rackenann's. She seems
to have enjoyed herself very much, more than you have her, I guess. Dont worry yourselves
about us. Julia and I dont want, and dont mean to take, a vacation as thee
calls it. Our lessons will stop for a while, of course, and that is enough. We wouldn't,
either of us, [underlined] be paid [/underlined] to go away this summer. Our best rest is at home, and
home we mean to stay. We are having real good times with Joe and Carry. They seem
determined to do all they can to make their visit agreeable to us. Night before last we
went to Wallack's and tomorrow night Jo takes all of us, Aunt Rosa included, to a concert
given by Camilla Urso, a wonderful lady violinist. Last night I went with
William Riley to the Philharmonic Concert. We sat next to Mary Robinson, who delivered
me to give thee her best love when I write. Poor Uncle John is suffering with
a boil on the back of his neck. Aunt Rosa is well and lovely as can be. Willie is
sweeter than ever. The other day he made me read him a lot from Grandfather's life.
He is perfectly delighted with the idea of my having a childs company next Seventh
day afternoon. He calls it "Sister Mary's birthday."

I had a splendid letter from William Thayer. Did I tell you of it? When I get
it from Uncle John I will send it along.

Thee asks about the Home. Everything there is going on smoothly. We have in
the common council money yet, but I suppose, will have it very soon. We had a
very interesting case there not long ago, and, as I have nothing else to write about, I may as
well tell of it. A young girl, good looking and innocent, was sent into the world to make
her own way, by the death of her mother. She found one or two places where she stayed for
awhile & finally went to Mrs. Richmond's institution where she remained four months
with the promise of learning a trade and being put in the way of making her living. At

the end of that time hse was no nearer learning a trade than at the beginning
so she quietly left. She says that is the only bad thing she did. She was wandering
in the streets, looking for something to do, when she met a woman, whom she asked
if she could tell her of any place to go. The woman answered, "Yes, I want a girl myself.
You can come home with me." She took her home, found, in a few hours, that the girl
was pure, intelligent and good, went to her and told her: "You are a good,
nice girl. I am a bad woman and this is a bad house you are in. Leave it. You
are not fit to be here." The girl left at once, walked the streets until night when she met the
same woman again who asked her if she had found a place. Upon receiving 'no' as an
answer, she told her she could go home again with her & she would conceal her for a
while. She did so, keeping the girl in the garret for two days. At the end of that time
she said to her: "I cannot keep you another night. You will be discovered, and, if you
stay, will become like the rest of us here. Rather than you should do that, I will send
an officer and have you arrested." While she was speaking some man came in who
spoke of the Home. The woman immediately addressed a note to the ladies which, although
misspelled, terribly written, or rather scrawled, was pitiful in the extreme.
"Take her in, for God's sake!" it said, "or she will be ruined. Take her and God
will bless you for it!" Of course she was allowed to remain. She stood by a chair,
her hand on the back of it, & pleasing picture to look at, and told her story as simply as
a child. Miss Mann, I believe, sent her to a place in [Connecticut] where a good many have
gone before. I will find out where she is and let thee know. Mrs. Poor says she means
to see the woman who sent her to us, and I hope she will.

Mr. & Mrs. Choate and Julia went to Blackwell's island this morning. Jo had business
there and they found the excursion very agreeable. They propose another somewhere on
fast day. Think of Aunt Rachel actually living next door but one! The Underhills
will take their bill down too so, we think we shall be three very respectable families
which is good for us body and soul.

Mrs. Shaw asked after thee at the Philharmonic rehearsal yesterday morning. She
sent her best love. Bob is to married this week.

Farewell with best, best love.
thine, Lucy