[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Wooster June 4th 1881
Dear Mother:
I have sealed myself beside the kitchen stove to try to write to you. Rob has just gone bound for Steubenville to at least say good bye to Lily before she sails for China!!! Well wonders will never cease in this world, and doubtless not in the world to come. Will says "History is being made fast in our family" and he confidently expects to hear that you will sail for China in September next. I am dumbfounded but that is all. Lily is going and I can only hope and pray she may not find in a year or two that she has made a mistake, as she did in her engagement to Mr Eckles. She has not the slightest idea of remaining single, so you need not be in the least troubled on that score. I should not wonder if she would be married sooner than if she had held on to Mervin. But it is all in the Lord's hands and we can but pray that she may be wisely guided. This man that stands up with her at Ann Morrow's wedding is rich and wants a wife!
Rob has about decided to give up the wife chase, and I think he is wise. He has gone to consult with Lily about their plans. He scarcely knows how to occupy his time from now till September. Wishart wants him to go to Europe with him, and he would like to go - thinks it might be well for Lily to wait another month and go with him on the October steamer - thinks it would look better on her part - and if she goes with these unmarried men she will be thrown so much with them - she may be led into a rash engagement before reaching China. I do not know could not advise either way, but urged him to go and talk the matter over with Lily, as that would be the most satisfactory. So he went. You will hear from them soon no doubt as to their decision. Lily wrote to me and asked my opinion and I gave it honestly[.]
Evidently she did not [heed] it but I felt it to be my duty to caution her[.] She said in reply what surprised me and what I had never heard mention before, that she has had her mind made up to go to China ever since she left Holkyoke. [sic] Feeling as she does now I suppose she had better go, and yet I am far from persuaded of the wisdom of this whole proceeding.
But I do hope you will not worry over it. Those of who are left will do all we can to make you comfortable, and I think your mind will be more at rest about Lily than it has been for years. She will doubtless get a good husband who will care for her and she will be settled at least.
She writes that Anna is going East to help her get ready - she is going to Columbus for a week - but you know her plans no doubt.
I am very sorry to hear that you are feeling so badly and I am afraid all this fuss will about use you up. Just get and keep a girl right through all the time and dont cook so much. If I had know[n] all this was causing [?] I would have staid at least another year in Mechanicsburg.
But we cannot see ahead. And this reminds me of Uncle Robert's death. What will Aunt Jane do? Poor thing[.] She will now find what it is to bear, "real trouble." I am so glad now that you went out there last Spring. What a life of sorrow and change! I will try to write to her soon. Rob had his ticket bought to Newcastle intending to go there from here - but hearing of Uncles death and not feeling that he could decide his future plans without seeing Lily he turned aside to Steubenville. He came here from the Assembly at Buffalo by way of Cleveland where he spent a few days with Laughlin & Wishart. He received Horry's card yesterday. And will write three cards worth when he has seen Lily.
I cannot be quite so sanguine as you about that Carlisle treatment. I know that I am and have long been just in the condition you describe and it was for that Dr Trily [?] wanted to perform that operation. That is what makes my back so weak and sore. But every Doctor I have seen has a different opinion on the whole case, and I am disgusted with the whole profession. I found I could not follow out this Cleveland Doctor's directions and get along with my home cares. Finding this he advised me just to give it up till I could go to Cleveland and just attend to myself[.] If I have faith in any treatment I have in this. I would like to go but board is ten dollars a week and his charges beside are $10 the first month (to sue [?]) and $5 each month after. Medicine $5 per month. So you see the expense is so great. I [...] this treatment would do more for you than any other. Mrs Dr Stoddard here has affected just as you are and he relieved her very much. I do not know what to do I am sure. "O where shall rest be found" - that is what I long for and what I am never to have in this world. It would do more than all else to help me. Rest for body and mind. My head is aching wildly this morning and I am deeply blue.
We are having a cold spell again and I have [...] some cold when I should not. I have been intensely busy for two weeks, had a seamstress all last week and you know what a [...] that is for me. It is a fearful worry for me to get all filled out for the summer on so little means. We made over a lot of things for the girls two suits for Janet and one for Mary. Then we made two new dresses for Mary. The second one - a [...] I had to finish this week for her to wear to the Senior party at Dr Taylors Thursday night. On Tuesday evening Miss Myers and I had a joint tea party, at our house she invited two and provided some things[.] We had eleven guests besides Mrs Myers and her boys and another boy beside WIllie and ourselves making 19 in all. It passed off nicely but I was so tired. I baked a cocoa cake equal to cousin Ellens I do think. We had 6 boys rather gentlemen the two Coars of Persia - Mr Forman of India - Mr Hopper of China, Mr Ryall of Nebraska cousin of James Peck - and Netties big Senior Mr Wisner. For ladies - Miss McGow of Urbana - Fannie Boal - Miss Proctor - Elea Price & Miss Childs. I wanted specially to have Bessie McGow - Mr Ryall and Mr Hopper - so we added on a few more.
I may go to Cleveland after commencement is over - though it is not a good time to be down to meet. I dont know what I will or can do. Will have to wait and see. I will have the [...] sent you from Allegheny - you did not say how much. I am sorry I could not attend to it at once - but I have been almost distracted with cares and perplexities - all of which I cannot write. Yes, we expect a visit from Mr Reigert and Agnes. Of course the girls are delighted. I have not heard from Maggie Ralston in an age I am anxious to hear from Mrs Fenn. Poor thing. How I pity her. And if her mother has cancer, how dreadful. Surely for this prosperity they are having double.
Write just as soon as you can - I shall be so anxious to hear from you.
Affectionately Jennie.