Hart, Catherine to Sister Lottie, September 14 & 17th, 1860- Tampa, Fla. - Transcript

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[Written at top in different handwriting]
Attending to prospective marriage of Cousin Kate E.


Tampa, Sept. 14th 1860

Dearest Lottie

Your kind letter, though long looked for, came at last and cheered my lon[e]ly anxious
heart more than I can find words to express. Ossian is away from home, has been absent
nearly two months, and when at Jacksonville was taken sick with Billious Fever, was
quite sick confined to his bed a week, but fortunately he was at his Father's and had the
best care and medical attention, but still he missed me, you know when one is sick there
is no place like home, and this makes me feel very uneasy about him. I expect him back
on the 19th of this month by our New Orleans Steamer. He is now probably at Mobile, he
has been taking quite a buisness [sic] tour, through Florida and then across [sic] the
country to Alabama, he generally enjoys such good health, he does not bear sickness with
a good grace, but I hope all is now well with him, and pray that a kind Father will take
care of him, and permit him to return in safety to his home and thus fill the heart of his
loving wife with gratitude to Him, who suffereth not a sparrow to fall to the ground
without His notice. Ossian received Em's letter a few days before he left, and was glad
she had taken the trouble to write him such a nice long letter, and if he had not been
compelled to go of[f] on this long buisness tour he would have sent her an answer ere
this. Tell Em to be patient it will come after a while. I am se glad to hear your health is
so good. I should so much like to see you while you are so fat. I have the same
complaint. I weigh one hundred and thirty and often find my flesh very much in my way
and I often see myself growing so much like Ma in size and I imagined I look like her in
the face, tis a comfort to hear Ma is so well contented and happy in the dear old spot she
has for so many years looked upon as her home, tis natural and perhaps tis well. I am
glad to hear her health is so good. And Abby and Obe[y] have given up coming [sic] on
this summer, do you know Lottie and I had made up my mind to come on and meet them,
had they paid you a visit, but since they have decided not to come this season, unless
sickness should compel me, I shall wait until [sic] next summer, then I hope to see you
all and enjoy a reunion, and exchange of pleasant memories, and affectionate
associations, very dear to my heart, from those my heart so fondly loves. Oh Lottie when
I begin to think about you all, and the long, long time since I look upon your faces I get
so homesick I feel I cannot wait another year, and then there are Charley's dear little
children. I am all impatience to see them. But situated as I am tis very difficult for me to
leave home. Susannah has now a young baby about three months old and our family is
large and our work is heavy and she would get along badly with no head to manage for
her. Negrows [sic] are very good to perform hard labour [sic], but they have no
management about them. Lou is now enjoying her vacation, will commence teaching
again the first of October, her health is very dellicate [sic], the children are well. I have
not been feeling well for the past month, and have thought that a trip north would
benefit [sic] me very much, more than Doc's advise [sic] or horseback exersize [sic] or
anything else, were it only to stay a short time, and see you all and get a breath of your









cool braceing [sic] air, our summer has been intens[e]ly hot. I have felt the heat more
this summer than ever before, and I feel it has debillitated [sic] my system. And Kate
Emmel is to be married, I feel very much interested in hearing all about the preparations
[sic] for so important an event. Do tell me all about it who is to be the bridesmaids and
so on, is there no prospect for Carrie? How is her health now? What has become of
George? Is he still in Newark, and still unmarried?

Sept. 17th

Dear Lottie

Two days have passed since I wrote the first part of this letter, and now I have resumed
my pen hoping [sic] I will be able to finish it before I lay it down.

I have been thinking as the time is fast approaching when our merchants get their fall
supply of goods, and in consequence vessels will be coming direct from New York to this
place, a fine opportunity offers for me to get some things out which I want very much,
and which you could so easily send me: one small keg of pickles, some ten or 12 lbs.
preserved peaches, a new bonnet, a barrel of first-rate apples. If I could ascertain when
the vessel would sail, where they lay who are their agents and all about it in time for you
to purchase the things and get them on board, I would be glad to send on the money for
you to get them, and could they come out to us fresh and good they would be such a treat
we would enjoy eating them so much and think of you all at home. I do wish so much we
lived nearer you all, so that we might more conveniently communicate our wants and
wishes, and then we might exchange visits also, which would give me so much pleasure.
I have now a young lady friend of mine from Key West spending some time with us, and
we are enjoying it very much, her name is Emma Johnson sister to Phedy [?] Johnson if
you will refer back to some of Ossian's funny productions you will find her name
mentioned in connection with an old bonnet this is her sister and a very clever girl she is,
they both stayed with me a good deal when I was living in Key West. I wish so much we
were living in Jacksonville, there they have vessels out very often, and I see by the papers
they are about establishing a line of Steam Ships to run between Jacksonville and New
York, which will be a great convenience. I cannot but hope some day we may be
comfortably located at J[acksonville] and then I shall have the pleasure of your society
occasionally in the winter season, would it not be delightful? It would to me. I had
almost forgotten to tell you, Mrs. Hart and her daughter Julia, now a widow, Mrs. Spear
is in New York. Mrs. Hart is in very bad health, has gone on for the purpose of
consulting a doctor she has been recommended to for her disease, which is cancer. She I
know would be very much pleased to have you all call on her, and it would be a
gratification to Ossian also, the Docs South say she cannot get well, but Col. Hart sent
her on hoping something might be done to prolong her life, if she cannot be cured, she
has been a great sufferer for the past two or three years, and is an altered woman from
what she was. She and her husband get along much better than they did, he says he
would give all he is worth if she could be cured. I do not know her address when Ossian
returns I will get him to write you and give it, and if you can make it convenient to call, I
will be much obliged to you. And Mary Gilmore has moved into the country. I am very









glad to hear it, hope they will do well. What is Gilmore going to do, when you write
again give me her address and I will write her. I have been wanting to do so for a long
time. Now Lottie dear don't you think tis time for me to stop scrib[b]ling? I fear you
will be tired reading if I am not tired writing, do write me soon again, please. I am so
glad to get your letters, if they do make me home sick. I have not said all yet, but must
close. With love to all from your loving but unworthy Sister

Kate


Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009

PAGE 1

[Written at top in different handwriting] Attending to prospective marri age of Cousin Kate E. Tampa, Sept. 14th 1860 Dearest Lottie Your kind letter, though long looked for, came at last and cheered my lon[e]ly anxious heart more than I can find words to express. Ossian is away from home, has been absent nearly two months, and when at Jacksonville was taken sick with Billious Fever, was quite sick confined to his bed a week, but fo rtunately he was at his FatherÂ’s and had the best care and medical attent ion, but still he missed me, you know when one is sick there is no place like home, and this makes me feel very uneasy about him. I expect him back on the 19th of this month by our New Orleans Steamer He is now probably at Mobile, he has been taking quite a buisness [ sic ] tour, through Florid a and then accross [ sic ] the country to Alabama, he generally enjoys such good health, he does not bear sickness with a good grace, but I hope all is now well with him, and pray that a kind Father will take care of him, and permit him to return in safe ty to his home and thus fill the heart of his loving wife with gratitude to Him, who su ffereth not a sparrow to fall to the ground without His notice. Ossian received EmÂ’s lett er a few days before he left, and was glad she had taken the trouble to write him such a nice long letter, and if he had not been compelled to go of[f] on this long buisness t our he would have sent her an answer ere this. Tell Em to be patient it will come after a while. I am so glad to hear your health is so good. I should so much like to see you wh ile you are so fat. I have the same complaint. I weigh one hundred and thirty a nd often find my flesh very much in my way and I often see myself growing so much like Ma in size and I imagined I look like her in the face, tis a comfort to hear Ma is so well contented and happy in the dear old spot she has for so many years looked upon as her home, tis natural and perhaps tis well. I am glad to hear her health is so good. And Abby and Obe[y] have given up comeing [ sic ] on this summer, do you know Lottie and I had made up my mind to come on and meet them, had they paid you a visit, but since they ha ve decided not to come this season, unless sickness should compel me, I shall wait untill [ sic ] next summer, then I hope to see you all and enjoy a reunion, and exchange of pleasant memories, and affectionate associations, very dear to my heart, from those my heart so fondly loves. Oh Lottie when I begin to think about you all, and the long, long time si nce I look upon your faces I get so homesick I feel I cannot wait another year and then there are CharleyÂ’s dear little children. I am all impatience to see them. But situated as I am tis very difficult for me to leave home. Susannah has now a young baby about three months old and our family is large and our work is heavy and she would get along badly with no head to manage for her. Negrows [ sic ] are very good to perform hard labour [ sic ], but they have no management about them. Lou is now en joying her vacation, will commence teaching again the first of October, he r health is very dellicate [ sic ], the children are well. I have not been feeling well for the past month, and have thought that a trip north would bennefit [ sic ] me very much, more than DocÂ’s advise [ sic ] or horseback exersize [ sic ] or anything else, were it only to stay a shor t time, and see you all and get a breath of your

PAGE 2

cool braceing [ sic ] air, our summer has been intens[e ]ly hot. I have felt the heat more this summer than ever before, and I feel it ha s debillitated [ sic ] my system. And Kate Emmel is to be married, I feel very much inte rested in hearing all about the preperations [ sic ] for so important an event. Do tell me all about it who is to be the bridesmaids and so on, is there no prospect for Carrie? How is her health now? What has become of George? Is he still in Ne wark, and still unmarried? Sept. 17th Dear Lottie Two days have passed since I wrote the first pa rt of this letter, a nd now I have resumed my pen hopeing [sic] I will be able to finish it before I lay it down. I have been thinking as the time is fast a pproaching when our merchants get their fall supply of goods, and in consequence vessels will be coming direct from New York to this place, a fine opportunity offers for me to ge t some things out which I want very much, and which you could so easily send me: one sma ll keg of pickles, some ten or 12 lbs. preserved peaches, a new bonnet, a barrel of firs t-rate apples. If I could ascertain when the vessel would sail, where they lay who are their agents and all about it in time for you to purchase the things and get them on boar d, I would be glad to send on the money for you to get them, and could they come out to us fresh and good they would be such a treat we would enjoy eating them so much and think of you all at home. I do wish so much we lived nearer you all, so that we might more conveniently communicate our wants and wishes, and then we might exchange visits al so, which would give me so much pleasure. I have now a young lady friend of mine from Key West spending some time with us, and we are enjoying it very much, her name is Emma Johnson sister to Phedy [?] Johnson if you will refer back to some of OssianÂ’s funny productions you will find her name mentioned in connection with an old bonnet this is her sister and a very clever girl she is, they both stayed with me a good deal when I wa s living in Key West. I wish so much we were living in Jacksonville, there they have vessels out very often, and I see by the papers they are about establishing a line of Steam Ships to run between Jacksonville and New York, which will be a great convenience. I cannot but hope some day we may be comfortably located at J[acksonville] and then I shall have the pleasure of your society occasionally in the winter season, would it not be delightful? It would to me. I had almost forgotten to tell you, Mrs. Hart a nd her daughter Julia, now a widow, Mrs. Spear is in New York. Mrs. Hart is in very bad health, has gone on for the purpose of consulting a doctor she has been recommended to for her disease, which is cancer. She I know would be very much pleased to ha ve you all call on her, and it would be a gratification to Ossian also, the Docs South say she cannot get well, but Col. Hart sent her on hopeing something might be done to pr olong her life, if she cannot be cured, she has been a great sufferer for the past two or three years, and is an altered woman from what she was. She and her husband get along much better than they did, he says he would give all he is worth if she could be cured. I do not know her address when Ossian returns I will get him to write you and give it and if you can make it convenient to call, I will be much obliged to you. And Mary Gilmor e has moved into the country. I am very

PAGE 3

glad to hear it, hope they will do well. What is Gilmore going to do, when you write again give me her address and I will write her. I have been wanting to do so for a long time. Now Lottie dear donÂ’t you think tis time for me to stop scrib[b]ling? I fear you will be tired reading if I am not tired writing, do write me soon again, please I am so glad to get your letters if they do make me home sick. I have not said all yet, but must close. With love to all fro m your loving but unworthy Sister Kate Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009