HHJ Papers, Part 2, Ms 0156, Box 2, Folder 29, five letters neither from nor to HH: John Greenleaf Whittier to Thomas Niles, 1878; Sarah Woolsey to William S. Jackson, 1881; B. Maria Mathews to Dr. Wilkinson, not dated (but before HHJ's death); Edward Everett Hale to William S. Jackson, 1886; T.W. Higginson to Mrs. Banfield, 1886.
Transcriptions by Christine Ward, Cambridgeshire, England, 2002; Gloria Helmuth, 2003; and Jessy Randall, 2003.
Envelope addressed:
T. Niles, Esq.
Roberts, Brothers
Publishers
Boston
[Preprinted across one end of the envelope:] If not delivered within 10
days, to be returned to: [handwritten] J. G. Whittier auto.
Postmarked: AMESBURY MASS SEP 21
Amesbury 21st 9th mo 78
T.Niles Esq.
Dear frd.
Thy letter came in my absence from home, or it would have been promptly answered.
With the best disposition to comply with they wish, I have looked over my papers, & regret that I can find nothing that I could venture to send you for the new volume, which I am sure will excite a great deal of curiosity. It is not possible for me now to write anything new.
Thy friend
John G. Whittier
Newport
January 9th 1881
Sunday
My dear Will
Many people have done kind things to me in the course of my happy life, but I don't think any one ever did quite such a kind one as this of yours. I will never forget it, and if ever I have a chance to give you only one quarter of the pleasure you have given me, I shall be a happy woman. Thank you with all my heart. I hope to get my account from Mr Niles by Tuesday if not tomorrow, and I shall at once send the money to Mr Stuyvesant as you direct. No wonder Mrs Goddard said your face was "like a life boat", but it is a boat, which, if you go on being so good, will before long be swamped and overcrowded with widows and orphans and bewildered old spinsters like myself seeking for investments! Bless you, dear old fellow, and may you get back from the great hand that keeps the tally of all things, good measure and heaped up.
Poor Helen is forlorn with a cold in Boston, or was, last Wednesday. Before now I hope she is coming up with her accustomed cork-like bound. She writes that she fears the time may come when she shall have to fly to a warm climate to escape the worst cold, but where is that climate to be found? We have some friends who went of late to Thomasville Georgia recommended as a warm and sheltered place, and who, for the past month, have been sitting with their furs and overcoats on before a hard coal fire. With the thermometer at 12 above, and nothing in the world to do. They were "getting a great deal of climate for their money", they wrote, but it was not pleasant. No, all the world - one side of the world is cold this winter and the other half is warm, just as last year we were warm and they cold.
Thank you once again, you best, kindest person that ever was. -
Yours affectionately
Sarah Woolsey
Envelope addressed:
Dr. Wilkinson
4th John's Wood Villas
Brickley Road
London
North Grove, Great Malvern
Janry 4th
Dear Dr. Wilkinson,
Mrs. Hunt, an agreeable American lady, whose acquaintance I have had the pleasure of making during her visit to Malvern, is, I am sorry to say, not in good health, and is anxious to avail herself of your advice. I have therefore much pleasure in giving her a note of introduction to you. With our united very kind regards and best wishes of the season to you and your family circle, I remain
Yours very truly
B. Maria Mathews
Letterhead:
LEND A HAND.
A Monthly Magazine of Organized Philanthropy.
Edward E. Hale, D.D., Editor.
$2.00 per year, in advance.
LEND A HAND COMPANY,
3 Hamilton Place.
Boston, Sept 30 1886
My dear Mr. Jackson: -
Who is there in the present State Government of Colorado who takes any intelligent interest in your Public Institutions of Charity and "Reform, - and will manage to send us for Lend a Hand, early copies of the Public Reports, and of other information which will be of use to us, in conducting the Magazine? Unfortunately, we cannot offer to pay for such service. But they will be of real use to the cause.
I am trying to have one such correspondent at least, in each state and to make the magazine a real organ of what is done in the way of social reform. If the Secretary of State is the right man, please let me know. Or is there perhaps some permanent, intelligent clerk in his office?
I order you one or two copies of our Magazine that you may know what I am talking about. Thank you,
Edw. E. Hale
Cambridge, Mass
Feb 26, 1886
My dear Mrs. Banfield
I am glad to hear that Mr. Jackson liked the papers in the Century, & glad to have a correction of the statement about Gen Warner. I could hardly believe, myself, that it was Gen. G. Ken, as they were not intimate at Newport. The fact about Rennie she told me herself, at several different times & with much feeling. Yours cordially,
T.W. Higginson
