E. fancying at first that she ought to stay behind to care for “the stuff” when J. went to the war, sent cheerful bulletins to him of home matters.
Eliza Woolsey Howland to Joseph Howland at Albany.Fishkill, May 21, 1861.
Everything goes on nicely. I have made the rounds this morning and the report is all satisfactory. Thomson has bought a very nice bay mare to take Dick’s place for $130, and a third pig, as there was too much food for the others. The men are all at work, the potatoes in and the corn will be finished tonight. Then the sodding and grading will be resumed. Mechie has bought dahlia poles and is now finishing the flower beds outside the greenhouse, which looks finely. A superb box of flowers came up this morning. . . . Everyone expresses the greatest interest in you and your movements. Moritz says the country wasn’t as “lonesome” all winter as it was the first few days of your absence. . . . I don’t doubt James will go with you, but I wouldn’t let him decide hastily. Thomson would go with you himself in a minute but for his family. . . . I have had a very busy morning and haven’t had a chance to miss you.