Manhattan Aug 28th 1859
My Dear Husband,
Yours from the Vinyard Camp meeting has been received, and believe
one before
it with one land warrant of 120 acres, about that time one 160 acre we
have
been waiting for Josephs return, which was three or four days since. He
has
had a very pleasant and profitable time. Mrs D. concludes to graduate at
Baldwin,
and enter BlueMont Collage in November. So you see I am to be free to
keep house
for myself in eight or ten weeks. Joseph thinks we all can live in his
new house
this winter. What do you think? If we do I want to live upstairs, and
there
is no door into the L. so that we shall have to carry everything around
the
house up the front stairs. I don’t know what to say about furniture
we
shall need chairs, table, and Joseph is going to see if he cannot get two
bedsteads
for eight dollars each. Groceries, and all kinds of eatables for six if
D. and
Miss Baily come. Sister Dennis has a cookstove and furniture and Joseph
thought
some of asking you to get a large
nice parlor stove and making an exchange some how for the present.
Sister D’s
little girl is about the age of Hatty. Etta has gone to Mr
William’s to
board again, they would not board her [Ks?]. Have taken the new Baptist
minister
to board. I have been over to Br Paulsons this afternoon and he had just
got
over a chill and she had been down with a bad cold since Wednesday. Two
men
up to Lewises some better. Not very sickly, Mr Nuntress down with a bad
cold.
Mr Glossup had gone to the river for a load says ask Mr Goodnow if he
does not
want him to draw a load for him, and write him when to go after it.
Thinks you
will be sure to have one load Br Paulson regretted that he had not the
dimension
of that wood work behind our pulpit to send to you to have you get paper
to
paper the place so as to represent a recess. We thought that would look
better
than a representation of frescoeing or drapery. I hope if you do not
recollect
I can get the dimentions to you in time. If you want a cushion of plush
on the
pulpit for the bible you must get the cloth. If Miss Bailey gets her
cloth for
a riding dress, if she could get one suitable for me at the same time I
could
sell mine for what I
gave for it as faded as it is. I should want one that would not fade
say black
and white grey or blue black [Lyonese?] or alpaca just as she can trade
most
reasonable. Dr Robinson is sick with a fever. Several have had the
cholera workers.
I am delighted to think mother could spare me that carpet and to think
David
is comeing, and would like to tell them so by writing them, but every
hour brings
something that I must attend to when I can move. Our damp foggy weather
wilts
me, and makes me want rest. George is most well again. The rest are about
as
usual. We need some of your good [xxx] Hope you will eat all kinds for
me, and
enjoy it with thanksgiving. The house is not ready to move into. Give my
best
love to Mrs Bateman and all inquireing friends, and accept a large share
for
yourself
As ever yours, Ellen D. Goodnow
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/6230/text