Mary (Chapin) Burt - December 21, 1862 - Van Wert, OH

[letter one]

Van Wert Van Wert Dec. 21/62

Dear Father, Mother and Hannah,

I received your letter, but have delayed answering it for a week or two. I see by your letter that you are expecting to see me in Illinois this winter. I did not intend you should get excited and think I was coming “right away for sure”. I dread the cold winter at home (for I am such a frozen animal) and I am afraid to undertake to go any farther. The weather is now so severe that I am constantly taking cold. I have been troubled with a pain in my temples and ear, and in fact the whole side of my head, resulting from a decayed tooth in which I have caught cold and I have scarcely slept for nearly two weeks, until last night it was better, and I slept well. Aunt Matilda says it was a kind of Neuralgia. I do not know why I take cold so easy unless it is in the difference of burning coal from wood. We have no coal here and a wood fire is not so easy to keep up and room often gets cold before I am aware of it.

It will take considerable clothing to make us all comfortable for a winter trip. Since I received your letter I have been thinking more seriously about it and wondered that if I should go now in the heart of winter, if I might not take a heavy cold from exposure and there be sick, and then perhaps it might be good for me and make me tough. I would not like to go there and be sick, then you would have so much trouble. I am in a quandary to know hwat to do. I think I would prefer warmer weather but there is another question, whether I could leave then or not. I have a good deal to do at present. Tommy has just taken a notion to buy a piece of land that is all woods excepting two or three acres that has a cabin on it. He has taken his engine up there and intends to clear it off, sawing the wood for the rail road company and sells the lumber as it stands. He is going to board his own hands. There is a man and woman living in the cabin. She is going to cook for them and I am obliged to prepare ticks and bed cover for them. I think it is hard times to get such articles now at the prices, nevertheless he thinks it will be cheaper for him to do that than to pay their board, and there is no convenient place to get board for them.

Can you tell me of the cars stop at Philo, or where is Philo; is it on the route from Ft. Wayne through Lafayette down to Tolono then to Philo? I think I could go from Ft. Wayne to Tolono without change of cars, so I learn by the railway guide. If I go I will write to you when I will start so you can meet me at Philo or whatever place I should stop. But you need not look for me until I write when I am coming. Had a letter from Malona last night. She wrote that Welling was very anxious for her to come here with the children and spend the winter. Possibly she may be here New Years if the weather is favorable. She will have four or five changes to make in coming after riding to Sumner. It is well for her that she has got more courage than I have for she has [face?] enough to get along with such difficulties, while I expect I would faint at the very thoughts of it. The children will have a jolly time when they all get together. I do not expect to see much of Tommy this winter as he says he cannot come home very often. I have to get along the best way I can. Father sees to getting me wood, and meat and flour once in a while. The rest of the provisions I get myself. As for getting any little job done that is out of the question I have to take things as they are. Mother and Aunt Mathilda both have been rather on the sick list lately. Aunt Mathilda has got a severe cold which has settled on her lungs, came very near having the lung fever; and I guess Mother had the jaundice, [illegible] she was very billious. She took a large dose of calomel and is a little better but does not feel very well. You would be surprised to see her now. She is changed a good deal since you left Ohio. She is quite thin now. I do not think her face is as large as mine is now. It is vacation now until after the holidays. Lizzie & Nora are well and can make a considerable noise with Willie to help them if they try, and I am not sure but what they can do so without much trying, at least Grandmother thinks they can. Lizzie often speaks of writing to you but does not seem to do any thing but the talking as yet. She has been writing to her schoolmates in Roscoe but has not succeeded in finishing the letters yet; there is too much play here. I suppose nearly all of Uncle Maurice’s sons and sons in law are in the army. How did they leave their families? Do they all live together? And now Hannah I would like to know what you are doing. Does any particular one look sideways at you? Or is he in the army? Are you as bashful and timid as you was when I was there. I think I must come and see. I expect Marcia’s boy is larger than Willie is as he is some older. I guess I cannot write much more this time.

Do you have a good school? I cannot say much of the one here in Van Wert. I suppose Denny & Harry go to school. It is most ten o’clock so good night. M. L. Burt

(Father Burt’s family wish to be remembered to you & yours)

[letter two]

I have been thinking how I would like to be out there now and put up some fruit or dry some for I am thinking our canned + dried fruits will be scarce. Marcia when you get married I hope you will send me an invitation at least, none of the rest of them have said a word until the fuss was all over. keeping me in ignorance There is no school here now. Nora and Willie would be glad to have the chance of running over the praries in guest of wild flowers but may be if we were all out there you would not have so much fruit.

I think if you write as soon as you get we may be here yet to get it, if not I will write again as soon as we get to [illegible] give me Hannah’s address as I have forgotten it.

Marcia, I wish you would write me the receipt for Marble Cake, and Mother’s receipt for Bread Cak

I thought your cake was so nice. I do not know how to make it.

I have also forgotten Hannah’s receipt for Yankee pudding or some thing of the kind. My love to Hannah Mc_ and Lizzie to Loesa and to all of you. Lizzie does not have any taste for writing and no inclination to acquire it. I hope it will not be so long before I write to you again

My head aches so excuse me and ever remember me

yours aff.

M. L. Burt