White, Mary
Healdsburg, California
May 31, 1882
Previously unpublished.
Dear Mary:
I have thought best that Addie Walling shall not attend school this warm weather. Her head troubles her. If she quits study she will be relieved. It is a peculiar crisis in her life. She is growing fast. Now, if you can come up, I will take the team and bring Addie down to Santa Rosa and send her to you. She would wish to be with you several days before you leave [so] that she may get the hang of things. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 1
You need not be in a hurry to send my new mattress. Get my old hair mattress fixed. Brother Papworth will fix it for you. Add five pounds of hair. Put on the bed in the parlor. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 2
I want all that clothing brought in for the poor to be put in a box and sent. I want all my papers—selections in a box in the garret. The other things can be packed with them. The things that come in the trunk from St. Helena may be sent up. Close up the stairs that lead up to the cupola. Will you see to these things? 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 3
Mary, if you can get me a good box of herrings—fresh ones—please do so. These last ones that Willie got are bitter and old. If you can buy cans, say [a] half dozen cans of good tomatoes, please do so. We shall need them. If you can get a few cans of good oysters, get them. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 4
Mary, I spoke to Willie [White] about my machine being sent to me, but Sister Brownsberger says I can have her machine to use, so you need not send mine at present. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 5
Addie is perfectly willing to keep house for you, and I shall wait to hear from you before sending her down. You can put your letter in the night before you send it, and it will come over, I think, in one day. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 6
Now we want you, Mary, your mother and the children to come up as soon as you can leave. No Luella comes. Where is she? We went to [the] depot for her but she did not come. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 7
Willie, you paid for dispatch, and I had half a dollar from you, so you may charge to me. Perhaps there are other things—the crackers and raisins. All these should be set to my account. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 8
Everything here is as lovely as it can be. Will you tell us what has become of our girl? Has she gotten lost between here and Oakland? If you see things you think I will need that I have left, please send them to me. If you care to keep that comfortable that will come in the trunk, you may do so. I shall make me more. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 9
I shall need a draft of fifty dollars soon, for I have nothing to depend on to live. Our peas will be coming along soon, and new potatoes, but I do not want to commence to eat them until they are fully ripe for use. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 10
Please send out my portable lounge. It is in the office somewhere. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 11
Last night I sent Roberts to get a barrel to draw water from Upson’s well. We shall keep it in the cellar till we shall get a well. I do not think it safe to drink out of little springs. What do you think about it? He went to see Mills last night. I do not know what he will think about our getting water. We are all as well as usual. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 12
Please put in that lamp, in a basket in the cellar. It is metallic—a safety lamp. Well, I will close this picked-up haste of a letter. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 13
Mother.
Please send me postage stamps. 3LtMs, Lt 16, 1882, par. 14