Vassar College.
Oct. 12, 1873.
My dear Papa,
Tonight I can imagine you and Mamma occupied like myself in
writing letters: for Carrie has given me such a glowing description of
your Sunday evenings that I can almost believe myself at Wood-Lawn.
I heard the other day that Mr. Whitman of Troy had been married
for some time. Carrie Norton told me all about the affair. It seems that
over a year ago Mr. Whitman read in one of the Baptist Papers that a minister of that denomination had died, leaving a wife and several children, and that shortly after the children had also died, one after another and the poor woman had been left sorrowful and alone. Mr. Whitman's sympathies were enlisted in the poor widow's behalf and he wrote her a letter of condolence. After a little time she replied and thus a correspondence was begun. The lady lived in Maine, where Mr. W. visited her twice and finally went on, and brought her home as step-mother to his children. They are very well pleased with her, as are all the family; Aunt Annie says her only objection to the lady Is that she married Mr. W. knowing so little about him. However the matter stands In a better light since it is known that the lady's brother came to Troy and made enquiries concerning his future brother-ta-law, which of course were satisfactorily answered.
Chestnuts, as yet, are not very abundant. This I infer since we
have not had any boiled ones for dessert. I have found some, however, In
my dally perambulations and enclose two or three lor planting, as you
desired.
Lovingly Julie M. Pease