DST_Student
File
Edited Text
Page 1
Mrs. Miller
Friday morning
Oct. 22, 1852
Dear Liz,
The fact of my having a daughter you already know but the particulars I must give you. Well, on Tuesday night I walked nearly three miles, shopped and made five calls. - came home slept good all night and on Wednesday morning at six I awoke with a little pain which I well understood. I jumped up bathed and dressed myself hurried the breakfast, eating none myself of course. Got the house and all things in order working bravely between the pains. I neither sat down or laid down until half past
______________________
Page 2
nine when I gave up all my vocations and avocations secular and domestic and devoted myself to the one point then brought more especially before my mind. At ten o’clock the whole work was complete. The nurse and Amelia alone officiating I had no Dr. and Henry was in Syracuse. I laid down about fifteen minutes and never had so speedy and easy a time before although this is the largest child I ever had weighing 12 pounds clothes on. She is very large and plum and her head is covered with black curly hair. And oh! How I do rejoice in her, and now what
______________________
Page 3
shall I call her. What is the most beautiful name ever given to woman? I shall not name her after anyone, for friendships are such passing changing things in the present undeveloped state of the race that the friend of today is the cold stern critic of to-morrow and then how trying to call a loved one by a name that always brings with it a train of most unpleasant associations - When the baby was twenty four house old I got up bathed and dressed, sponge bath and sitz-bath, put on the wet bandage, ate my breakfast walked on the piazza and then the day being beautiful I took a ride of
______________________
Page 4
three miles in the plank road, came home rested an hour or so then read the newspapers and wrote a long letter to Mama. Today I go about as usual. Everything with me and the baby is as it should be, as yet all things move on right, and my joy in being the mother of a precious little girl is more than I can tell you. Now do come and see me right off. The short dress I wore until the last it is grand for such occasions and I love it more than ever. [crossed out] Well the sitz-bath has never come or if it is not too late just countermand the order
xxx
______________________
Page 5
[written along the left margin of the first page]
[crossed out] as I do not need it now
Love to all your
happy cousin
Lib.
______________________
Page 6
[typed transcript]
[crossed out]
Original in
Alma Lutz Collection
Friday morning (October 22 1852)
Dear Liz,
The fact of my having a daughter you already know but the particulars I must give you^ Well, on Tuesday ni^ I walked nearly three miles, shopped & made five calls - came home, slept good all night & on Wednesday morning at six I awoke with a little pain, which 1 well understood^ I jumped up bathed & dressed myself, hurried the breakfast eating none myself of course, got the house & all things in order working bravely between the pains• I neither sat down or laid down until half past nine when I gave up all my vocations & avocations secular & domestic & devoted myself to the one point then brought especially before my mind♦ At ten o^clock the whole work was completed^ The nurse & Amelia alone officiating• I had no k Henry was in Syracuse. I laid down about fifteen minutes & never had so speedy & easy a time before although this is the largest child I ever had weighing 12 pounds clothes on. She is very large & plump & her head is covered with black curly hair & oh how I do rejoice in her & now what shall I call her. What is the most beautiful name ever given to woman? I shall not name her after anyone, for friendships are such passing changing things in the present undeveloped state of the race that the friend of today is the cold stern critic of tomorrow & then how trying to call a loved one by a name that always brings with it a train of most unpleasant associations. When the baby was twenty-four hours old I got up bathed & dressed, sponge bath & sitz bath, put on the wet bandage, ate my breakfast walked on the piazza & then the day being beautiful I took a ride of three miles on the plank road, came home rested an hour or so then read the newspapers & wrote a long letter to Mama. Today I go about as usual. Everything with me & the baby is as it should be, as yet all things move on right & my joy in being the mother of a precious little girl is more than I can tell you. Now do come & see me right off. The short dress I wore until the last. It is grand for such an occasion & I love it more than ever. Well the sitz bath has never come & if it is not too late just countermand the order as I do not need it now. Love to all,your happy cousin
Lib.
[handwritten]
(To Elizabeth Smith Miller)
Mrs. Miller
Friday morning
Oct. 22, 1852
Dear Liz,
The fact of my having a daughter you already know but the particulars I must give you. Well, on Tuesday night I walked nearly three miles, shopped and made five calls. - came home slept good all night and on Wednesday morning at six I awoke with a little pain which I well understood. I jumped up bathed and dressed myself hurried the breakfast, eating none myself of course. Got the house and all things in order working bravely between the pains. I neither sat down or laid down until half past
______________________
Page 2
nine when I gave up all my vocations and avocations secular and domestic and devoted myself to the one point then brought more especially before my mind. At ten o’clock the whole work was complete. The nurse and Amelia alone officiating I had no Dr. and Henry was in Syracuse. I laid down about fifteen minutes and never had so speedy and easy a time before although this is the largest child I ever had weighing 12 pounds clothes on. She is very large and plum and her head is covered with black curly hair. And oh! How I do rejoice in her, and now what
______________________
Page 3
shall I call her. What is the most beautiful name ever given to woman? I shall not name her after anyone, for friendships are such passing changing things in the present undeveloped state of the race that the friend of today is the cold stern critic of to-morrow and then how trying to call a loved one by a name that always brings with it a train of most unpleasant associations - When the baby was twenty four house old I got up bathed and dressed, sponge bath and sitz-bath, put on the wet bandage, ate my breakfast walked on the piazza and then the day being beautiful I took a ride of
______________________
Page 4
three miles in the plank road, came home rested an hour or so then read the newspapers and wrote a long letter to Mama. Today I go about as usual. Everything with me and the baby is as it should be, as yet all things move on right, and my joy in being the mother of a precious little girl is more than I can tell you. Now do come and see me right off. The short dress I wore until the last it is grand for such occasions and I love it more than ever. [crossed out] Well the sitz-bath has never come or if it is not too late just countermand the order
xxx
______________________
Page 5
[written along the left margin of the first page]
[crossed out] as I do not need it now
Love to all your
happy cousin
Lib.
______________________
Page 6
[typed transcript]
[crossed out]
Original in
Alma Lutz Collection
Friday morning (October 22 1852)
Dear Liz,
The fact of my having a daughter you already know but the particulars I must give you^ Well, on Tuesday ni^ I walked nearly three miles, shopped & made five calls - came home, slept good all night & on Wednesday morning at six I awoke with a little pain, which 1 well understood^ I jumped up bathed & dressed myself, hurried the breakfast eating none myself of course, got the house & all things in order working bravely between the pains• I neither sat down or laid down until half past nine when I gave up all my vocations & avocations secular & domestic & devoted myself to the one point then brought especially before my mind♦ At ten o^clock the whole work was completed^ The nurse & Amelia alone officiating• I had no k Henry was in Syracuse. I laid down about fifteen minutes & never had so speedy & easy a time before although this is the largest child I ever had weighing 12 pounds clothes on. She is very large & plump & her head is covered with black curly hair & oh how I do rejoice in her & now what shall I call her. What is the most beautiful name ever given to woman? I shall not name her after anyone, for friendships are such passing changing things in the present undeveloped state of the race that the friend of today is the cold stern critic of tomorrow & then how trying to call a loved one by a name that always brings with it a train of most unpleasant associations. When the baby was twenty-four hours old I got up bathed & dressed, sponge bath & sitz bath, put on the wet bandage, ate my breakfast walked on the piazza & then the day being beautiful I took a ride of three miles on the plank road, came home rested an hour or so then read the newspapers & wrote a long letter to Mama. Today I go about as usual. Everything with me & the baby is as it should be, as yet all things move on right & my joy in being the mother of a precious little girl is more than I can tell you. Now do come & see me right off. The short dress I wore until the last. It is grand for such an occasion & I love it more than ever. Well the sitz bath has never come & if it is not too late just countermand the order as I do not need it now. Love to all,your happy cousin
Lib.
[handwritten]
(To Elizabeth Smith Miller)
