Amanda Dewey (1831-1860) writing to Samuel Tucker (1838-1871) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Abigail Randall Lumsden April 4, 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amanda Dewey (1831-1860) writing to Samuel Tucker (1838-1871) The babies send lots of love and kisses to their dear Sammy...you can get Hick to do the kissing as there will not be any pretty girl handy & I shall not say to Hen (Henry Dewey) that I have written - let him write too if he has time Lubec Mills, July 28th/59 My dear brother Your kind letter was received and I assure you we were all right glad to hear from you and to know that you were well. I had almost given up looking for a letter and had quite made u p my mind that you were going to forget “the old folks at home” but I found that such was not the case, and you was a dear good brother not to disappoint me, and I hope you will always be as prompt in writing as I do so dearly love to hear from you when you are absent, and I assure you, dear brother, that you shall always hear from me in return. You will be surprised and sadly disappointed when I tell you I am a invalid yet. Yes, Sammy, I am a sick woman yet. I was taken down lower than at first shortly after you left, and was confined to the bed for a long while. I then got so I could walk about the room and was taken down again - the last time which was the fourth time. I got discouraged and made up my mind I was never going toget well, but the Dr encourages me so I am going to try to have faith and believe that I yet will be spared to my family. he says my lungs are diseased but are in a better state than they were two months ago. He examined ....... sounded them yesterday thoroughly. I have been miserable this past week but am feeling a little better today so am employing the time you see in writing to my darling brother. Henry said he would write as I was so poorly but I though he would not be so minute in writing you all the particulars and I know you would like to know all. he was very much pleased when we got the letter. Poor LIzzie (young Elizabeth Dewey) burst out crying to think that she could not see you, the letter did not satisfy her. She says the other day-if poor Sammy had to go away I wish he could take his chamber with him for it makes me sad to go into it. Wallie (young George Walter Dewey) talks a great deal about his Sammy Tucker and cannot see why he cannot come home-he thinks you have been gone long enough. Well, Sammy, Will Laurence and Minnie are married and between you and me it is rather a foolish piece of business. She is at her father’s yet and does not seem to be inclined to go to the Laurences as she promised to do before she was married. It will make a disturbance in the family as sure as the world if she don’t go and I don’t believe she will for she says she might as well pay her father board as well as to pay it up there. They have fitted a room for her too. Oh, she is a queer subject, don’t say anything about it. Gus Oakes and Mary Young are also married. Mrs Oakes is hopping mad - refused to let them in the next morning - were married at Mrs Young’s and not one of the Oakes Family went to the wedding- great times - don’t you think so. I have saved you some cake. Some say Rachel Clark is to be married tonight. You and I both received a letter from Sister Lizzie since you left..only think they were in Bombay six months...to bad that we did not write her..she was sadly disappointed - they were all well, now on the way to Liverpool. I have commenced a letter to her. I shall tell her all abot your voyage and make excuses for my naughty brother not writing the same as I always do, but shall not tell any wrong stories for him though. Henry’s Magdalen cruise has turned out first-rate so far he got 100 bbls more this year than he did last and they were the best herring that were brought from there. he has shipped a good many. guess he will do as well as last year. he is haying now..is going to have a great crop...I wish you could see him. I will describe his rig. Firstly, Old straw hat, blue shirt, white drawers, overhauls - drawers a good 1/4 yard below overhauls - white cotton socks, tops of them under the hollow of his foot, slip shod pumps. Old Styles would be a good match for him. they are doing great business in the field today ..fine weather at presnt, we have had a very cold rainy season..have had three messes of peas-wish you could have been here to help us eat them. I suppose you have had some .. perhaps you got some in “Old Ireland.” when we have something good I always wish you were here to help as eat them. Dale has gone to Great Falls, Amy had gøne to Hartford to live with Ev Fowler’s wife. Adeline has been teaching school a the Neck - talks of going to Great Falls as soon as school closes- hope she will not for I shall be very lonely. Lish is doing great business in the MIll making over $2.00 per day. Jack McDonald’s wife presented him a a pair of twins a day or two since, quite smart, don’t you say so - We spent our Fourth of July at home...Henry brought a lot of nicities and some fireworks for the children and we had quite a display in the evening - we missed you...you know I could not go out - only think Sammy it is now 5 months and I have only walked as far as Ben Fowler’s and that was last week ...I have been sick ever since. Mother (Sarah Tucker) has gone out raspberrying this afternoon. She is as well as usual, sends lots of love to her dear boy ... says be a good boy and make haste and come home. Jo Allen and Thad Davis have been to New York in the old Star. She has just got in...Jo likes first rate, but I guess Thad is a killed sailor....he is not strong enough to be a sailor. Charles Fowler has gone to Hartford to tend store. Now dear brother, I believe I have told you all the news. I will bid you a sweet good night and that you may prosper and be spared to return to us again is the earnest desire of your affectionate sister Amanda