We shall jump a bit in historical excerpts, with over a yard of shelf devoted to the printed copies of letters, it isn’t hard!  My rule is simply that the month/day must be a close match to when I post this. 

At any rate, the excerpt below is from December, 1856, from a letter of about three printed pages.  It was written by Julie, who was then at her stepfather’s house, Red Cottage, in Brockport, NY, to Morris who was in New Orleans for the winter, overseeing his business.  They had three daughters by then: Fanny Morris, born in 1851 in Brockport, Carlotta Norton, born in 1853 in New Orleans, and Helen Yale (whom we last heard of in Europe in 1873) born in 1855 in Hartford.  Morris and Julie had married in 1850, throughout their marriage Morris spent the fall and winter months in New Orleans, while Julie established their home in Hartford, where Morris’ business had its head office.    

“We have just finished making silver cake and pound cake as a preparatory measure to more company of which I will relate to you the event in due time. The weather is clear and cold and the sleigh bells sound merrily on the frosty air- there goes a load of tremendous hogs to market- winter reigns.

…While you stand on reclaimed swamp-land, and I walk over these snow-crusted streets- a little wanting in J’ne sais what- divided in all things. My Boy I love you above all- beyond all- in all- ‘Thou are my soul’s bright shining star.’ Dear Lottie (Carlotta) comes in just here with a kiss and says ‘Mama I love you- tell Papa I was a good girl last night and had some ice cream’. Fanny says ‘tell him I have got Lottie’s doll dressed and I want a nice book with colored pictures in it andthat I send my Love and tell Papa that I want to know if he is lonely without me.’ I am writing in the dining room and both children are climbing on the sofa behind me- and pulling and twisting the cloth in all directions- all which proceedings are highly conducive to finished epistolary style- fine penmanship- as behold!”