One day early, I know!

In any event, a letter from Morris Smith to William W. Ellsworth and Helen (Smith) Ellsworth written Jan. 2, 1879.  Morris was in New Orleans, while Helen and WWE were living in New York City, having been married the previous year, their daughter, Lucy Morris Ellsworth (Creevey) would have been seventh months old at the time of the letter.  Lucy had married Fred Davis in the fall of 1878.  Lucy and Fred were setting up a household in New Orleans.  The fourth daughter, Fannie, was teaching piano in Rochester, NY. 

“Our good people- Mama (Julie), Carlotta and Lucy arrived today in splendid health though fatigued by three nights travel. They were fully installed in their new quarters by noon- but will not make a public appearance until their baggage arrives- which is now the subject matter of Correspondence with Chicago- I think they will receive it day after tomorrow- in the mean time they are bewailing their experiences and threaten when they return to go by sea.”

Things don’t change!  I do like the capitalized ‘C’ of Correspondence though.