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Cambridge
Monday, November 2d, 1862

My dearest Netta,

Thank you
for your welcome letter.
I am thankful that your
noble boy is better. Do be
careful what you put into
his little stomach at this
critical time of teething.
The ostrich digestion peculiar
to boys, which he will doubtless
possess in time, is not bestowed
so early. I cannot fancy him
cross. It must be the evil
spirit which Blossom has
lately cast out, which has

taken up a transient abode
in the fair quarters which
of Hals little heart.
I dined with Aunt Patty
on Saturday and she showed
me your letter. I then for
the first time saw Aunt
Susan's notice of Mamma.
It is incomprehensible why
she did not send me a
copy. I never see the Eve-
-ning Post & knew nothing
of it. I liked it altogether.
It was true which rich
notices seldom are, & written
with a true appreciation of
the character she attempted
to describe. Dear Mamma
who I think was peculiarly
modest, able to do without
admiration, & never anticipating
it, would I think be gratified
at this expression of affection.
Is it not possible to obtain
for me a paper with of
that date. From a notice
on the other side of your slip
I gather that it was the
one of October 17th Friday.
Perhaps Hal can get me
one- or rather two- at the
office. I shall be exceeding-
-ly disappointed if that is
impossible. I might copy
your's, but had far rather
have it in print.
I hope by this time you have
a letter from Kate. We have
one from Castilla, he had
just heard the news of
our Mother's death & was
going to write to Kate immediately.
The date was October 5th or 6th
You did not dear send
me as I asked Kate's former
letters, and my own which
I sent you. Please enclose
them in your next letter.
I will send immediately back
any letter you sent me from
Kate. I meant to enclose
to night the four dollars
we owe you for packing
the pictures, but neither
Frank or I can muster so
much money at present.
I will send it in two or
three days. We have
been very busy cutting
petticoats & sacks for the
contrabands. My Maryanne
cut out fifteen sets with
linings throughout in one
day. She hardly sat down.
I did what I cd you
wd have smiled to
see me kneeling down
before an uncouth
sack pattern- slashing
here & there at a
gay material, once a
window curtain & now
to be made into a
most picturesque suit
for some Ebony Matron
or Maid. Red Moreen
with blue belts &
black borders. Stone
coloured stuff with red
stripes round the bottom
& up the sides- sack
trimmed to match.
Two old blanket
shawls I had made
into dresses. They
were two which Frank
& I exchanged when
I went abroad & have
kept until now for
sentiment. But
even this has now
to be sacrificed.
A beggar man asked
me at the door
this afternoon to give
him "some invisible
thing"- & this is the only
sort of article remaining
within the scope of charity.
Good night darling.