File:Erica (Thorp) de Berry to Thorp family, 29 January 1917 (77910cbb-2a45-4d68-ba6f-42341fd55763).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1006/004.006.002-005#003

[printed letterhead: Pine Mountain Settlement School]
Jan. 29th 1917
Dearest Family,
Ede has gone – risen from her bed and ridden on muleback over the mountain after having had to be fed from a spoon the day before! And now she is safely in Louisville, staying at the home of Dr Florence Brandeis, with a nurse. We gave up the idea of her going north at the last moment, as she wasn’t well enough to stand the journey and besides, dreaded so greatly going back into the old life before she was (p.2) quite strong again. So she will stay on in Louisville for two or three months probably, and if she is well enough, perhaps come here as a visitor in the late Spring. I am going to Louisville for a week to be near her, when Miss de Long gets back.
It seemed to be the best arrangement we could make, as things were, for Dr Little thought she ought to have her ears examined by a specialist, so that a city seemed essential. And she doesn’t mind being alone while she’s so weak and tired. We had to hurry things then[?] as Dr Little had a hospital appointment and
[printed letterhead: Pine Mountain Settlement School]
(p.3) A very sick nephew calling her home, and Ede couldn’t have stayed here without Dr Little. So that it seemed absolutely necessary for her to make the tremendous effort of getting over the mountain—and she did it without a quiver! It was honestly miraculous— I know it will be awfully hard for her family to feel that she is ill so far away and comparatively alone—but it seemed the only thing to do, and I know that Dr Little will be able to explain it all.
Wasn’t it wonderful luck (p.4) that Dr Little knew Dr Brandeis, and that Dr B. was saint enough to invite Ede to stay with her instead of going to a hospital! It’s all come out so gloriously,--when it seemed such a tangle!
I’m awfully anxious to have you know Dr Little, Mamma. She’s such a rare, wonderful person – so strong and so gentle and so fine! What we’d have done without her, I simply cannot imagine—Sometime perhaps she might come up to lunch Her address is 22 Essex St. Newburyport, and her full name, Dr Abby N. Little . She’s a cousin of Leon’s and all the others, also the Honolulu Withingtons. I know you’d love her, and she’s meant so much to me.
[printed letterhead: Pine Mountain Settlement School]
(p.5) By this time Miss de Long will have come and gone, and I hope she’ll assure you that I’m perfectly all right, Papa – really. Of course Edith’s sickness was a great strain, and meant extra work, but now that I know that she’s being properly taken care of, the worry is 100 percent lighter. And a new worker, an English girl, has come to help me in the school-work so that I’m having an easy time of it now. Then we truly do have enough to eat. I hope Miss de Long will reassure (p.6) you of that. We have both quantity and variety, and have been supplementing with weekly steak and other “delicacies”. Almost every night before going to bed we have a feast of chocolate, guava jelly olives, etc. and if you’d seen me tonight supping off a huge grapefruit—one of a crateful sent by Marcus from the Florida orange-grove where he’s working, you’d realize that I’m far from being in need. Honestly and truly—I have no sense of being hungry for anything more. Then as to the weather—it hasn’t been really cold for weeks, and just at present it is almost summery. There’s a good deal of rain, but my waterproof boots and
[printed letterhead: Pine Mountain Settlement School]
(p.7) rubber cape & hat are impenetrable.
With Beatrice Murray here, my work is reduced by about one half. And there’s a strong chance that Bill McIntire is coming too! Isn’t that fun! Beatrice and I are living on at Pole House, and get along exceedingly well. She’s a terribly interesting person – has had all sorts of experiences and responsible positions both in England and here, tho’ still very young, and lived this winter in N.Y. with Addie & Elizabeth Bryand. She’s the very nicest type of Scotch-English girl, and I’m awfully fond of her already. We have (p.8) so many things in common—most important of all, educational ideals, and it’s a joy to boost up our primary department again with her. I’m so lucky—for it would have been excruciating to have had a wholly uncongenial person here in our darling Pol House—after Ede.
So you see, things are really all right –and after my week’s vacation I’ll be as spry as a lark. It’s almost terrifying to think of going out into the big world again! My clothes seem so inadequate for a city. I suppose I shall stay at a hotel, unless by any marvelous chance Jean has come back, because of the Lauring’s[?] departure for Washington.
[printed letterhead: Pine Mountain Settlement School]
(p.9) But with the help of Edith’s wardrobe and a little shopping, I guess I can manage all right.
I wonder tho’, if Mamma or Sitoo or Al could buy me one white silk and three white muslin, frilly waists size 38. I have nothing but plain crepe now, as my muslin ones are gone to seed. Never mind about sending them before I go to L’ville, as I guess there wouldn’t be time. I want to have them here anyway. Be sure to charge them to me.
(p.10) Please don’t worry any more, Papa, for I’m really all right, and with a lighter schedule have chances to rest and sleep late that I didn’t before. And in Louisville I promises you I’ll live like a queen! I can get checks cashed here all right, so unless I write again I shan’t need any money sent.
I’m so glad that you liked the concert, but am sorry it seemed too refined. Would that you could hear the real thing in the dining-room here!
Best of love to you all
From Your
Bun.
A mad volley of shots is making the echoes ring at the moment!

• Keywords: long archives; henry w. longfellow family papers (long 27930); erica (thorp) de berry; document; correspondence; education; henry wadsworth longfellow family papers (1006); school; health and illness; subject; places; united states; ky; Erica Thorp deBerry Papers (1006/004.006); (LONG-SeriesName); Outgoing (1006/004.006.002); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1917 (1006/004.006.002-005); (LONG-FileUnitName)