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Re: Christmas Time
Em-
Nope- the date is right.
The journal entry was 1859 & the "letter" from Mr Morse was given in 1859 but written as if it were 10 years in the future.
"Mr. EM Morse wrote me a fictitious one, claiming to be written from the North Pole ten years hence. "
I had the same problem when I read it the first time, until I had reread it several times(reinforcing a bad 1st read). Caroline had transcribed it into her journal & even said that it was post dated 10 years, but doing my usual speed read skimming, missed that important little comment.
Here's another set of memories from upstate NY--
The following are excerpts from “Hard Breathing Days-The Civil War Letters of Cora Beach Benton, Albion, New York, 1862-1865”, Almeron Press, Albion, NY 2003.
Cora was born Sep 11, 1838 & married Sep 10, 1856.
Her writing is very detailed about life at home in NY & she is a bit on the whiny side, but there is a ton of little nuggets in the book, including pregnancies, details of items sent to the soldiers & daily life activities in general. It definitely shows the side of a woman less than enamored with the fact her husband joined the army.
Dec 23rd, 1863
...went to Frye’s this noon & bought Lena a little set of china dishes, 50cts. Tonight I have been marking the children’s things for the tree. I’ll tell you what they are—Lena’s a box of letters, beautiful white apron & a long handled broom from her parents; the dishes from me. For Belle, a goblet full of candies in a lace bag with a string, a little primer from me & an apron like Lena’s & a broom from Mr & MRs P.......I go up to Father’s to stay all night & Thursday Christmas Day with the children... I shall not enjoy it much, though I want to go home, for I shall only mourn & weep all day here, tis so different from the past..
Dec 25th 1862
Have you had a merry christmas darling? It being 9 ½ oclock in the evening it is too late to wish you one. I went to Father’s last evening ...left the baby with mother & went over to the church to see the presents distributed. It passed off pleasantly. Lena & Belle were delighted with their things but not more than I was surprised & pleased to her my name called & for a large bundle. It proved to be a nice dress from Father, Emma & Maria. Just what I needed most, as I had no waisted dress save my double gown...It cost $5.95...The Christmas present that did me the most good was your letter. I found it on ma’s bureau when I got home first...
Dec 13th, 1863
....Christmas is nearly here you know & I had work for the children I had to get done, before I could make a present I have on hand for a certain lover of mine, who is far away. Do you imagine who he is darling?...I think I shall stay at home Christmas & New Years unless you are here with me for it is too painful to try to keep such days. I can see no reason why they can’t let you come either then or sooner...Father said it is absolutely necessary to preserve just such discipline in the army & that it is great help to even be a corporal. I believe I hate military.
Dec 20th, 1863
....It rained until Thursday night, when it began to snow & has been snowing nearly ever since as hard as it can come. It is very deep now & fine sleighing, but that part will do me no good. Christmas promises to be a very merry one for those who can enjoy it.....I did a very foolish thing yesterday & fully realized it at the time, but let desire overcome judgement. I went into the jewelry store with Ella & seeing some little rings, got one for Belle’s Christmas present (Belle had broken one her father had made several days prior).Mother Benton did not blame me, but I know all my folks will when they find it out, but I could have got nothing for the child she’ll be more delighted with...Are you going to scold too? I was going to ask you to get her one when you came home...The present for you is begun & if I am not interrupted much this week I hope to finish it.
Dec 27th 1863
How did Christmas pass with you? Less sadly than Thanksgiving I hope. I was lonely without you, but less wretched as on Thanksgiving day for there was a joy I could not help feeling caused by the very name—Christmas!....Mary & Ella were both gone so I spent the day with mother helping her what little I could. Father made me a present of ham & Mother Benton sent up some more peach-blow potatoes, some fresh pork & some graham flour, so you see they do not mean I shall grow poor for want of something to eat. Very acceptable presents all of them. Wednesday Ella gave her cloud (a scarf with a large tassel) & Cousin Jim a book; Marian Harland’s last stories “Husks & “Col. Floyd’s Wards”. You know I am partial to her works...The tree at the church Christams Eve passed off pleasantly. Belle was much pleased with her presents, consisting of a Second Reader, a lava card receiver, a little crocheted basket from her teacher, a little sugar bird, & Mrs Tom Thumb (a little paper doll), dresses, cloak & hat from Cousin Jim. I had given her the ring before we went over & she was delighted with it. She told me to tell you “she had a ring now & you need not make her one.” Ella got some nice presents from Jim- a book, breakfast shawl & a beaitiuful merino dress. I would not have objected to the last nyself as I am sadly in need of one & expect to be some time.....How was the weather Christmas Day with you? Here it was delightful-clear, very mild without thawing & the sleighing tiptop I should judge from appearances
Dec 25th, 1864
This has been a sad & lonely day to me thus far, dear Charlie—that feeling that no other words can so well express as these—“as though something dreadful has happened” has been with me all day. I have been alone in the house with the children nearly all day, as May went to church this forenoon & home with Jennie Sears to dinner. ....Yesterday I was at the church helping to hang presents on the Christmas tree for the children & also present during the evening. ...I had not been able to buy them anything, but both of the children fared well enough. Mother bought Georgie some shoes..& some sugar toys for both of them. Georgie has devoured most of the latter. Belle had a pair of gloves, some candy and a set of dishes, I think Mr Ough gave her—he also gave Georgie a street car & horses....God only knows how thankful I am that I expect their pa-pa will be with them another Christmas. How have you spent the day darling? Has it seemed like Christmas to you? Father’s folks had their holiday dinner yesterday. I must tell you something about that. Friday before dark, a man brought in hurriedly a turkey, chicken, paper of coffee & a pound of sugar & was gone before I could recover ny astonshiment. On a slip of paper was “Mrs Cora Benton” By the Presbyterian Church. It was the first public charity I had receeved & God knows I hope it will be the last. I was never designed to live on charity, else I’d feel differently from what I do now. That was an extremely humiliating moment of my life & when Mrs Hayward came in & saw the things, I covered my face with my hands. They were sent to all the soldiers’ families in town. They have never before classed me among them, but rather have called on me for help.
Em-
Nope- the date is right.
The journal entry was 1859 & the "letter" from Mr Morse was given in 1859 but written as if it were 10 years in the future.
"Mr. EM Morse wrote me a fictitious one, claiming to be written from the North Pole ten years hence. "
I had the same problem when I read it the first time, until I had reread it several times(reinforcing a bad 1st read). Caroline had transcribed it into her journal & even said that it was post dated 10 years, but doing my usual speed read skimming, missed that important little comment.
Here's another set of memories from upstate NY--
The following are excerpts from “Hard Breathing Days-The Civil War Letters of Cora Beach Benton, Albion, New York, 1862-1865”, Almeron Press, Albion, NY 2003.
Cora was born Sep 11, 1838 & married Sep 10, 1856.
Her writing is very detailed about life at home in NY & she is a bit on the whiny side, but there is a ton of little nuggets in the book, including pregnancies, details of items sent to the soldiers & daily life activities in general. It definitely shows the side of a woman less than enamored with the fact her husband joined the army.
Dec 23rd, 1863
...went to Frye’s this noon & bought Lena a little set of china dishes, 50cts. Tonight I have been marking the children’s things for the tree. I’ll tell you what they are—Lena’s a box of letters, beautiful white apron & a long handled broom from her parents; the dishes from me. For Belle, a goblet full of candies in a lace bag with a string, a little primer from me & an apron like Lena’s & a broom from Mr & MRs P.......I go up to Father’s to stay all night & Thursday Christmas Day with the children... I shall not enjoy it much, though I want to go home, for I shall only mourn & weep all day here, tis so different from the past..
Dec 25th 1862
Have you had a merry christmas darling? It being 9 ½ oclock in the evening it is too late to wish you one. I went to Father’s last evening ...left the baby with mother & went over to the church to see the presents distributed. It passed off pleasantly. Lena & Belle were delighted with their things but not more than I was surprised & pleased to her my name called & for a large bundle. It proved to be a nice dress from Father, Emma & Maria. Just what I needed most, as I had no waisted dress save my double gown...It cost $5.95...The Christmas present that did me the most good was your letter. I found it on ma’s bureau when I got home first...
Dec 13th, 1863
....Christmas is nearly here you know & I had work for the children I had to get done, before I could make a present I have on hand for a certain lover of mine, who is far away. Do you imagine who he is darling?...I think I shall stay at home Christmas & New Years unless you are here with me for it is too painful to try to keep such days. I can see no reason why they can’t let you come either then or sooner...Father said it is absolutely necessary to preserve just such discipline in the army & that it is great help to even be a corporal. I believe I hate military.
Dec 20th, 1863
....It rained until Thursday night, when it began to snow & has been snowing nearly ever since as hard as it can come. It is very deep now & fine sleighing, but that part will do me no good. Christmas promises to be a very merry one for those who can enjoy it.....I did a very foolish thing yesterday & fully realized it at the time, but let desire overcome judgement. I went into the jewelry store with Ella & seeing some little rings, got one for Belle’s Christmas present (Belle had broken one her father had made several days prior).Mother Benton did not blame me, but I know all my folks will when they find it out, but I could have got nothing for the child she’ll be more delighted with...Are you going to scold too? I was going to ask you to get her one when you came home...The present for you is begun & if I am not interrupted much this week I hope to finish it.
Dec 27th 1863
How did Christmas pass with you? Less sadly than Thanksgiving I hope. I was lonely without you, but less wretched as on Thanksgiving day for there was a joy I could not help feeling caused by the very name—Christmas!....Mary & Ella were both gone so I spent the day with mother helping her what little I could. Father made me a present of ham & Mother Benton sent up some more peach-blow potatoes, some fresh pork & some graham flour, so you see they do not mean I shall grow poor for want of something to eat. Very acceptable presents all of them. Wednesday Ella gave her cloud (a scarf with a large tassel) & Cousin Jim a book; Marian Harland’s last stories “Husks & “Col. Floyd’s Wards”. You know I am partial to her works...The tree at the church Christams Eve passed off pleasantly. Belle was much pleased with her presents, consisting of a Second Reader, a lava card receiver, a little crocheted basket from her teacher, a little sugar bird, & Mrs Tom Thumb (a little paper doll), dresses, cloak & hat from Cousin Jim. I had given her the ring before we went over & she was delighted with it. She told me to tell you “she had a ring now & you need not make her one.” Ella got some nice presents from Jim- a book, breakfast shawl & a beaitiuful merino dress. I would not have objected to the last nyself as I am sadly in need of one & expect to be some time.....How was the weather Christmas Day with you? Here it was delightful-clear, very mild without thawing & the sleighing tiptop I should judge from appearances
Dec 25th, 1864
This has been a sad & lonely day to me thus far, dear Charlie—that feeling that no other words can so well express as these—“as though something dreadful has happened” has been with me all day. I have been alone in the house with the children nearly all day, as May went to church this forenoon & home with Jennie Sears to dinner. ....Yesterday I was at the church helping to hang presents on the Christmas tree for the children & also present during the evening. ...I had not been able to buy them anything, but both of the children fared well enough. Mother bought Georgie some shoes..& some sugar toys for both of them. Georgie has devoured most of the latter. Belle had a pair of gloves, some candy and a set of dishes, I think Mr Ough gave her—he also gave Georgie a street car & horses....God only knows how thankful I am that I expect their pa-pa will be with them another Christmas. How have you spent the day darling? Has it seemed like Christmas to you? Father’s folks had their holiday dinner yesterday. I must tell you something about that. Friday before dark, a man brought in hurriedly a turkey, chicken, paper of coffee & a pound of sugar & was gone before I could recover ny astonshiment. On a slip of paper was “Mrs Cora Benton” By the Presbyterian Church. It was the first public charity I had receeved & God knows I hope it will be the last. I was never designed to live on charity, else I’d feel differently from what I do now. That was an extremely humiliating moment of my life & when Mrs Hayward came in & saw the things, I covered my face with my hands. They were sent to all the soldiers’ families in town. They have never before classed me among them, but rather have called on me for help.
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