Mattie (Nutting) Wood Letter to Brother Willie

Date: 3 Nov 1854 to 4 Nov 1854
Location: New York, NY
Surnames/tags: Nutting Wood

This is a retyped copy of a typewritten letter which was passed down by the family and is now in the possession of Ward Hindman (Hindman-473). Rather than add "sic" for each error I simply advise that every effort was made to ensure that the retype was faithful to the original. Photocopies will be made upon request.

New York, Nov. 3d 1854

My dearest Willie,

Alone this evening as I am for a little while, I might be lonely in this great hotel within this great city, where I know but a single person, if I did not find some pleasant occupation like writing to you. Do you want to hear from me any? or have I gone so far “out of the world” by marrying that I no longer come within the range of your affection. O no, I will not believe that, and here, now, I offer my lips [follows a sketch of same] for your girst congratulatory salute. Rather cold, I think to come from you, Willie, whose ardent temperament we have all known so long! And alas!, when next I may meet you I shall be no longer a bride so this formal salutation is all I can expect at all

I do not know but you will expect me to go back and give a true version of the affair from the beginning--even until now, but you would not expect much if you knew how tired I am tonight. Leonard had business this forenoon which called him away, and as it was a pleasant day, I was determined not to stay at the hotel, so ventured forth to try and lose myself if possible, and create a sensation. Down to the Battery I went, along its lenght, gaping at the shipping as I walked along, like any other land lubber. On & on I wandered, sometimes noticing the names of the streets 7 sometimes not, till at last I found myself in Wall St. Cedar, Nassau, Park Row, Bowery &c. till coming out on Broadway, I found myself some two miles above Courtlandt St. where our boarding place is. I had no change with me so that I could take a bus, and what was worse that all, it was near dinner time. I had the keys of our room in my pocket so that Leon could not get in, and there was nothing left for me but to foot it in the shortest time possible, which I did in a style that would have made you open your eyes. I arrived all out of breath only just in time to save my dinner. A nd my energy has been rather minus ever since

Dear me, Willie it makes me tired just to think of those days before I left home when everything was to be done and no time to do it. Sewing, baking, washing, ironing, housecleaning, packing were to be done in the short space of time comprised in our recess. At last all the stiring, beating & mussing was finished. 5o’clock, Tuesday evening, came and the Wodds began to assemble-. A t six o’clock was the ceremony performed by our dear father no one bei g present but our family & the relatives, with the exception of Florella. Some five or six of the boarders had left & I was glad to see all there who were present. One young lady, Alic Canfield, has lived sometime with cousin Jacob Patch so she seems almost like a daughter to them, and another is a special charge of cousin Susan’s. After the congratulations were all tendered, we went into the dining room to partake of refreshments & immediately after those were over, I went up stairs, attended by more waiting maids than could touch me, to change my white wedding dress for a travelling costume more suitable an d then in a few minutes in the midst of kisses & good-byes, I left them all, seated in a comfortable carriage--bound for Ann Arbor by my husband’s side. How strange that seemed. Yes, and does now more so, for then I was too tired to realise anything that passed--all seemed like a dream. But it was not a dream, or if it is I hope the awakening will not be soon, for tis a happy one, as you may know sometime Willie by your own experience. We went on to Detroit that same night, fortunately not being obliged to wait long at the depot, spent the next day in D. and left after tea on the Canada Railroad, riding all night, & reaching Niagra Falls at 5o’clock the next morning. After a little rest, the remainder of the day was devoted to sight-seeing, and I did see all that was to be seen, leaving nothing to regret afterwards. We visited both sides--American and Canadian, saw Table Rock, the little boat, the Museum on the Canadian side. I even ran up & down all the stairs on both sides, thanks to Leonards long suffering patience to-me-ward, with which he bore with all my whims & insane freaks though it did not quite extend to the last one which I formed--namely, of throwing myself over, to see if it was so very far down.after all. So you see I am quite satisfied and have not to regret as you did that I did not spend time enough there

Tis almost ten and I will leave this sheet till another opportunity, to be filled. Good night

(to Willie from New York, November 3d 1854, continued--2)

Monday afternoon--At last I have a little leisure again at disposal, and will try to close up this letter before I leave it again. Last week one evening, I went to Barnum’s and spent the time very pleasantly looking at the curiosities. Millitary processions with good bands accompanying are an every day occurrence. Hand organs a constant nuisance.

Yesterday, apropos of organs, I attended Trinity church, and heard its sweet grand toned organ pealing through the Gothic arches and then dying away to the lowest murmers. Oh, such tones ! In the forenoon we went over to Brooklyn to the Plymouth church for the purpose of hearing Henry Ward Beecher. The church was already comfortably filled when we arrived, but during the quarter of an hour which remained before time for service, the audience kept filing in, till they were obliged to bring seats & put in all the aisles. The church is an enormous one & the galleries alone would hold as much as the Pres. church at A.A. It was such an qudience as I never saw before on any occasion. A nd therewas the point of attraction, H.W. Beecher--a youthful almost boyish looking man rather under the average height with a noble head, broad forehead, blue eyes, & brown hair, calmly looking about him, with an air as if he were studying some point in his coming sermon. And when I heard that sermon, Willie, I did not wonder at the crowds who go to hear him, indeed there is hardly a churchgoing stranger comes into the city but what must go over to Brooklyn & hear Henry Ward. Before sermon he received some members into the church by letter, & then one boy about 14 on profession of faith, and the way he talked to him so kind so earnest drew tears from many eyes. His text was Romans 8th 2d. But I can not give you any idea of course of his style here--only I could not help thinking of old Dr. S’s remark when speaking of his two wons--"Edward he said,fires forty pounders & woe betide the man whom he hits. Henry fires grape shot & kills the most men”.

In the evening we attended at the Tabernacle church on Broadway. Heard most excellent singing from a chlir numbering some 30 or40, and a discourse for the times (election) from the Rev. Mr. Thompson, I suppose as he is pastor there

I do not know Willie whether you had heard of the death of Austin’s wife--I forgot to mention it when I wrote that note to Marcia, although she died Tuesday night of the week before I was married, just a week fefore in fact. She died peacefully without any apparent struggle at midnight & was able to speak and perfectly conscious to the last. Her trust in the Savior was strong and supported her through the dark valley. She had long before given up all hopes of life knowing the nature of her disease (consumption) and had emphatically set her house in order. She had not a single message to give at last, all had been given before the dying hour came. She was buried in her wedding dress (which she had never worn since)--the funeral on Thursday. At the grave the choir from A.A. sang “Farewell, we meet no more” as it is in the Manhattan. --very touching & appropriate.

Dear willie write me soon, for I have given you long one this time.

Your aff sister mattie.

P.S. We did expect to visit Conn, & some of Leons friends there, but it is uncertain just now--it will depend on the news he hears from home. His mother was not well when he last heard. At any rate it is likely we shall be at A.A. in two or three weeks. Then Woodberry is coming to hold a convention the last of Nov. there.

(Note1: A.A. is most likely Ann Arbor, Michigan) (Note2: "Wodds" in the third paragraph is most likely "Woods")