Mary Louisa Michel Binckley to Charlotte Stocker Binckley, October 1859

Mary Louisa/Lou/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930)

[Mary Louisa Mitchell/Michel Binckley at Washington City to Charlotte Stocker Binckley, [October 1859]. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

                                                                  Washington City
Dear mother Binckley

We have just returned, Milton and I, from our trip to the North -- feeling very much worn out bodily with the fatigue of travelling constantly for more than two week[s], but conscious of having acquired knowledge and experienced pleasure that will be a constant source of delight for the rest of our lives -- the remembrance of well spent happy hours in scenes of beauty and refinement will be riches that no one can take away from us.

To be sure, the weather was often raining and dark, troubling Milton not a little, but when I look back now, I seem to remember only the bright days.

In Boston we spent nearly a week with one of Milton's artist friends of whom you may have heard him speak -- Mr. Wall, an Englishman who lived some years ago in this city -- he and his wife were very kind and attentive, and as I had friends in Boston and the sight-seeing [was] peculiarly interesting from historical associations, we had a most pleasant time there. 

While there Milton received your last letter and we were glad to hear that you were well. I was particularly pleased to find that bother George had received my letter, and hope soon to hear from him. Give to him and my mother brothers my best love.

Milton will doubtless send some message when he comes home and finds I am writing.

The little flower I enclose mother pressed to send you thinking you might like to keep among your other pressed flowers one worn on her wedding day by your Milton's bride.

I was looking over my box you gave me and found that the bunch of pressed flowers had Frannie Stewart's name written on the back. I will send or give them to her soon.

There are so many things I would like to write about our trip which might interest you, but to-day [I] feel very tired, and will give you in my next letter what would be very stupidly written to-day. It will be several days yet before I get my wits fairly about me.

All desire to be remembered to you. Farewell for awhile --
                                                      Your new daughter
                                                                     Mary

[JMB note:]  Mary holds the  . . . & I points out this spot has me write on, and I tell her I have to use it all in repressing my indignation for not giving me more.

[Mary Louisa Michel (1838-1930).
John Milton Binckley (circa 1831-1878).
Mother Binckley = Charlotte Stocker Binckley (1788-1877).
Mother = Jane Mary Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
George = George Michael Binckley (1828-1885).
Mr. Wall = Joseph Wall.]