Title
Description
Creator
Publisher
Date
Format
Language
Identifier
Transcription
Dorchester March 23d
1863
My dear Mrs Cushman -
It is so very difficult for me to think calmly upon my great loss that I have allowed your most generous letter to remain unanswered longer than courtesy or gratitude permits, but you will, I am sure, overlook my fault and believe that it arose from a lack of [firmness?] to tell you how I appreciate your sympathy in this most bitter trial.
God's wisdom and goodness is in this I know - as in all he does, but there are so many unhappy circumstances connected with it, and my
rebellious nature is so hard to curb that I must complain - it is impossible for me to choke down the bitter cry of despair and submit in silence to the will of Him who doeth all things well.
Learning from Lucy that you were ill I feared the shock would be too great for you - knowing your love for Mary - and it was with a feeling of great relief, apart from the comfort your letter gave me, that I received this assurance of your sympathy.
My poor little motherless one is in excellent health and well cared for by my Mother and the nurse
she is very devoted to the child & I shall keep her as long as possible as Mary wished although I have great difficulty with her at times. It will indeed be heart rending when the innocent eyes look up to me and the baby tongue asks me 'where is mother?' But I must dismiss these thoughts for I feel my manhood giving way, nor are you [prepared?] to be troubled with the sorrows of another.
I send you a copy of the last picture taken of Mary - 'tis all I have at present but will in a day or two have one of an ambrotype taken at age of sixteen - when I first
knew her - which I will give to Lucy for you.
Accept, my dear Mrs Cushman, my warmest thanks for your kind remembrance of me in my hardship; and with sincere prayers for your restoration to health, and regards to Mr Cushman
believe me
[resptfully?] your sevt
Edwin Booth