John Wilkes Booth to Isabel Sumner

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Title

John Wilkes Booth to Isabel Sumner

Description

John Wilkes Booth's fourth letter Isabel Sumner reads: "My dear Friend, Have I in any way offended you, if so it has been unwittingly I will come at once to Boston . I am your friend Forever John".

Creator

Booth, John Wilkes

Publisher

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Date

1864-07-24

Format

pdf

Language

en

Identifier

300550
T1864.07.24-JWB

Transcription

No 28 East 19th St

July 24th

My dear Friend,

Have I in any way, offended you? if so,it has been unwittingly, And God knows how full of repentance, and how anxious I would be to make every atonement.

I have been so uneasy, of late, thinking (by your silence) I may have said something in one of my letters to offend, that its impossible for me to [quiet?] my mind to a single line of study, or in fact, to anything else.

Oh Isabel dear friend (you said I might call you so)


please take no offence, at anything I may---inadvertently---have written for believe me I never look over my letters, to weigh their contents, for fear I should destroy them. As I am always---more or less---disgusted with my own bad writing, etc. Therefore what I write is just what I may feel, at the moment, And may often say things to be sorry for. If it has been this forgive me. And tell me of it. And you will see, (at your bidding) how quickly I shall mend.

Or is it---as I begin to fear it is---that you are weary of reading my


poor poor letters. If such is the case I am sorry. Sorry indeed, for having given you a moments trouble. Sorry for myself, that I have allowed my fancy to play so free.

I can write no more: The mere thought that, It may be so, seems to paralyze my hand.

God forever bless you Isabel, I will trouble you no more, if you say the word, but can never, never cease to think of you as something pure and sacred, A bright, and happy dream, from, which I have been awoke to sadness. You will I hope give my best wishes


and never-dieing friendship to Mrs D. Strange but there is something about that lady that from the very first I felt, I had known and respected all my life.

Remember, dear friend not to let anyone see my letters. I will come at once to Boston.

Never,---More, till I hear from you.

Wishing once more for every blessing to be yours

I am your friend

Forever

John


[envelope with 3 cent stamp, New York Jul 25 postmark on front and back]

Miss Isabel Sumner Post Office Boston, Mass.

Status

Complete

Percent Completed

100

Weight

20

Original Format

paper, ink
6 p
21 x 13 cm

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