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[24]
Windsor Hotel
July 25th '81
Dear Jervy -
The distressful state my domestic affairs renders me unfit for letter writing-I have been obliged to dance attendance on my wife's parents, not daring, for her sake, to assert myself & turn them adrift. 'Tis too long a story to tell here-lets' drop it 'til we meet, & turn to you. Your letter, my dear Jervy, set my [heart?] "way up!" 'tis the first cheerful, [hearty?] one I've had these many days & be sure it rejoiceth my very core to see the life-blood coursing through your veins. Much as I long to see you I honestly wish you [cd?] stay six months at least in the new world, the new life you are now enjoying. Let its influence be permanent & [whisk?] aside the blues forever and amen! if these parts recall them when you return-pull up stakes & "go west, young man" again, & if need be stay there & send your pictures here & abroad; I'll go out to see you when you get [all?]settled there.- I have not yet
seen [Laurent?] - but hear that he has several orders: I hope he will stick to work-he was out of town when I called. I have little chance to see anyone out of this hotel. I have such a run of callers when I am here, then I must give some time to Edwina & take her out of town occassionally & run to Long Branch to see Mother now & then. I owe [Stedman?] & Johnson visits & so do I others of lesser import, but don't know when I can pay the debts. It keeps me pretty busy refuting the slanders which Mary & the McVickers daily set afloat. They try now to prevent my paying my wife's hotel bills, in order to prove my meanness & brutality; they do all they can to keep me from her & her people I never visit her. Their object is to get possession of my Chicago property-([standing?] in Mary's name) & fear my influence will check-mate their designs,---- The weather
here seems hot-after the breeze of Newport, which I inhaled yesterday; I went there to see some land I bought a few years ago & am much pleased with my purchase, though I may never build. I should like to live there-if I ever live any where permanently this side the "Summer-land" (I believe that's the spirit-phrase)---I was going to say the grave, but suddenly bethought me that one doesn't live in such places. Edwina had a jolly time at [Rondout?] (sorry I didn't go), and since Saturday has been with Julia while I went with [name?] to Newport. I expect her return in the course of an hour-after she gets through lunching with Julia. They went to see a regatta in wh Downing took part & I've no doubt she will be full of his prowess, &c.- Mrs Booth keeps about the same; strong enough to do for herself & she looks as well as you ever saw her-but she coughs badly & says she has great pain in her lungs. I learn, however, that tho' she is not improving at all-that she may last six months.
Would to heaven that I was assured of her living six hours-I'd have a divorce at once & get rid of the hell she has made for me; but I must be patient & endure.
You see how I go back to myself every now & then; I can't rid my thoughts of the basic ingratitude & devilish villainy of which I am the victim; therefore sir "Amble off" & let you enjoy the fulness and the ripeness of yr freedom-drink your fill of nature and come home with the determination to digest it leisurely; don't let Dyspepsia ever again depress you.
Adieu ! with a thousand God bless you's
Yours ever
Edwin