LibGuides: Lowell Mill Girl Letters: Honey Herbert, Mary Lucinda

August 8, 1847

Courtesy: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Transcribed: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Center for Lowell History

   Sabbath morning Aug 8th ‘47

Dear Elisabeth¹

            I received your letter and perused it with the greatest pleasure imaginable still I envied you your
comfort I do wish I could be with you would not I enjoy myself too? I’ll bet I would   Now let me see what news have I got to write I cannot think of one item O! yes I have been out sick two whole days I was dreadful sick I sewed all the time just as fast as my fingers would enable me to lucky for me my old man did not inquire about me wasn’t it?² You asked me about Marrilla³ she is dead she died at the Hospital⁴ the next morning after you left Lowell Ruth Damon⁵ was with her when she asked her what she should tell her Father Marrilla answered tell him I die perfectly happy I feel sure I shall see him in Heaven I sincerely hope she will don’t you? how bad to die so far away from all friends who care for you among

^{1Elizabeth M. Stevens}
^{2Miss Mary Lucinda Hovey, operative Suffolk Mills; called in sick at the mill}
^{to stay home and sew}
^{3Miss Marrilla W. Williams, weaver Lawrence Mills; b: 1830, Albany, VT}
^{d: 27 Jul 1847, Lowell, MA}
^{4Lowell Corporation Hospital, dysentery}
^{5Miss Ruth Stearns Damon, weaver; b: 30 Aug 1823, Kirby, VT d: bef 1877;}
^{daughter of Ebenezer Damon b: Ashby, MA and Rhobe W. Sheldon b: RI;}
^{Lowell Institute for Savings Records}

those whose only wish is as seems to be to have you out of sight that they may get your money and clothes &c forgive me for speaking so bitterly I could not not help it for I think the treatments she received during her sickness was anything but fair and when she died it was six oclock in the morning and she was burried at two in the afternoon & I would just tell you another truth but I dare not put it in black and white.

But I am writing all together differently from what I intended when I commenced this I am very sorry your health is not good I hope you may get well by the time I come to see you for if you do not I am fearful what the result of my visit would be I think now I shall be up there in September if you like. I have had one letter from Abby since she went home and I answered it in a hurry (the same as you will think I have yours) she wrote that she should return to Lowell in about 3 weeks from this I was over at 22 the evening after I got your letter I told Sarah Cross she said she roomed with Martha she was dreadful sick after you left and the day that I was over there she had had her dress on the first time Experience took care of her I don’t doubt she had the very best care Sophronia Tuck⁶ is sick now she is in the care of Dr. Birnham⁷ I beleive the rest of the girls are all well they all seemed very much pleased to hear from you and wished to be

    ^{6Miss Sophronia Tuck, operative Suffolk Mills, boarding at 22 Suffolk Mills;}
^{b: 1830, ME; boarding at 12 Suffolk Mills; family moved to Grundy County, Il;}
^{married Velasco L. Fuller b: 1836, NY}
^{7Walter Burnham, Jr., physician; b: 12 Jan 1808, Brookfield, VT}
^{d: 1883, Lowell, MA; business at Central and Middlesex Sts.}

remembered by you Abby Fiske⁸ in particular she is getting ready to leave these diggings I don’t think anything more to write now only I have changed my boarding place again. what you think ob dat ha? Ill tell you why Miss Hemmageway⁹ took five paddies to board¹⁰ and I can tell you such work as they made I would not stay so you see I just put-off and came to 18 on the Suffolk¹¹ here I am now. the old woman¹² makes or tries to make us all go to meeting but you see she can’t drive me and she has almost given up the idea that she can Everything else I like much better than I ever have else- where. I was thinking if you had any pigs they would have been set at liberty when you was eighteen I wish I could have seen you that day I should have given to something to remember I’ll warrant you You see I have written the little shroud
as I promised you I would if you will write me again in my answer I will send the Silver moon I have not written anything as yet worth reading and I will not weary you patience by writing any more nonsense dont forget to direct your next letter to No.18¹³ instead of 26¹⁴ Sincerely Yours now & ever
                                   Mary L. Hovey¹⁵

PS if you dont write me another letter before long I shall be after thinking you dont consider this worth your notice any how now you mind that you you see I did not forget to write you a letter full & long as your own if not longer Lucinda¹⁶

[on cover]
Elizabeth M. Stevens¹⁷
Leyden, Mass.

^{8Miss Abby Fiske: b: 1821, ME; daughter of Abner Fiske and Olive Littlefield;}
^{1847 Lowell, MA: operative; 1860 Biddeford, MA: dressmaker}
^{9Miss Sophronia Hemenway, BH Keeper #26 Suffolk}
^{10Mrs. Sarah Parker, BH Keeper #28 Suffolk Mills, 46 boarders at least 29 Irish}
^{11Mrs. Hannah Tenney Morrison, BH Keeper #18 Suffolk Mills, 10 boarders}
^{at least 3 Irish}
^{12Mrs Hannah Tenney Morrison b: 3 Jan 1792, Bradford, MA d: 13 Nov 1880,}
^{Billerica, MA; 1847-1870 Lowell, MA BH Keeper #18 Suffolk Mills;}
^{married 1876 Franklin Davis Morrison b: 26 Nov 1788, Corinth, VT}
^{d: 6 Apr 1835, ME; daughter of Adelaide Clinton Morrison b: 27 Nov 1833, NH}
^{13Mrs. Hannah Tenney Morrison, BH Keeper}
^{14Miss Sophronia Hemenway, BH Keeper}
^{15Miss Mary Lucinda Hovey, operative Suffolk Mills, boarding 18 Suffolk Mills}
^{formerly 26 Suffolk; b: 29 May 1828, Lyme, NH d: aft 1910; daughter of Dudley}
^{and Rubie Hovey; married Frederick Hiram Herbert b: 4 Nov 1823, Haverhill,}
^{NH d: 25 Jun 1869, Waco, TX}
^{16Miss Mary Lucinda Hovey}
^{17Elizabeth M. Stevens}