[Lydia] Maria [Child] ALS to Louisa Loring, November 12, 1849

New York Nov. 12th, 1849

Dearest Louise,

Your letter arrived safely, and the love
it contained warmed me through and through to such a
summer glow, that I think it will save me a great deal of
fuel this winter. You were just about right, dear, when you
came to the conclusion that "popping in and out to see you"
was the sole object of my plan. I have said a dozen times to
David, within the last month, "I don't like Boston; my associa-
-tions with places and things there are sad; I dread encoun-
-tering reformers; I dread being asked why I don't go to
meeting; and above all I dread the infestation of our
disagreeable relatives; but then it would be such a com-
-fort to be near Ellis and Louise, that I think combat with
all these dragons would be more than compensated."
Sometimes David answers "Yes indeed, that it would."
Sometimes he pokes fun at my dismal pictures, and says,
"You could have one other comfort, dear; you might tell all
our relatives what a miserable disagreeable set they are,
and make them all unhappy."

The fact is, dear Louise, I have been plagued with heart-
-yearnings for you and Ellis ever since I read over those
precious old letters up at New Rochelle. I began then to
cogitate upon the possibility of pitching my last tent

{written perpendicularly in the left margin}

I owe you $3 balance; but I do not happen to have a small bill. Doesn't that sound grand?

{end perpendicular writing}