Edith Bolling Wilson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson

Title

Edith Bolling Wilson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson

Creator

Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961

Identifier

WWP20873

Date

1915 September 7

Source

Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia

Language

English

Text

1308 Twentieth Street

My precious Child

How I am missing you and wishing you near enough for a good long talk—your dear letter came to me at Ocean City—where I spent a week with Mother & Bertha—and I have not had a minute since when I could settle down to talk to you—

I really could not keep the tears back when I read your letter—for it seemed to me you had never before made me feel I was as much in your life as you are in mine—and my heart yearned to take you in my arms and tell you how deeply I appreciate every word of love you wrote—and that you want me with you some in New York. If you feel you must do this—(I mean take an apartment in NY) I would dearly love to come—for as long as I could stay—but why not come to me here? We could work and be as serious as we pleased—and you know how I always want you—You could skip over for Polly’s Wedding if it is in November—and then come back here—It does sound nice to have a Paris apartment in NY and I know how radiant “Aunt Ba” is at the prospect—but I just can’t bear to think of your settling down away from me—And, you mean little thing you don’t tell me one word about how you and Cary stand—Never mind—I won’t ask—only he looks better than I ever saw him—and I draw my own conclusions—the lines have gone out of his face—he has a real glow in his cheeks and is getting fat.

Of course he has written you old Col. Brown is pretty sick in N. york—and he went over Saturday to see him—and is to get back tomorrow. I always miss him—and he is the same sweet adorable person—and we are going to “play ’round” together as you advise.

Don’t ever hesitate little girl, to come straight to me about gossip or anything for you know I can’t fail to understand you—and do appreciate your thought to protect me—and I will be on my guard—I know how impossible it is to stop tongues once they get wagging—and so in a way I shall have to snap my fingers as you say—for I cannot give up that which has brought such a new happiness into my life—To give you a Roland for your Oliver I must tell you something that will show you how you have put people off CTG's trail as far as you are concerned—Someone said that they had thought it was Dr. G. that you were interested in up to the past few months—when you went to a drugstore every few days and called up George & then went to the to get him for lunch—and after took him back—I said that was not so—that you might have picked him up—but not by appointment—and I knew you had no reason to phone from a drug store with a phone of your own—but the story came to me through a third party—who looked unconvinced, but said no more—

Don’t you worry over this little one—for it is not worth it—and I know horw strict you are in your manner of life—It all goes to show how useless it is to try to shut up evil tongues—Well—Elizabeth was married on the 18th of August to the man Rolfe so despised—and they (R. & Annie Litchfield) are heart broken—Rolfe refused to go to her wedding—or send out in his name—My heart aches for them and I simply don’t know what to think of her—They are in N. york now—and I fear will have the bad taste to come here—and I really dread it. She had to become a Catholic before they could be married—which she did—so Rolfe writes me—she has given up “her religion, her country—her people and her parents”—It is really pitiful to read his letters—Well who do you suppose is up stairs cleaning with Susie? your nice Lizzie—Susie is devoted to her and as we wanted someone to help us get the house clean & settled she ask me if she could get Lizzie and I was only too glad. She looks very well—and says she is just delighted at the thought of going to New york with you—Then when I went to market this morning I met Munroe—and he stopped for a talk—when I said—“Well—Miss Altrude writes me she has rented the house”—his eyes filled with tears–and he said “Yes, Mrs. Galt—and I am afraid she has made a mistake—but home will seem all the sweeter after she has tried other places.”—I had a letter from her this A.M. & she said she had gained five pounds—which she certainly needed—for she did look terrible last spring and I was quite uneasy about her”—all this I thought you would like to hear for he really looked awfully sad—but very well—Lizzie says “Sandy” is a great big thing and she is trying to teach him some manners—I had a long letter from Mrs. D the other day—and she wanted to know all about you—Said she had just heard from Marky that he has a son.’—Speaking of that reminds me of the Berrys—was Cary too delicate to mention that the baby she was expecting in October came in August & only lived a few hours—Says they are terribly distressed over it—but she got along spendidly—physicallyI also had a sweet note this morning from Mrs. Rixey saying she hoped you & I would come and make her our promised visit—to see “her and the University”—I have just written to her and told her you were West—and as I had just gotten home I could not start off again at once—that I hoped to have you with me a lot this Winter—and we might then come down and see her.

As you know I stayed 2 weeks with the Roses in Geneva and had a sweet visit—then they took me in the car down to Ocean City and we spent one night at Patterson, one at Albany & one at Lakewood en route. They stayed the week there—& then Mother & Bertha came down & I went as far as N. york in the car with Mr. & Mrs. Rose—and spent one day there looking ’round the shops—and got home on Wednesday—Susie was away—so I did not write for her—and sort of camped out—going up to Mother’s for dinners and fixing my own breakfast & lunch. Susie got back on Saturday—scandalized that I had not sent for her—So I am not getting settled. Have heard nothing from Mrs. Converse—but will be careful about telling her your plans—if I see or hear from her—if Davey and Peggy are with you give them lots of love for me—I know what jolly times you are all having together—My love to Mildred Do write me just when you plan to come home—and know that I will be waiting for you with wide open arms—Bless your precious heart—How I love & miss you—

Please write again soon

“Miss Ede”

Original Format

Letter

To

Grayson, Alice Gertrude Gordon, 1892-1961

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/D00252.pdf

Tags

Citation

Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961, “Edith Bolling Wilson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson,” 1915 September 7, WWP20873, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.