Letter from John Green Lane to Helen Berry Lane, June 6, 1877
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from John Green Lane to Helen Berry Lane, June 6, 1877
Subject
Correspondence--1870-1880
Description
letters
Creator
Lane, John Green
Date
1877-06-06
Format
3 JPEGs
600 ppi
Language
English
Identifier
1874_06_06_bl
Coverage
Brompton (Fredericksburg, VA)
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Brompton [Wed. Eve. 10?] June ‘77
[Yours?] of Sunday my dearest wife came this morning. I am grieved at your headache. They bad enough at home and you expect them, but it is a real infliction upon so short a visit; we will [talk?] over Helen’s kind neighbors when we meet, I will only say they are charming and glad her lot’s cast among such, and they could not bestow their politeness and [attentions?] upon a more appreciative person than your own dear self, and my regrets that you could not induce [name?] to [illegible] meets you—Yes! You are missing our [new?] strawberry patch, they are very fine, and we have enjoyed them. I can’t keep [Lay?] and Harry out of the patch. I preserved some of the Wilson’s Albany, and hope I put sugar enough, pound for pound, in them and cooked down enough to keep them quick. I did them more work [reference?] to that than looks [[end page]][[start page]]
I found the Library floor in bad condition, but when washed over it came to dry much and today I have had Harry patching it up and if when it’s varnished it will assume, the same color it will look as good as new. I have improved the appearance of the carriage very much, but the weather is much against doing it expeditiously, as I sat down to write I had to have returned to the [c. house?] to protect it from a threatening storm, which has come making the 3rd day in succession it has rained, last night we had a grand specimen of nature’s artillery, the lightning was vivid and [illegible] and accompanied by distant rolling thunder for two hours. [They?] heavy rain did not reach here, but we have not had the drought you speak of, perhaps as long without rain, but the yard showed no evidence of drought and the vegetables in the garden grow. This morning I sent a bush. peas [to market?] [[end page]][[start page]] you know we hadn’t as many vines as last year. I sent half a [pound?] of butter [by?] Tuesday; I’m not selling any. Thinking perhaps you will put it in brine for vegetables the price is [dull?] at 20 cents. I have cut a part of my hay, that behind the barn the other I shall save for seed as advised by M. Miller. I have not been down town this week and have seen no one for the gossip: ___ a change of schedule was [illegible] [as I moved you?], but did not go into effect and notice has been given that it will not till further notice, so I abide it is practicable for you to come home by the [Daily?] James River route. By which you will certainly reach Rich’d in time for the 8.38 P.M. afternoon train and reach here about Eleven P.M. the same day but if you prefer the Lady of the Lake of course come that way. In [Norfolk?] you can ascertain what time the J River boats arrive in Rich.d. The fare [[end page]] [[start page]] to Rich.d? from Norfolk $2.50 and $3.[50?] from Rich.d here and the [trunk?] and hack hire about the same on either route. I wish you could bring Helen and Mr. Johns with you.
Jimmy was very much grateful at your [illegible], but said he did not like to disappoint his [Ma?] whom he had written he would be at home Saturday. But I think it not [illegible] certain he will not remain, a new suit of clothes came up for him Friday and he seems to have had a good time in his old ones and might reasonably wish to exhibit them and have a better time in his memory. [Lay?] has past come in, dressed for a visit down to [Miss Em?] who was going in search of ivy bloom. Tomorrow is [illegible] day and the school [girls?] have holyday to make the months after 12. The festival comes off Friday night as I wrote you; [illegible] of a gall. of cream. I’m booked for a gal. of ice cream, but I’ve spoken to Alcinda about getting it up and she says she can manage it very easily. A letter from Taylor to day, oh well; It was a disappointment to day and I, your [illegible] we had fixed upon Sat. night for your return. I will get off a [illegible] to you at Norfolk: if you have not length of time to write you can telegraph me from Rich.d if you come that way.
With devoted love am ever yr Husband [[end page]]
[Yours?] of Sunday my dearest wife came this morning. I am grieved at your headache. They bad enough at home and you expect them, but it is a real infliction upon so short a visit; we will [talk?] over Helen’s kind neighbors when we meet, I will only say they are charming and glad her lot’s cast among such, and they could not bestow their politeness and [attentions?] upon a more appreciative person than your own dear self, and my regrets that you could not induce [name?] to [illegible] meets you—Yes! You are missing our [new?] strawberry patch, they are very fine, and we have enjoyed them. I can’t keep [Lay?] and Harry out of the patch. I preserved some of the Wilson’s Albany, and hope I put sugar enough, pound for pound, in them and cooked down enough to keep them quick. I did them more work [reference?] to that than looks [[end page]][[start page]]
I found the Library floor in bad condition, but when washed over it came to dry much and today I have had Harry patching it up and if when it’s varnished it will assume, the same color it will look as good as new. I have improved the appearance of the carriage very much, but the weather is much against doing it expeditiously, as I sat down to write I had to have returned to the [c. house?] to protect it from a threatening storm, which has come making the 3rd day in succession it has rained, last night we had a grand specimen of nature’s artillery, the lightning was vivid and [illegible] and accompanied by distant rolling thunder for two hours. [They?] heavy rain did not reach here, but we have not had the drought you speak of, perhaps as long without rain, but the yard showed no evidence of drought and the vegetables in the garden grow. This morning I sent a bush. peas [to market?] [[end page]][[start page]] you know we hadn’t as many vines as last year. I sent half a [pound?] of butter [by?] Tuesday; I’m not selling any. Thinking perhaps you will put it in brine for vegetables the price is [dull?] at 20 cents. I have cut a part of my hay, that behind the barn the other I shall save for seed as advised by M. Miller. I have not been down town this week and have seen no one for the gossip: ___ a change of schedule was [illegible] [as I moved you?], but did not go into effect and notice has been given that it will not till further notice, so I abide it is practicable for you to come home by the [Daily?] James River route. By which you will certainly reach Rich’d in time for the 8.38 P.M. afternoon train and reach here about Eleven P.M. the same day but if you prefer the Lady of the Lake of course come that way. In [Norfolk?] you can ascertain what time the J River boats arrive in Rich.d. The fare [[end page]] [[start page]] to Rich.d? from Norfolk $2.50 and $3.[50?] from Rich.d here and the [trunk?] and hack hire about the same on either route. I wish you could bring Helen and Mr. Johns with you.
Jimmy was very much grateful at your [illegible], but said he did not like to disappoint his [Ma?] whom he had written he would be at home Saturday. But I think it not [illegible] certain he will not remain, a new suit of clothes came up for him Friday and he seems to have had a good time in his old ones and might reasonably wish to exhibit them and have a better time in his memory. [Lay?] has past come in, dressed for a visit down to [Miss Em?] who was going in search of ivy bloom. Tomorrow is [illegible] day and the school [girls?] have holyday to make the months after 12. The festival comes off Friday night as I wrote you; [illegible] of a gall. of cream. I’m booked for a gal. of ice cream, but I’ve spoken to Alcinda about getting it up and she says she can manage it very easily. A letter from Taylor to day, oh well; It was a disappointment to day and I, your [illegible] we had fixed upon Sat. night for your return. I will get off a [illegible] to you at Norfolk: if you have not length of time to write you can telegraph me from Rich.d if you come that way.
With devoted love am ever yr Husband [[end page]]
Original Format
Paper
Physical Dimensions
3 x 5
Files
Collection
Citation
Lane, John Green, “Letter from John Green Lane to Helen Berry Lane, June 6, 1877,” The Lane Family at Brompton, accessed April 18, 2026, https://lanefamily.umwarchives.org/items/show/20.