Poe Archive

Pittsburgh January 29, 1837
Sun Eve

My dear husband,

I wrote you the 18th Jan., informing you of the arrival of a son who was born Monday morn at 7 o’clock, the 16th of Jan. —I have been very well since, and so has the little stranger–really hope my last–has reached you, but the mails are so uncertain, that I repeat what I there wrote–I was sick but three or four hours & never suffered so little before–I wrote to sister Rebecca when he was a week old, told her that we had named him William Evans–In my last I told you the dear little babe had his right foot turned in–Dr. Hays told Mrs. Peters, ( my nurse) not to tell me that day , because I was so nervous–but I discovered it first–when I had him in bed. I was so frightened that I nearly fainted–thinking it was like some I had seen–but the Dr. told me not to be alarmed–the leg is the same size with the other, and so is the foot–not withered–after a few days he told us to commence bathing it with white oak bark, which we did for several days, then he put a sticking plaster around the foot & says when he is two months old he can give me a pattern for a boot for it–he says he has seen many worse than this–which were remedied–told me to hold it in a certain position all the leisure I had–you must know I feel anxious indeed & wish sincerely you were with him–I received a letter from you last week–of Jan. 13--& was delighted to find you had done as well at–O-h, & I had a prospect of going to Greenville. My dear husband, I sincerely hope you will come on for me before going to Ill–when the river opens I am very anxious that you should come for me–In the first place I feel very unpleasantly situated here–if uncle and aunt had gone to S.C.–it would have been different–Mary Anna has been quite sick–she was drooping for a week or two–before I was sick–Dr. Hays came to see her–said her stomach was diseased–gave her a slight emetick of ____oil and turpentine after it–she is now much better, but for a week after I was sick–kept me awake almost the whole night–To tell the truth I wish I was through with my visit–I sincerely hope I never shall make another while I live–had I known the family were to be here this winter, I am sure I would not have come–but so it is–I can not help myself–but am far from healing at ease. All the comfort I have is thinking that you will certainly come for me before leaving Hen for Ill.–Ma I find intends on returning in the spring to Taunton--& it will be impossible for me to go on to Ill. With two children alone–you would be obliged to come on for me--& if you knew how I felt, I am sure you would wish me to be away as much as I myself wish it–Surely the expense will be less for you to come from Henderson here in the first place & take me on with you–another thing I want you to have the charge of the dear little babe’s foot–I feel very anxious about it–I assure you — I received a letter from Mr. Center since writing you last–I think acknowledging the receipt of the 55 dollars, or rather the draft–he wrote a long letter saying they were well, Mr P.’s family also sent his respects to you & wished you to write him–thinks of visiting the western country in the spring, & says that he may yet be a farmer in Ill.–George has gone to Phil. & New York to be absent a month–his wife was here last week–Mary Ana is very fond of her little brother Willie–holds him very carefully, & declares Dr. Hays is his father–she begins to pick up a good deal–I do think it is for the best that you did not go on to Ill.–the first of the winter–you have done well since your return, & I do hope will not have left Hen. When this letter gets there–I am thankful the winter is so near over–hope the river will break up soon, & that we can go–Ma feels no happier than I do–I know it is on account of Mary Anna’s sickness, & anxiety about the baby’s foot. Do write immediately my dear husband–my love to Mrs. Aloe’s, Mrs. McBride & their families & all our friends in Henderson–I shall write them soon & to Miss Cooke–Ma sends love to you–Mary Anna sends a kiss to you & wants to see her dear Pa very much–says you want to see her little brother she knows–Adieu my dear husband–

Your Affectionate wife
Sally B. Norris