Kansas City, Missouri
April 4, 1882
Dear Aunt Augusta,
I received John’s letter Saturday evening and have felt
so bad I could not write. And now what can I say? What can any one say that will
be the least bit of comfort? I asked our family physician yesterday about it and
he said that if there were no blood vessels broken, he thought probably the
attack would not last long. I do hope that it will be short. I should be very
glad for his sake if they could have seen him.
We have bought six acres of ground mostly in orchard just
joining Kansas City on the east, and I am trying to have the boys garden a
little. Mr. Holmes stays in town from Monday till Saturday while we are using
both of the horses as it takes so much time to go back and forth. I have been
very sick since we moved. I had a miscarriage – twin boys too. Was that not
too bad? The afterbirth was fast and I came very near dying. I suppose if the
doctor had been fifteen minutes later, I could not possibly have recovered. As
it was, I looked over and saw the river very near.
Can you not come down and see me? I would try my best to
make it pleasant for you. My heart aches when I think of you and Uncle [James].
I will write to the girls in a few days. I shall feel very anxious to hear hoe
Uncle [James] is. Will you let me know? I fear he will not last long unless he
recovers.
Our address now is Post Office Box 1207, but our residence
is East Eighteenth – just beyond the city limits. I was very sorry to miss
seeing [your son] Johnnie. He must come again and let me know so as to meet him
at the depot. We are about three miles from the depot. Love to [your other
children] Willie and Mami [Mary]. I shall write to Johnnie as soon as I can.
Your affectionate niece,
Lydia
[Giddings] Holmes
