My Dear Ivory,
I am tempted to put that adjective in the superlative, but it would not look natural, and I have no more reason for using a stronger term today than I have had every day since last December. Why is it that after any trouble, I have always the most loving thoughts? And "out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaketh," perhaps because of a thankfulness that the danger is past and we are still as dear to each other. It is my most earnest wish to never cause you any unhappy feelings. You are always thoughtful of me. How could I be so unthoughted?
I know you are not feeling well today after yesterday's experience. I wish you would rest today. I am anxious to know how you spent the latter part of the night. I sincerely hope that your dreams were as sweet as the hours were before midnight. But I must begin to say good bye, as I have to go to Edith's this morning. I could not go so near the office without leaving a short but sweet letter there for you.
I hope to see you--adieu. May nothing ever happen again to cause us any sleepless nights or weary days. But that is asking almost an im-possibility, is it not? But nothing similar to this need ever happen again.
Yours faithfully and devotedly,
Rose Eden
May 22, 1886
My Dear Rose:
It occurs to me that I have not sent you a letter through the mails for a few days and May venture to send you one today without incur-
(Page 111)
ring the displeasure of anyone. I know it will not displease you and with your approval and with a clear conscience I would defy the censure and rebuke of the world.
Selby, the great Lovington orator, is talking to me. I shall try not to incorporate any of his ideas into my note. He is now talking about Mr. Snapp's race for county superintendent. Of course I am interested. Supt. Peadro has come in, which somewhat relieves me.
My dear, I shall come down tomorrow afternoon and go to church in the evening if you wish to do so. About that other matter, we can leave our arrangements just as they are, if we are not in any way molested or denied the pleasure of each other's society. We cannot tolerate any unreasonable restraint, not that we would feel resentful or blame others because they cannot understand us as we know ourselves. You have never done anything dishonorable and no amount of censure can distort an innocent act into a crime.
But I was going to say that rather than permit any interference, we will put ourselves immediately in a position where we can take care of ourselves. You are glad that I am always on the alert to help you when you need help. I hope you will always find me ready to give you the whole strength of my sympathy when you are in trouble, and I know that my championship will be sufficient for all ordinary occasions. I have been your confident (I might say your confessor) for several months. You have confided to me all the main points in your life's history, and I have learned and analyzed the motives and the great undercurrents of feeling together with the parallel and counter-currents of circumstance that have propelled and guided, retarded and drifted you through your course in life. Having learned the very main-springs of your character, I have formed an estimate of your worth that will not readily submit to change. Your mother might have thought me an enthusiast when I said that I understood and appreciated you as no one ever does, but I have good reasons for saying so. But then, I have had better facilities for studying you.
You remember, my dear, that I have told you that for your own good you should have, on several occasions, been sustaining more confidential relations with your mother. She would have understood you better, and her sympathy would have been a great comfort to you. But no, when you were misunderstood and censured for things you could not help, you would flutter away like a wounded bird and nurse
(Page 112)
in silence the arrow that caused your pain. In this way your very sorrow and soul-agony has been misunderstood and thought to be only a bad temper. A mother's sympathy would have been as soothing as your own thoughts were irritating. Besides it was a place in your confidence that she had a right to hold and it, no doubt, would have saved her many a heart-ache.
Sometimes our friends will grieve because they think they see something wrong and we are wounded because they do not understand us. I know you are amazed at this letter. You have never complained to me of unpleasant relations with anybody, but I have discovered that you have felt a lack of sympathy and I have divined the cause and you wonder how I got my information.
I have always been a good student, and you have claimed more attention and a closer study than I ever devoted to anything else.
But I did not intend to write a long letter, and it is now noon, so
Goodbye
I am faithfully yours,
Ivory J. Martin
May 22, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
I had just commenced writing when your letter arrived. Nothing had been said between me and Ma on this subject, although I knew from her restlessness last night that she was greatly troubled, after reading your letter this morning. She said I knew her feelings--that she had always such perfect confidence in you, that she did not hesitate to leave us to the enjoyment of each other's society, but she thought after Pa had written me such a good letter and advised me that I ought to have done differently, that Pa would feel very bad etc., and she intimated that we spent too much time together.
Now I have told you about all there is. Ma is not angry with us, but just disappointed, and perhaps I cause her more anxiety than I imagined. She smiled a pleasant smile while reading your letter and it reassured her. I am glad you wrote. She is better satisfied. She asked me to write you and say some that I have written, but I promised to tell you all. She said she did not know, there was always an uncertainty in love
(Page 113)
affairs and we could not be too careful, and she could not help being troubled about us.
I don't like to keep the boy waiting any longer so I shall reserve the rest to tell you when you come Sunday afternoon. We would better go to church Sunday night if you care to go.
O Ivory, you don't know how much good your note does me, though it is short. I always find you helping me and my best friend when I need help.
You are honorable and true, and all that is noble. You spoke last night of our marriage taking place sooner than we intended and you express the same thought in your letter today, as a sure quicker vindication of our acts, if we think best. We can talk of that when you come, as I can't write so much.
I shall hope to see you tomorrow afternoon.
Yours faithfully,
Rose
Progress Office, May 29, 1886
My Dear Rose:
I cannot resist the temptation to write to you this morning. I think I shall go home [the Whitley Creek farm] this evening and if you have the time to write it, I would be pleased to receive a letter from you this afternoon. If you can get it in the office by 4 p.m., I will receive it before starting home.
I was up at six this morning and have done a great deal of work up to this time (9 a.m.). I feel somewhat weary, however. I think a night's rest at home will refresh me. I shall send an excuse to Mrs. Smyser. You must be sure to go, and of course you will have a good time and report it to me. I shall try to come home in time to call on you tomorrow evening, but you must excuse me if I do not.
My dear, I am persuaded to believe that no circumstance can in the least affect our love. I have thought that spending so much of our time together alone served to strengthen our attachment, and I am not prepared to say it is not true. But you are just as dear to me under other circumstances, and I have been for the last few days the proudest man living. I felt like I wanted everyone to know that I loved you and that
(Page 114)
my love is returned. It is so pure (pardon my egotism) that I do not seek to conceal it.
"Why should I blush to own I love
''Tis Love that rules the courts above."
The time was when this story was new to us and its novelty furnished
a thrilling pleasure that we feared would not last--that is, in the same
intense degree. But, my darling, the lapse of time only strengthens our
affection and increases our pleasure. The thought that our love is lasting
and unchangeable affords a greater, though a calmer, pleasure than that
furnished by its novelty.
The few minutes you stayed in the parlor with me yesterday evening before
Miss Floyd [arrived] were, I was going to say, the happiest moments of my
life. I enjoyed Miss Floyd's society because she is a very interesting lady
and a friend of yours.
I send you some papers that you can read at your leisure. The marked article
in the St. Elmo Times is very amusing. I enclose the circular referred to
that you May understand the article better. I also send a copy of the daily
Progress.
My dear, I feel hardly vigorous enough to write you a long letter, much
as I would like to do so. Rely upon it, I shall see you as soon as I can.
Yours, Devoted as ever, and forever,
Ivory J. Martin
May 29, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
The messenger boy was greeted with my most pleasant smile this morning. And in answer to your kind letter I shall write a few lines for you to carry with you on your visit home. I do not want you to go on a journey, however short, without a goodbye word or letter to tell you, what you already know, that there is one waiting your return who rejoices with you in every pleasure.
You are acting very wisely in taking a rest with the "Old Folks at Home." You could not get the needed quiet and rest here, where there are so many calls on your time. I don't want you to come back until
(Page 115)
you are obliged to. I shall be contented knowing that you are enjoying a good rest and you will soon return feeling refreshed.
I fear that your extra work this week, besides taking time to entertain me and Miss Floyd, has been too much for one man to undertake. I know you are very tired. How thoughtful of you to send me those nice papers. I shall look forward to one of our pleasant evenings together on your return. You know I would love to see you Sunday evening, but I do not wish to hurry you back from your visit home.
You must get all of the sleep and rest possible, and where is there a better place to find them than in your own home.
I always think now of Whitleys (how is the spelling?) as the beautiful country with lovely forests and hills--but you know how delighted I am with country scenery.
Yours faithfully,
Rose
May 31, 1886
My Dear,
I hope you will be ready to attend the picnic--not the President's wedding.34
As I have written you one letter today [?] I ought not to impose on you again. Of course you need no reassurance from me. If I thought of anything I could do that would increase your happiness, I would be sure to do it at once.
Yours devotedly,
Ivory
Progress Office, June 3, 1886
My Dear Rose:
I have some business to attend to about 8 miles from the city which would make a beautiful drive. We would come back by way of the picnic. Shall we go? If you have any hesitancy or doubt about the propriety of going, please to say so and it will be all right. I want you to understand if you have not perceived it before that I do not want to do anything which causes you any embarrassment. If I have ever caused you any, it has been thoughtlessness and not indifference. The fact of this being a business visit need not embarrass you any as it can be dis-
(Page 116)
posed of in a minute's time. Yet let me insist on your using your own judgment about going and please to remember that your own work and plans, of which I know nothing, are legitimate factors in deciding such questions. I always consult my affairs before asking you to go anywhere and you should consult yours before consenting to go. Don't you see I am reasonable.
Of course I would expect you to undergo a little inconvenience rather than publish your refusal all over the town, but that need not be done in such a case as this. I had forgotten to tell you that if we go today I would like to start immediately after dinner.
My darling, I am
Devotedly yours,
Ivory J. Martin
Progress Office, June 5, 1886
My Dear Rose:
Excuse me for imposing upon your patience again this morning. I think I shall go home this evening and if I do, I shall not come back in time to call on you tomorrow afternoon. If I get back in time to see you in the evening, I will do so, but if I do not call before the ringing of the first bell, you must get ready and go to church. My dear, I like to call on you for a drive or a visit when you have not had time to get ready.
I am glad to know that you have sense enough to dress sensibly when you are at home and not expecting callers. And you would please me better if you would always leave that horrid c____t [corset?] off when you are dressing to receive me. I look upon such an article as an instrument of torture that must be endured for the sake of the customs of society, but which you should not wear when you are with me alone, especially when it excites in me painful or disagreeable feelings. Now am I not about right?
Of course, if you are not content with simply looking sweet and want to look exceedingly beautiful in a rich dress that does not fit you, then you must make yourself fit the dress. I could not do without seeing you occasionally in that charming dress you wore Thursday afternoon to the picnic. My darling, you have no idea how proud I was of
(Page 117)
you that day and evening. How I wanted to go in for a few moments! Of course it was late but then my love is unreasonable and does not readily submit to the limitations of either time or place. It was you and not your dress that excited such pleasant emotions. I remember two other occasions when you were disposed to regret your attire and when I spent some of the most blissful moments of my life. My love is no stronger at one time than another. But there are times when I allow my emotions to have full say. It is then that my feelings reach such an exultant height that they mark a pinnacle in my emotions that is easily distinguished from the rest of their history. It is not a stronger love; it is simply the flood tide of passion that touches a land-mark higher than the ones commonly reached.
Love swells like the Solway
And ebbs like its tide!
But my dear, I did not intend to write you a long letter. I know you
will try to please me after this in the matter I alluded to. I remember
one time when you did after I called.
My darling, I am devotedly yours.
Ivory J. Martin
June 5, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
I received your letter too late to reply, but I see you out driving. Then you did not go home. Will is waiting, so good bye, from
Yours truly, and devotedly, and I would love to see you if only for a short time, but you will come tomorrow.
Rose Eden
June 6, 1886
My Dear Rose:
A gentleman who was out on Whitley yesterday tells me that Mother is ill and not able to sit up. Of course you will not ask me to give any other excuse for going to see her. I should not have gone,
(Page 118)
otherwise. I think I shall be back in time to call on you this evening. You May do as you please about answering this.
My dear, I have been thinking seriously of having our marriage consummated as soon as possible, and had been thinking about June 24 or June 30. I do not know if it is practicable or not. We will both think of the matter and decide it when I come down. If you choose to do so, you can consult your mother. Do not tell her that I have decided, because I have not had time to do so. But my opinion now is that it is the better plan.
But I must close. Goodbye until this evening.
Devotedly yours,
Ivory
Mrs. John Martin
Rose, If Mother should be worse than I expect to find her, of course I m ight not come back today, in which case I know you will excuse me.
Ivory
June 6, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
I am so sorry to hear of your mother's illness. Of course you must remain with her as long a time as you can. If she is quite sick certainly you will not think of coming back to keep your engagement with me this evening. I shall not expect you.
In regard to this month being chosen as the happy month, we can as you say decide when you come again.
I am quite well this morning. Your visit last night helped me.
This letter seems so cold, but you know my love, and how indifferent words are to express my enthusiasm. I could not close this letter without a word of affection when my whole heart is full; and I am anxious too about you knowing you are going home to your mother, perhaps to find her very sick.
Please remember me kindly to her, and all of your family.
Good bye.
Devotedly yours,
Rose Eden
(Page 119)
My Dear Daughter Rose,
I received your letter of the 6th last night. I was in the county was the cause of the delay. If you have been able to make your preparations to go to Decatur in my absence, all right. It came too late for me to do anything in time for you to go to Decatur this week. I will be at home on Monday. We can then make arrangements for Belle to come home if we think it advisable; but I would not be willing for her to come home alone.
This is a most desperate fight against me in Fayette. If I had had any idea of the nature of the fight I would have staid at Washington and kept out of it, but I got into it so I could not retreat and had to go through. I think I will carry the county, but my nomination will remain in doubt.
Truly yours,
John R. Eden
June 14, 1886
My Dear Rose:
I have just disposed of my noon mail and believe I shall take time to write you a few lines. My dear, if anything were necessary to assure us a life of happiness I think that such pleasant hours as we spent together yesterday afternoon and evening would fill the measure. We are exceedingly fortunate in being able to look back over a year's courtship with no bitter memories and can remember, in the long list of events, nothing but acts of kindness and evidences of devotion and truth. Such reflections are so inspiring that I cannot find room for a single doubt of our happiness in the future. I am persuaded to believe that if there were anything uncongenial in our dispositions, we would certainly have discovered it before now.
My darling, we will be very happy together. I was at the photographer's place this morning and took three of your pictures instead of one. I wish you would put your pictures in your album and then loan it to me until after the 30th when I will return it to you. You know I can't do without seeing your picture occasionally. You can put all your cards in it if you choose to do so, but please to reserve the place at the
(Page 120)
side of the pictures already in it as they have been reserved for other cards. The place following the new cabinet picture of you will be a good place for my new picture when it is finished as they will be the ones our miniatures will be taken from.
The streets will not be dry enough for a drive this evening. I hope you will think of it and send me a letter this afternoon, but I hardly expect one. I learn that Mr. Eden carried Fayette. I hope that he will get the nomination, but of course it is still doubtful. What does he say about our arrangements? I hope he will not be under the necessity of making a trip to Washington before the 30th.
I will drive around the first evening that the streets are in good condition.
My dear, I am devotedly
Yours,
Ivory
June 15, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
I have written to Belle and sent her dress besides doing a great many other things this morning, and now I take pleasure in answering your good loving letter.
Yes, we spent some of our happiest hours together on Sunday afternoon and evening, and what a pleasure is mine to read your letter and know that you are so confident of our future happiness. There is no doubt in my mind. Perhaps I am selfish, thinking more of my own future than yours, but I know what I know about my own feelings, and I realize that my happiness is certain having you to love, and love me. I feel that every wish is granted. The Giver of all good and precious gifts has been kind to me. My heart is full of love for you alone.
I must go to my Aunt's this afternoon as my express package May come. Mother is in such miserable health and Father away, so I am very busy making all of the plans for our wedding and doing what I can. Father thinks he will be obliged to return to Washington before the 30th. If he does, he will bring Belle home in time.
(Page 121)
I suppose the roads will not be good for driving this evening. I May go to Ella's after dark to look at some samples. Yes you May have my album until after the 30th. Good bye from the one who loves you best.
Rose
June 16, 1886
My Dear Rose:
I think I shall go home this evening if it does not look too much like rain. I saw you this day noon but I took my eyes off of you for a moment and when I looked again you were gone. The incident caused a few unpleasant reflections but of course I know it had no significance. I wish I could see you today.
My dear, I am waiting rather impatiently for the time to come when I can see you as often as I wish, which of course will be as near all the time as my business will allow. But I must go to the office as it is time to print the paper.
My darling, I am devotedly
Yours,
Ivory J. Martin
June 17, 1886
My Dear Rose:
I wrote to Miss Lowe this morning that I would be unable to play this evening. I am going home today or tonight. I learn that Mr. Eden came home this morning. I wrote you a letter yesterday. I do not know whether you received it. I did not think to ask last evening. I wish I had gone home yesterday evening but it looked so much like rain that I was afraid to go.
My dear, this is a very business like letter, but it is not written with a cold hand or heart. I wish I could express my love in every sentence that I write and in every act of my life. Everything else seems so insignificant. My darling, I take no interest in anything in which you are not either directly or indirectly concerned. My business would be a burden if I were not working for you.
My dear, I am not selfish in this regard, and notwithstanding your self-impeachment, I don't believe you are. The only selfish aim I have
(Page 122)
is to enjoy the pleasure of promoting your happiness. If I fail in this, my life will be a failure. Of course, I am going to strive for what ever is good or honorable in the world's prizes, but I would spurn them if I could not confer them upon you. I want no honors that you cannot share. I would regard them as a burden. But I had forgotten that this was to be just a business note.
My dear, I am working and waiting for you.
Yours devotedly,
Ivory
Progress Office, June 17, 1886
My Dear Rose:
I went to the office as soon as I arrived from home hoping to get an answer to my last two letters. I found that you had not forgotten me if you had forgotten to answer.
My Dear, it will be somewhat embarrassing to me to call this evening after excusing myself as I did to Miss Lowe this morning. Is there anything of importance that you want to see me about? If there is, of course I shall come. Do you not think that I would better not come simply to make a visit? Is not Miss Lowe intending to call this evening? (I see you going along the south side and suppose you are going home, so I will send this note by carrier sometime this evening.)
Will not a visit from me be intruding on your time and compel you to work harder hereafter? You know (at least I do) that I want to see you as bad as you want me to call (unless of course you were having a special reason for wanting to see me). Now I shall let you decide whether I must call. I have no personal reason for not calling, only that I told Miss Lowe that a previous arrangement of mine prevented my going.
[Note in I.Martin's hand: "I don't think this letter was ever delivered. Evidently it was not finished. I must have laid it away among her letters and afterward all the letters were placed together. I do not know that she never saw it. I do not find the invitation to call to which it purports to be a reply. Her letter of the 18 shows that I made the call, and the meeting I remember distinctly. July 21, 1909."]
(Page 123)
June 18, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
I don't like to go today without writing you a few words in answer to your welcome and good letters.
We had a lovely evening last night. How happy we are always together! I wonder if Frank [Harbaugh] and Ella [Lowe] did not almost envy us for love sincere was expressed in all of our acts towards each other. There was no necessity of hiding our love in the company of these two trusted friends, and that was rather a new happiness. Then how pleasant it will be when there will be no restraint.
Dear Ivory, I wrote to Belle today and am hoping she May receive it in time to make some purchases for me in Washington, especially the little gift I have wanted for you. It is something you could keep always. These little tokens are always precious.
Must say good bye.
Truly yours,
Rose
Dear Ivory. Since coming down town, Aunt Lilda has decided to go over to Mattoon with me in the morning, and we will drive over.
Truly yours,
Rose
June 21, 1886
My Dear Rose:
I have just made myself ready for breakfast, thinking it was very late but on looking at my watch I find it is only 5 o'clock, so I must sit down in my room and wait for the bell. I have nothing to write to you that will be interesting but still that was the first thing I thought of doing when I found I was too early for breakfast.
I dreamed last night of seeing Mr. Snapp. Strange to say, I did not dream of you in the same dream. I don't think I thought of you then, but you were in some of the most pleasant dreams that he had nothing to do with. However, I have not dreamed much about you since the 18th of Dec. But then I do not dream much and I guess there was no occasion for dreaming of you.
My association with you while it sometimes seems like a dream had a great many evidences of reality. I wanted last night to tell you (and I
(Page 124)
believe I did in effect) that reality is better than ideality. My darling, while you do not answer the description of what was once my ideal, you are so much above it in many qualities of mind and heart that I am glad I never found my ideal beauty. Then those dear eyes of yours, the first that I ever saw that were lighted with love for me, I could not live without them. (I hear the breakfast bell.) I have no other ideal but you, and would not submit to a single change, because I love you as you are. It May be that I am like Brutus when he says "I do not like your faults." But then like Cassius I think "a friendly eye could never see such faults." If a "flatterer's would not", I know a lover's could not.
But I am anxious to begin proving to you that my professions have been sincere and that my love is not a temporary passion, that while it May be a sentiment, it is one so strong that it is a permanent part of my life. Indeed, I think I shall be disappointed if you do not show some of your faults because if you did not, I could not show how much my love could forgive and excuse.
My darling, I am
Devotedly yours,
Ivory J. Martin
June 21, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
I hope it will be convenient for you to call this evening. Ma and I are going down town this afternoon. I intend going to Mattoon tomorrow, so be sure and come tonight.
Yours ever,
Rose
June 23, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
I am so disappointed about Belle not getting my letter in time. She has described such pretty things to me that I had sent for, and I shall write to Pa today and have him get the charm for me. I thought I would better write and tell you. I think you might have the miniatures printed if you wish to right away, but what if they were not the right
(Page 125)
size? My heart is set on having one that Belle described. I shall see you this evening. Having written on this very important subject, first I want to express my disappointment about Pa's defeat. But I know it is for the best. He is working himself to death in that old Congress. Perhaps this is a case of sour grapes. I have so much to think about today. My pen won't write fast enough. One week from today! We will be so happy. I wanted to kiss you too this morning. You will come this evening. I missed you yesterday, and I was so lonesome. Last night I went to Walt's.
Good bye from,
Yours,
Rose
June 25, 1886
My Dear Ivory,
If you will pardon this scrap of paper, I have something to tell you which requires your immediate attention. Lucretia Harbaugh did not receive her invitation. Ella came down and told me. I have more here and you must send one to her right away. I suppose you will return to Sullivan this evening, and I hope you can make some arrangement so Lucretia need not be offended.
Ella is waiting to take this to the office, so goodbye, and be a good boy.
Yours,
Rose
Washington, D.C., June 25, 1886My Dear Daughter Rose,
Yours of the 23rd inst. is received. I wrote your Ma a note yesterday. I am still in good health and spirits. I saw Henry Smysor yesterday. He said he had returned the money sent to Belle, or rather the registered letter. You can use the money for other purposes and I will get the article you request. You will excuse me for not writing a longer letter.
With much love for all, I am
Your loving father,
John R. Eden
(Page 126)