Letter from Henry to Mother, August 6, 1880

Letter from Henry to Mother, August 6, 1880

Birth; Birth size; Convulsions; Newborn infants

Henry writes to his mother on her birthday and the day that their second child, Richard, was born. Willie had a "fit" of sorts the day his brother was born, which included convulsions. They had not decided on the baby's name but think it will be Richard Varnum. Mattie is in Hong Kong, where is it cooler. The mission is waiting to hear back from the board about funds.

Noyes, Henry Varnum

The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #3

Unpublished

1880-08-06

Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant

PDF

eng (English)

Text

noyes_c_cor_676

[Note: +c transcribed as etc]

[Note: Additional note written sideways on page one]
We are talking of naming baby Richard Varnum but have not fully decided

Canton Aug 6th 1880
My dear Mother
It is a beautiful, bright
day here but very hot, one of the
hottest days, I think, that we have
yet had this summer. I thought of
you this morning and many
times since. I hope to day will
be for you a happy day and the
whole year a happy year. Since
writing the above little Willie who was
one the bed in the room has had
some kind of a fit. I suppose it is
what they call convulsions. He has
had them twice before when teething
but I do not know what could have
caused this one. He was quite rigid
for a little while. He gave my thumb
+ forefingers a pretty hard biting as I
put them into his mouth to keep his
teeth apart. I had heard the doctor
say that in such cases the mouth
should be kept open as lockjaw might
take place if it was not. I gave him a

hot bath and then he went quietly
to sleep. You see I say [u]I[/u] did the
washing etc etc and for a very good
reason for Belle was in the
next room in ignorance of it all
with her other little [?charge?] which
came to us. This morning about
10-o-clock a nice little boy, smaller
than Willie was when he was born
but otherwise looking considerably like
him expecting that his hair is dark.
He and his mother seem to be
getting along very nicely.
Aug 9th I had written thus far the
other day and then was interrupted
and did not get my letter fin-
ished. Willie got over his trouble
the other day and seems pretty
well. It has been very hot
weather but last night there
came a change and it is
cooler to-day. Belle and the
baby are getting along very well
although the hot days have been
tiresome to lie in bed. We weighed

the baby to-day and find he
is not so heavy as Willie was
when he was born. Willie weighed
10 lbs an "Son No 2" as Dr
Happer calls him weighs 6 5/6 lbs.
His hands and feet are small
but perhaps he will grow to
be the larger of the two. We have
not perhaps finally decided on
a name for the little one but
probably it will be Richard
Varnum the middle name for
father as mine was so that
the little fellow will have Mothers
birth day and father's name.
Mattie went to Hong Kong this
morning. She is going to spend
a little while at the [u]peak[/u]. You
know I presume that Hong Kong
is near the foot of a high hill
on the top if which is a signal
station. A good many Hong Kong
people have put little bunga-
lows up there where it is quite

cool and comfortable even
on the hottest days. Mattie went
on a invitation from Miss
Rowe but could not tell how
long she would be gone as she
did not know what Miss Rowe's
plans are. The new school is
nearly completed. We have
not yet heard from the Board
in regard to our application
for an additional $500- but
I presume we shall hear
soon. I do not suppose there
is any particular doubt about
our getting it. They are painting
the house now. I do not know
as it will be thought worth
while to open the school until
next year. I am glad that the
Board closed the year out of
debt. The more the field opens
up the more money we seem to
need. Now I must say good night
Very much love from
Your aff son Henry
[Note: Additional note written sideways in the left margin]
Bella writes me to send her love.

Letter