GOODELL FAMILY LETTERS- #39
 

Anson to Parents

Brookfield Feb. 26, [1865?]

Dear Father & Mother –

            We received your kind favor Friday Eve and proceeded at once to prepare for a visit to Edwin. And Saturday morning I concluded to go on the first train. Uncle Waldo was to come in the PM train if he could get away from the shop but just as he was getting ready to leave the house up came Waldo and we went down to Worcester together. We arrived at the hospital about 10:30 and found no trouble in getting admitted to the ward soon as I told them my business and where we were from. Edwin was very glad to see us indeed and we had a real good time talking with him.[1] His eye looked as full of animation and fire as though he had never seen the intense suffering he has. I don’t know that I ever saw him when he seemed to feel more hopeful than now and I never felt more encouraged about his limb. There is a look of health and life in the flesh that he had never shown before – however it is not the flesh that is to cause trouble if trouble comes at all it will probably be from the decayed bone left in the wound. But I think he will soon know whether that will make trouble for him or not. O I hope and pray with an earnest heart that this may be the last operation necessary and it will now heal up like any other wound of the kind. Surely he has a frightful looking limb but with a good appetite I don’t know why he cant make brackets & wood frames as before soon as he regains a little of the strength lost in the operation.

            I was quite surprised to find him so cheerful and apparently happy. They are very kind to him and he has more there than would be possible to get other whereas by way of food and nourishment – little niceties that relish etc. Moffitt[2] dresses the limb and does it very faithfully, from what I saw Ned had him dress it just when we came away so that we could see it.

            I didn’t see you, Father as we expected and it made me worry thinking that Mother was much worse and kept you at home and I feel more anxious to hear from you.

            We are getting along well as ever. My time is divided between cutting and sorting. We are cutting a good many kip Belgians now.[3]

            We are all well temporal and spiritual. The Methodists here are stiffer than the Cong at Dudley, so I don’t find any harmonizing spirits and hence don’t have the interest in the meetings that I ought to have and don’t attend as often as I should were it otherwise. Nothing has been done toward building the Church yet and I suppose they won’t until the frost has come out. More I have had a few hints to come down with the “dosh” but couldn’t take them and I certainly until after I know whether I can stay her through the year or not.

With much love We subscribe W.W. AP & EA.