The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

is a pleasant boat. We met some pleasant company and a young married lady took quite a fancy
to Jane & earnestly requested her to write. At Cin. we learned that the “City of Wheeling” would
probably leave in the afternoon. On account of the rain leaving Jane at the boat I went up into
the city and after a time I called at Mr [A.H.] McGuffy’s where I was re ceived by Mrs McG with
her usual cordiality of manner. I thought her even more interesting and beautiful than ever. After
inquiring particularly for you all & after other conversation; she told me to go right down to the
boat & bring Jane up and take dinner with them. When I said to her that I was on the way to the
Seminary, she said she was very much delighted & would give me a double welcome.
She spoke very sweetly of Father & brother Samuel while the tears came to her eyes, and it truly
seemed I was in the presence of a beloved child of God, and O! that we were all, all such children.
The weather being more favorable it was more pleasant for Jane to come up. At dinner Mr McGcame
in and also a sister to Mrs McG- who is a Mrs Campbell a widower. I never saw finer
children than are those of this family. Charley his mother says she hopes will become a minister.
We sat some time after dinner when after saying good bye & receiving an invitation always to
call; we returned to the boat. We then learned the boat would not leave till next morning. The
captain (McClure) who is well acquainted with Mr Bell treated us kindly. That evening he & I
went to hear Dr Butler deliver an able address before the Young Mens Ch. Association. As the
boat was standing at the wharf, that night we slept little on account of the mosketoes. [An 1846
dictionary lists the following spellings: musquito, musquetoe, moscheto, moschetto, mosquetoe,
mosquetto, muscheto, muschetto, musketoe, muskitto, musqueto, and musquitto.] Next morning
learning the boat would not leave till near noon, we took a ramble through the city went back of it
& climbed the high hills from which we had a very fine view. At 2 P.M. on Thursday we left Cin.
and realized pleasant travelling in an excellent boat with good fare. On board the time passed
pleasantly away & we met the Rev M Winters who is an old beaux of Cousin Mary Letherman’s.
He proved to be a talkative & agreeable companion. After a little more than two days pleasant
sail we arrived at Wheeling Sat. 5 P.M. and I hope thankful to God for our health & safety. They
were all looking for us, so we gave them no surprise. Irene was up & nursing a fine, large, blue
eyed boy, of whom she might well feel a moth er’s pride. Birdie is still thin but better. Aunt Jane
has suffered another severe attack & talks of soon returning to Baltimore. Mr Bell I thought
looked very well indeed. Sister is surprisingly large & weighs about 165 lbs. The time passed
rapidly & pleasantly away. Mr Bell is exceedingly kind in his own house. The likeness which
poor John sent is very much as we saw him about four years since, and is a very good one. The
shells are beautiful and of a rare kind. On Sunday morning I went to hear Mr Perkins, who seems
to be a fine man. After dinner Mr Bell & I walked over to see uncle William [Ritchie], who expressed
great gratification at seeing me. Truly if there is an earthly being fit for Heaven he is the
one. It is like breathing a sacred atmosphere to be near him. Cousin Amy & family are well. In
the evening Mr Bell & I went down to hear Dr McCabe, who is considered an excellent preacher.
Monday morning I visit ed the Belmont works & learned something. The day passed rapid ly, and
I much regretted I had so little time to spend in Wheel ing. At 11 oclk Monday night I left W.
for Baltimore, or rather for the Relay House, to connect with the Washington train. During the
night I slept but little on account of my desire to see the mountain views by a bright moonlight.
The senery in several parts is almost equal to any thing of the kind in Va, or in many other of
the romantic wilds throughout the country. I had intended to stop in Baltimore, but found I had
not time & Carry had written me to come on as soon as I could. After a short delay I arrived in
Washington on Tuesday evening at 7 1/2 oclk, and then took the omnibus for Alexandria. Andrew
& Carry met me at the door & said they must now do what they had never done before & that was
to entertain their guest at the hotel, for half in the house were sick. Their cook was dangerously
ill, Mr Lathrope is very sick & so of Mrs L-, and they were much worn with night watching &c. I
was received with much kindness & after a nice supper I with Andrew went to the hotel where I
had a nice night’s rest. Wednesday I spent pleasantly at Mr Bryan’s and think still more of Carry
who is the soul of kindness & looks even better than I expected to find her. Anny [Andrew Wylie
III] is all I expected to see and is a charming child. In the evening they came out to the Seminary
with me. The rooms are large & airy but are furnished in a limited manner & I will have to get
many more things than I expected. Out of more than forty rooms all but two were taken, and
now all are taken, and some of the students will have to room together. I was not a little sur prised
to learn that young Henry Wise is to study theology here. I have not yet seen him but Andrew
says he is one of the finest young men he has ever met with. The session will not properly begin
till Monday & to day I have been in town attending to some things for my room such as towels
curtains &c. When Andrew came home he said to the little boys he had some news to read to
them. Anny’s eyes fairly danced, but when some little time was taken up in reading about the
cotton market &c he was much disappointed; but you should have seen him when the news of
the downfall of Sabastopol was read out; he gave one leap up, then fell on the floor & kicked
up & rolled over, then ran out to tell everyone. He is much delighted with the present you sent
him & parades out the cup every day. I go up to W- to morrow. From the seminary is the very
finest view in all this country including many miles around with Washington, Alexandria. As the
students sell to each other many of their things I have just been much amused at a little auction a
funny fellow amongst them has had in the enjoin ing rooms. But I must now close and say much
more anon. Love to all, Mary, children, &c &c
Your affect. son Anderson M. Wylie
P.S. Tell sister Liz to write soon & direct to Epis. Sem. Alex. & tell Redick by all means to sell his
wheat if he can get a reason able price, for when in Cin. it was but $1.00.
N. S. Leeds to Elizabeth Wylie, Bloomington
Richmond Nov 21 st /55
To Miss Lizzie Wylie,
My Sister not yet being sufficiently restored to health to write, requests me to answer your
last letter,
I do not know that any material change has taken place since I wrote you last, She seems
to linger along in a very delicate state of health, we do not suppose she will ever recover, The
Doctor now thinks it is hardly probable she will continue longer than spring,
Little Irene is in good health, fat & blooming, rosey cheeked as any child you ever kissed,
Very Truly,
N. S. Leeds
194
195