St. Helena's, May 11, 1862.
I wish I had half as much time to think of folks at home as
you take to think of me, but you will know how busy I am when I tell you that
your last letters were carried in my pocket all day — nine letters — and not
opened, some of them; none of them read until night. But every day is not so.
That was yesterday, and today I have rested. I am just as well as I can be and
am having a good time. As for unhealthiness, I shall go from here as soon as I
see that this place is not healthy. The negroes say no white folks ever lived
here to test it, and as the house was new, it was probably so. They say it is
healthy for “niggers,” but “white folks” always go North or to Beaufort in
summer. It has proved, though, to be healthy wherever white folks have lived as
near the sea as we are, so I think I need not run till I see cause.
You need not be troubled about the allopathic doctoring, for
there is a nice, elderly man in the army, a lieutenant in a Michigan regiment,
who has charge of the comfort of the ladies at Mr. French's. He came over here
with Mr. French and we made a solemn agreement, he to doctor me, and I him in
case we were either of us ill. He is an old hand at homoeopathy, and a very
good doctor, I think. So I feel very safe and comfortable. He is elderly,
married, and stationed here for the summer, and at the disposal of the ladies
so far as doing everything he can for their comfort. As for going into the hot
sun and night dews — when I get time for a walk I shall be happy. There is a
pine grove close by, and I have wanted from the first to go to it. It is not a
stone's throw from here and I have not entered it yet. I never go further than
the quarters or the cotton-house except in the carriage, but I have had lots of
beautiful rides, and Mr. Pierce is going to give me a horse and buggy so that I
can drive whenever I please and wherever I please. He does this rather for the
horse's sake than mine, I fancy.
It is not very hot here. There is a splendid sea breeze
every day and the nights are cool. We have every comfort except steady
servants, and I have a real good, old auntie who does my washing, chamber-work,
and waiting at table for half a dollar a week. Although I never worked so in my
life, it seems to agree with me, as I am in high health and spirits, sleep like
a top, laugh like old times, and am jolly generally.
Ellen has not yet come and I am so afraid the Boston
Committee will not send her, because they will not accept Mr. Pierce's pass now
that he thinks of leaving, or because their funds are out. I expected her fully
yesterday, but the letters came and she did not. I find it so much better and
safer and more cool and comfortable here than I expected, that I have no
scruples about her coming and have got all over my fears about all sorts of
things that I used to be afraid would be the death of her.
You must not think because I talk so much of the hurry that
I do not like it. I do, for it is just what I came here for — though not just
this kind [of work]. The day I kept school for Miss Winsor I had the hardest
time of all, and I concluded perhaps I was better for this work than teaching.
In my doctoring I can do much good and give much advice that is wanted. The
clothing department is the most laborious, but it is very amusing to sell to
the negroes; they are so funny.
I see every day why I came and what I am to stay for.
 |
| A ST. HELENA LANDSCAPE |
SOURCE: Rupert Sargent Holland, Editor, Letters and
Diary of Laura M. Towne: Written from the Sea Islands of South Carolina
1862-1864, p. 39-41
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