To Mr. AA Austin 1886

Envelope: Mr. A A Austin
839 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, LI

August 4, 1886
Dear Friend,
I delayed writing until our removal, as I wanted something to tell you. In the first place, we are six and not one of us owns a bottle of ink, so I will be obliged to use shoe blacking to direct the letter.

Enclosed you will find the stamps you can’t imagine my surprise when I found them. If I think enough of a person to write to him, I’m sure I won’t begrudge the price of the stamps.

It is delightful here, we are more than satisfied in every particular, except in the number of mosquitoes.

Mr. Squires the hotel keeper took tow of the girls and myself yesterday for a five mile drive; the wagon is similar to the “soap box” only it is two seated.

You have no idea how fine the old gentleman and myself looked, perched on the front bench, as there was no rail to the seat. I was glad on our return trip to change places with one of the girls.

The place is almost beyond description, you have to see it to admire it. The Shinnecok Bay lies about one block from the house at the foot of the hill; for the boat we pay 50 cents a week we go out alone and are fast becoming experts at rowing.

I took one of the girls out twice yesterday. The girls have just gone in the yacht for a twenty minute sail, have taken their bathing suits, and are going in the surf. I prefer still water bating until I learn to swim. The board is excellent. Back of the house is a large woods and an immense swing in it we will go there when the girls return.

The beach reminds you of Coney Island. There are 60 boarders here. Everything is just grand. Enough for that. I had but one letter from Ida this summer and have not answered that; she is in Chicago just a week and expects to come here with her sister Addie and little Tom for a while.

Mr. Smith started July 9th for the West. I guess you know all now, so good bye.
Your true friend,
Helena
Direct to: c/o B F Squires, Atlanticville, Long Island
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Mr. A A Austin
New York House, near Nostrand Ave.
September 8, 1886

Dear Friend,
If you went home on the excursion train today, you are probably returning at present or else have decided to remain until tomorrow. I trust you found all the folks well and the promised bride and groom flourishing like “green bay trees.”

Ida must be at Eldred about this time and she don’t think enough of her friend to even write to them. I intend to give her “Hail Columbia” on Monday when we meet.

I remained at Atlaticville only four weeks and as our party left on the 30th, I did not care to stay longer.

Your letter reached A. two days after I left, so they redirected it and after a great deal of wandering around, it finally reached me.

Papa is feeling much better, mamma is still in Sing Sing [the city], sister is preparing for bed, although it is only nine o’clock and I am losing my sun burn and a few pounds already.

On Sunday night I managed to get up a very sore throat, what do you think of that so soon? I was obliged to pay a visit yesterday at 10 am to the MD. He said my tonsils were ulcerated and gave me some paint and a brush to daub them with tonight. I feel so very much better that I promised to accompany my sister to Union Hill in the morning if the weather is favorable.

Mr. Smith has not returned yet, and is not expected until the 20th of this month.

I had my picture taken with two of the other young ladies in the country and will show it to you when you call.

Here I have been writing under difficulties, the lamp is almost out and I am too lazy to fill it. There now, I have told you all, so Good-night
Sincerely, Helena Gililespie
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envelope addressed to:
Mr. A A Austin
c/o Mrs. Clinton
290 East Broadway, NYC, NY

In School October 8, 1886
Dear Friend
Your letter received at 5 pm on Wednesday. You see it was entirely out of the question for me to get a note to you in time, however will be pleased to see you Sunday afternoon at the house. Trusting this will reach you in season. I remain
Yours in great haste,
Helena S. Gillespie
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envelope addressed to:
Mr. A A Austin
c/o Mrs. Clinton
290 East Broadway, NYC, NY
November 26, 1886

Dear Friend
Yours received. Will be pleased to accompany you to Beecher’s and will expect you at my house in the afternoon; remember you have no watch to hunt for now.

I was very sorry to learn that you reached home so late, we will have to see that it does not occur again.

There now, I will have to close am going to class meeting and will put this in the post office on my way.
Good night
Ever your friend, Nellie Gillespie
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Eldred, NY
December 1, 1886

Dear brother,
I suppose Maria’s stock of news is exhausted by this time, and you are ready for more, so I will try to present you with a few.

Mort and I have been to Collins’s again to spend the evening, and although the only ones there besides Collins’s and ourselves were Lon Bavitchel and his brother Horace, yet we spent a very pleasant evening and did not get home until about one o’clock.

Tell Maria she missed it that she did not stay home a little longer and get acquainted with Horace, for he is a daisy.

Father has been home since Saturday with the pink eye, and I don’t think he will get back to work this week, although his eyes are a great deal better and he has gone to Barryville today.

Mother says she told Maria that Isaac Sergeant was married, but Aunt Eliza was telling me that it is not true, that he is married. Some of the boys around Barryville started the story. By the way, tell Net that we have had a very “nawce” [nice?] visit from Aunt Liza. She came up Monday afternoon and took her down to aunt Effie’s this this morning. Myers Gardner came up for her this afternoon and took her home.

Mort says to tell you that he will write to you soon and would have written to you before, but has been so busy drawing coal for Bolton and besides this, he has had the pink eye.

Fanny and Blackhawk are doing splendidly. Blackhawk is fat as a pig and takes the world as easy as ever.

Ell has not come yet and we have not heard from him since Maria went back

“Doc” Kelso is sick; and Rob came home this afternoon. I stood in the window and watched him goby.

Mort says you had better stay where you are in stead of going to California and I think so too.

Tell Maria I will try to write to her soon.

Love to all. Don’t forget to write soon.

Yours in haste,
Aida

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