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16. "Where Worries Cannot Reach You"
- University Press of New England
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CHAPTER 16 "Where Worries Cannot Reach You" T he spring of 1869 found Lawrence pressed with state business, while Fanny visited New York. Tom Chamberlain had stayed in the city, though the tobacco business dropped off that winter. In April, he wrote to Sae in Brewer, asking about her five month old son. "In the first place I want to know how old the boy is, and whether he talks any or not. I take considerable interest in babies some how lately—" Tom also asked for John's widow: "I want to know how old Delia is—Can you tell me?" By June, Tom was apparently in financial distress. Fearful that he might lose his job, he asked Lawrence for help in obtaining another position. Lawrence responded from Augusta that it was impossible for him to come to New York: / am as much distracted with the pressure as you are with your dropping off of business. I declare I would not have an office, if I were youf which requires so much 'fixing-up'. I would be more independent somehow. I am under bother enough as I amy but I dont have to beg any body to favor me & I hate to have you do it. I will do every thing I can to have your matters go well & had hoped to go to N.Y. before this but we were obliged to hold session of the council which took me this way instead. I dont see now how I can take time to go there before July. You must make the best of the situation, & with the backers you have I think you can carry it.... I am 203 sorry to disappoint you but cant help it. If things get too blue, you must let me know because I o@n manage to come in a case of life & death. Tom scrawled on Lawrence's letter, which he may have sent to Fanny: "I wrote L. today not to think of coming for me, as I was O.K. and not to trouble himself one bit for me as I could get along without him by paying 100$ to a man I know. TDC"1 Chamberlain was also urged that summer to reconsider his refusal to be a candidate for a fourth term. In his inaugural address that January, he had made it clear that he was serving his last year. But the Republican Party could not secure a viable candidate by the time of their June convention. Chamberlain acquiesced, and received two thirds of the delegate's votes, while radical temperance members supported their own candidate. Fanny, in New York with Wyllys, was haunting the auction houses for antiques and works of art. The disruption of their lives from frequent travel and poor communication is apparent. She wrote home: My dearest little Daisy I thank youfor your last little letter, it was very welcome. The check came safely tell Papa, but it was so long before I got it, that of course the things I told Papa about, were snatched up and we lost them. Miss Alice Cory (tell him) got the beautiful china set, and the Italian picture, the beautiful Magdalen, went immediately. I am very sorry you have a cough dear. Be sure and do not sit in draughts, or sleep in damp bed clothes orput on anything that is not thoroughly aired. It is a very bad time of the year for getting rid of a cough. How did you get the cold? You and Wyllys ought to be especially careful about coughs, as both your Papa's and Mama's families are so subject to them.... I want to see my little Daisy very much indeed and so does good, old Wyllys. He is writing you now, I believe, at Uncle Tom's office. I will enclose an old letter I wrote you long ago, because it may amuse you, although most of it means nothing now. Papa's change of plans made it of no use. How funny it was that Papa did not know where to send to me, orfelt in any doubt about my plans with regard to going to Boston or Brunswick! He wrote me and Wyllys too, for me to meet him in Boston at a certain time; I answered, telling him what day I would be in Boston, asking where I should meet him there and sentfor the check infull seasonfor it to reach here, andfor me to do with it what...