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felt she could no longer bear this responsibility. She wrote to Mary’s
daughter, Adeline Savage, challenging her to fulfill her duty in caring
for her mother
.
Dear Niece, Adeline Savage,
I think you should know how your mother [Mary Chase] is at the
present time. She is quite feeble. She has needed care constantly. I
cannot possibly have any care of her whatever.
We leave Battle Creek for Otsego today. Next week we shall be,
I expect, at Chicago. The eighth we start on our long journey for
California. I feel very sad to leave your mother in her present state
of feebleness. I provide for her the very best I can. I purchased a
house, which has cost me a thousand dollars, and furnished it simply
with necessary articles for her use. We have let a family into the
house—a mother, son, and daughter. They have the use of the house
[in exchange] for your mother’s board. I pay the taxes. Last year your
mother paid the taxes, but she met with an accident in building a fire
in the stove. The floor took fire and there was seventy-five dollars
expense to me for repairs.
The son of the widow lady who has my house has been sick for
[199]
five weeks. During this time your mother has been sick, attended by a
physician and sometimes a nurse, for she could not receive attention
from anyone in the house. It was in the bargain that your mother’s fire
should be made in the morning so that she could have a warm room to
get up in, but further than this they could not do.
If she needed a nurse, she must provide it. She has only three
hundred dollars, which will melt away very soon. She must have
clothing. She must have wood. I have done all I can do, and more than
I should do. I look to you, her children and her grandchildren, to act
your part. I feel bad indeed at the present appearance of things, that
strangers’ hands have to do for your mother the duties which justly
belong to you to perform. When the neighbors and friends inquire,
“Has she no children to have a care for her?” how embarrassing to say,
“She has two sons and a daughter and grandchildren and brothers.”
The question is asked, “Why do not her children take care of their aged
mother in her feebleness?” I am not able to answer that question, but
perhaps you can answer it.
I have my work, which is speaking and writing. I am in constant
labor and ought not to have one thought or one care upon my soul for