Letter from Helen Hunt to Charlotte Cushman, n. d. [before Jan 1, 1871]
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Helen Hunt to Charlotte Cushman, n. d. [before Jan 1, 1871]
Subject
Jackson, Helen Hunt
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Relationships-- Intimate--Same-sex
Journalists/Writers
Italy--Rome
Description
Helen Hunt sends Charlotte Cushman a book of her own verses as an apology but could not find a book with large enough pages. She mentions never doing it before for a woman, and that she is thankful for Cushman's encouraging words. She is saying her goodbyes although she is not good at it.
For transcripts, please also see Colorado College.
Credit
Library of Congress, Charlotte Cushman Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.For transcripts, please also see Colorado College.
Creator
Hunt, Helen Jackson, 1830-1885
Source
LoC, CCP 11:3420-3421
Type
Reference
Letter Item Type Metadata
Text
[3420] Dear Queen, -
Not having gold & silver to buy anything worthy for you. - I thought of this. But now having done it, I am seized with a misgiving that it is horrible impudence in me to suppose that you would like a great book of my verses! I tried very hard to get a smaller book however: give me credit for that: but I could not find any thinner ones, in which the page was large enough.—
Never but once before have I done this
[3421] thing; -- and that was for a man: For no woman in the world but you, - our great sweet darling, - have I done it; from no other woman have words of praise been so dear and helpful to me. -
This is all my apology; - if for this, you cannot forgive me. what shall I do! But I know your goodness too well; I am not afraid.
When shall I kiss you again, after tonight? I think, in America, next. – God keep you till then.
Most that I would say
[3420 reverse] I cannot. I am dumb at Goodbyes; they are a species of dying -- and hurt almost worse than the greater thing they are like: - for that shines out so full of compensations. If I were going to Heaven, I should not miss you so much as I shall in Malvern! – Now and then I will reach out and feel if you are in Italy; but I will not tire you. God bless you, for all the sweet help & joy your words have given me.
Always so –
Helen.
Not having gold & silver to buy anything worthy for you. - I thought of this. But now having done it, I am seized with a misgiving that it is horrible impudence in me to suppose that you would like a great book of my verses! I tried very hard to get a smaller book however: give me credit for that: but I could not find any thinner ones, in which the page was large enough.—
Never but once before have I done this
[3421] thing; -- and that was for a man: For no woman in the world but you, - our great sweet darling, - have I done it; from no other woman have words of praise been so dear and helpful to me. -
This is all my apology; - if for this, you cannot forgive me. what shall I do! But I know your goodness too well; I am not afraid.
When shall I kiss you again, after tonight? I think, in America, next. – God keep you till then.
Most that I would say
[3420 reverse] I cannot. I am dumb at Goodbyes; they are a species of dying -- and hurt almost worse than the greater thing they are like: - for that shines out so full of compensations. If I were going to Heaven, I should not miss you so much as I shall in Malvern! – Now and then I will reach out and feel if you are in Italy; but I will not tire you. God bless you, for all the sweet help & joy your words have given me.
Always so –
Helen.
From
Hunt, Helen Jackson, 1830-1885
To
Cushman, Charlotte Saunders, 1816-1876
Social Bookmarking
Collection
Citation
Hunt, Helen Jackson, 1830-1885, “Letter from Helen Hunt to Charlotte Cushman, n. d. [before Jan 1, 1871],” Archival Gossip Collection, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archivalgossip.com/collection/items/show/214.