Halfway Brook

Walton, New York, August 17, 1878
Friend Ida,
Yours of the 5th is at home to which I shall write a line or two.

I don’t know whether I can come to Sullivan or not if I do I can not come until the last week in Aug. and shall be obliged to make a short stay.

I hope to come but business before pleasure so do not be to certain of seeing me in haste.

Remembrance to all. Write often. Yours Truly, Chester Beers

Walton, September 29, 1878
Friend Emma,
Again I take my pen in hand and express myself with the same broken phrases and irregular script which has characterized my letters for the last ten years that being about my first experience in letter writing and you without doubt have had your share of these unreadable papers, but with your permission I’ll add one more hoping to hear from you quite soon.

So thinking that the above may answer as an introductory I shall try and apologize to Ida via you for not making her that promised visit then close.

Of course I had reasons for not coming and hope she will accept them which were—poverty, business and the fear of Maria* which grew more terrible as the time for coming grew near. Continue reading →

1878 Austin Update
Emma Austin contracted tuberculosis (known as consumption). Emma must have written Chester that her brothers Lon (and Ell) left for the West to find work. At some point they settled near Solomon, Kansas.

It was hoped that the dry air in Kansas would help cure Emma. Lon was preparing a house for Emma to live in.

Walton, July 28, 1878, to Miss Emma E. Austin, Eldred
Friend Emma,
Yours of the 17 is at hand to which I’ll try and answer now, but it must necessarily be short, as my time is much limited to day.

I might grumble at your long silence if I did not know that one is not always expected to be in humor to write. The warmest heart perhaps only feels by fits and is often as insensible as the coldest. This at least is frequently the case with mine and oftener than it should be. But the mercy that can forgive iniquities will never be severe to mark our frailties…

Ida has been silent for a long time now, but I have the satisfaction of being perfectly sure that as long as she remains indebted she will think of me twice as often as if the account were clear.

Then Lon is going West. It may be a good idea but I never got the fever. I have a brother in Iowa who I think is as poor there as I be here.

I suppose you expect to improve in health before you keep house much. I can not tell whether I shall visit Sull. this year or not. I am very busy in harvest now. Can’t get away before the last of Aug. if I can then. Continue reading →

Walton, N.Y., to Miss Ida A. Austin, 103 Christopher St., N.Y.C., January 25, 1878
My Dear Ida,
Yours of recent date has been rec’d—contents noted. And now as the tenth week of school is done and I am at home, I will try and answer your first as well as your last letter to me.

Like you, I was somewhat surprised when I received your letter for I did not think any of the time that I would be able to get you to write but I at last succeeded and prize your epistle very much—though short—for I have read it over more than twice already.

You may tell Emma that I think her memory must be failing her for I have what she said about your writing to me in one of her letters which I can show when I visit you next summer at Eldred should my anticipations ever come to pass in regard to said visit.

School has passed off very pleasantly thus far. The weather has been so pleasant that I have enjoyed myself extremely well and the ten weeks passed seems very short indeed. Such a lovely winter I have never known before.

I received quite a compliment from a lady teacher adjoining my district not long since. It seems that she saw me at church and inquired who I was of one of my pupils who told her my name, to which she replied, “Well he’s noble looking ain’t he?” I shall have to get some better acquainted with her before long I guess.

How did you enjoy the New Years calls that you were about to make at your last time of writing? How does Maria and Tommy get along? Tell me something about her.

You can practice playing croquet before I get down, for I shall have to play a few games.

Affectionately yours, Remembrance to your folks. Write soon.
Chester Beers

Note: Ida later spelled her name Aida.
Continue reading →

Walton, New York, to Aida Austin, December 16, 1877
My Dear Aida,
A note from Emma the other day stated that if I would only write once more you would answer No. 2. So you see I am bound and determined to fulfill upon my part all that is possible to get a note from you.

I am well aware how uninteresting anything which I may write will be to you but I will make it so brief that you will not be very much fatigued in reading it providing you can read it at all.

Four weeks of school has already passed which time seems very short to me. I think this is the pleasantest winter weather I have seen for a long time. Not any snow (except an occasional spot now and then) to be seen and the sun shines war as summer.

I’m away from home just now and am using someone’s writing material besides my own. And of course I shall have to break my word with Emma (I s’pose it’s of little account at the best) as I told her I’d write her when I wrote to others.

You may ask her to excuse me this once besides an average of once a week in the future. I shall have to make you a visit before many months seeing I did not see you last summer in Sull. co.

Do you expect to live in Sull. again? What part of the year could you entertain me with the greatest convenience for a very short time? (Taking it for granted of course that my company will be agreeable.)

What are you doing now? What is Emma doing too? But I must close. Write soon. Don’t be afraid.

Yours in love, Chester Beers

Note: Chester’s letters are written to Ida, who (apparently) spelled her name Aida, when she was older. So I have usually changed Ida to Aida.

It will be December before the next post. Busy times here in Cave Creek!
Continue reading →

Walton, October 21, 1877 to Miss Aida Austin, 103 Christopher St., N.Y.
My Dear Aida,
Not seeing you last summer when I made my visit to Eldred and being somewhat disappointed I shall have to commence a correspondence with your permission which was received by mail not many days since in one of Emmogene’s (Emma’s) letters.

So if you conclude to write to me once or twice a week I will not consider it too often and upon special occasions one everyday would not be objectionable.

I think that Emma told me that you have written me a number of letters but unfortunately I never have as yet received one. So I hope you will not blame me for not answering those letters which I never have seen.

My visit last summer at Eldred was a very pleasant one and I was sorry that you could not have been there to have joined us in the nice little time that we had.

Maria got somewhat offended with me because I happened to see her hair

All braided and twisted and fixed in a curl
When I knew all the time was the make of a girl
But when she gets married I shall have my old fun
I shall gaze at her hair as before I have done
But I see it all now by the eye of my mind
Not a crimp nor a curl can I anywhere find
I have vie’d it all o’er as then it will be
When the baking of cakes is a pleasure says she.

I expect to teach the coming winter, have a school engaged and the term commences the 19th of next month and should I not before that time surprise you on Christopher St. you need not feel very much alarmed before the first of March 1878. I wonder if the girls told you how badly they were beaten at Croquet.

Write soon as convenient and don’t let Emma see this for it is purely confidential.

Yours truly, Chester Beers Continue reading →

Walton, New York, Sept. 23, 1877
Friend Emma,
Your letter of the 11th came to home Sept. 17th, being too late for the party—by several days—but don’t think I should have attended had it come in time, for this reason if no other: I think it is quite necessary that my outgoes should not exceed my income. I would have been very much pleased to have been there at your party and without doubt would have enjoyed it exceedingly as you and all probably did, did you not?

Was Rebecca there? Miss Burnett and the Kelsoes?

I suppose you must be in N. York before now but as I have forgotten your address I will send this to Eldred hoping that you will get it after awhile.

I am sorry that I could not have seen Aida when there. I shall have to make her a special visit, for her benefit alone, sometime in the future. And you may tell her that I would like to create a correspondence with her and she may send me a good long letter the first opportunity.

It is much too pleasant to be indoors today, with the unchanging blue in the vault above, refreshing air and golden fringe of the forest trees, but this is only one of several letters that I must mail tomorrow.

But I must close. Write soon and don’t complain of nothing to write about. Tell me of some of your city beaux—the color of their hair and eyes—how glad they were to see you back again and a thousand other things which could not fail to make material for one letter every week as long as time shall last.

But good bye, remember to all. Does Maria and Tommy* play croquet any more? Yours, Chester Beers

Walton Oct. 21, 1877
Friend Emma,
Yours of the 12th is at home and as it is a little rainy today I will spend at least a part of my time in writing. It looks somewhat gloomy without but I hope it comes not within. Continue reading →

Walton, New York March 26, 1877
Friend Emma,
As I think of visiting New York (City) sometime this season (thinking of making you a visit), I have concluded to drop you a line to find out your whereabouts whether Pike Street, Eldred or some other place.

I may not carry out my designs as “business comes before pleasure,” but if nothing interferes I shall see N.Y. before many months pass by, also Eldred. I have been teaching the past winter and seem to be out of employment just now, and should the present circumstances continue long, Walton can’t hold me. But I must close.
Yours truly, Chester Beers

Walton, May 13, 1877
Friend Emma,
Your favor of Apr. 5th came to hand in due time. I don’t think I shall visit New York before Autumn and possibly not then. Just returned from Buffalo and will try and call at Mr. Austin’s sometime in June if nothing prevents. Of course I shall expect your presence and company.

If not to much trouble please send me a note when you arrive home or upon your way as I can not be very positive about stopping when you are not there.
Yours truly, Chester Beers

Emma Austin
103 Christopher St., NYC May 13, 1877
Mr. Beers,
In reply to your note of March, I sent you shortly afterward my address. I am sorry you did not make your anticipated visit to this city or if you have been here that you were unable to call upon me as you promised to do. Continue reading →

This February 1877 letter indicates Chester would like to spend some time with Emma. Though Emma thinks it would be improper, she still asked him about visiting. The friend-acquaintance tiff continued.

Walton, New York February 13, 1877
Friend Emma,
Yours of February first is at hand. Contents noted and now while all the pleasant sunshine of summer prevails without, I’ll spend a few moments indoors penning a good many lines to you.

I know how uninter-esting and dry my letters always are to you. I am also well aware how incom-petent I am to make them anything else.

Friday night your letter came. I’ll proceed with my dry epistle.

I have just returned from church and can’t help exclaiming as I raise my pen and glance around, what pleasant weather it is. More than spring.

How I could enjoy the day with thee. (I’ll make it more than a few minutes) as an old acquaintance or friend whichever thou wilt. It makes no difference to me. But thou dost know and see the impropriety. I do not. Continue reading →

In October Aida Austin, in Eldred, wrote her brother Lon, in New York City. Aida, age 15, at some point started corresponding with Chester, who replied to her, as we will read in future posts.

October 29, 1876
Dear Brother Lon,
I have got the sweetest teacher ever was.

She has gone to the Centennial. I guess she will be back on Monday. I hope so. She went on Friday after school.

Lon, do come down. Write and tell me you will come as soon as Tom gets you a place. Please do. Don’t stay there any longer, but come as soon as you can.

Please write soon and tell me all the news.

Good bye, your ever true and loving sister, Aida
—The Mill on Halfway Brook, p. 191.

Note: All images are from the Library of Congress.

Continue reading →

In June of 1876 Chester wrote to Emma who was in New York City, caring for the five-month-old son of her Cousin Addie. At some point Emma became very (too) focused on Tommy, which seems to have affected her usual sensible manner.

This letter continues their May 20 “discussion” about friendship. We find out that what seems to be banter about Chester’s letters “trying Emma’s patience,” was caused by the secrets that Chester and Emma were keeping from each other.

Walton, New York June 12, 1876
Friend Emma,
As my last gave a pleasant surprise and terribly tried your patience, likewise I hesitate a little in answering so soon. But as that pen to which you ascribe all the faults may have been laid aside, I venture to write a few lines hoping that they may reach you before you leave Pike St. on the 15th of June—is the time set for leaving I believe.

The weather seems very warm here at present but perhaps it is quite cool and pleasant compared with the atmosphere of the city.

Since I wrote you last I have made a short trip to Sull. Co. on a fishing excursion…Four of us left Walton one week ago today and came home last Friday having had a good time…

First tell me a little more of cousin Addie—who her parents are…

I believe I told you that I formed my judgement from things that coincided with that which your own words said.

One of those things was a sentence quoted in my last, signed by one of your own family, and sealed by the same seal of that letter of which we have had so much talk.

Furthermore I found these words in the same letter, “don’t tell Emma.” Continue reading →