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HUMOROUS BOSTON MA LETTER from JOHN BUMBLEBEE c1850s

Four page letter written legibly in ink on lined paper 4.5 x 7.25”. The year this letter is written is not included on the letter, but it is probably circa the late 1850s. Entire letter seems to be in a humorous, tongue in cheek, & satirical vein. The writer seems to be MAKING FUN OF THE FORMALIZED STYLE OF LETTER WRITING DURING THIS PRE CIVIL WAR ERA, as well as including personal jokes to the person he is writing. He appears to have left her home in Waltham, Massachusetts on the previous day and traveled only 10 miles to Boston, MA, yet he phrases the letter as if many years have passed & he is far distant. This creative writer signs his letter “JOHN BUMBLEBEE” which itself is quite likely a made-up name and all part of the tongue-in-cheek style of the letter. Probably much more could be uncovered in the satire with some research. The letter is in good condition as shown in scan.

Complete transcription follows:

“Boston, March 22nd
My Dear Etta
I now STAND UP to write you a few lines.
Business is very dull. I heard that you had a letter from a firm styled John Hobkins & Son. I hope you will take my advice and have nothing to do with them, for they have written to you under an assumed name

Did you think that when you saw me last I should be so far from you on the morrow? It makes me homesick to think that T E N miles should lie between me and thee. I hope I shall be able to come home before many more years shall have passed. What changes have taken place since I was at Waltham? Do you sill live in the brick house on Church Street? Have you got acquainted with the family in the next house? I heard your younger brother shaves. I can hardly realize it. Why he was only a year or two old when I saw him last, but time passes off so quickly that the years seem but as yesterday.

Please tell Emma Darling that I hope she is more comfortable than when she was sick. Also, tell all my friends that you DON’T SEE that I wish them a Happy New Year and don’t forget to tell my darling Emma that I hope she will have a pleasant Thanksgiving.

I suppose you rise as early as usual, and from experience can say that early to bed and early to rise makes a man happy, wise, and healthy.

I should be very happy to have one of your “FOUR TOE GRAPHS” [photographs]. I hope you will not deny me this pleasure.

Why can’t you and your brother that shaves drive down with Elliot’s horse and SLED next summer?

I was informed that somebody went to see somebody else the other evening and both went to sleep. They must have had a very entertaining time. Are you still planning to teach school? I hope you will take my little Jimmy under your tuition for he eats so much that he make me pay all that I earn to feed him. Last year I was worth say $25.00 and now I weigh less than 200 lbs so I feel very poor.

I was surprised to read the following in the “Telegraph News” a paper published in New HAMSTERDAM: “January the 7th at 4 o’clock a.m. by the Rev. Mr. BLUNDERBUSS: Mr. Jas. Isaiah Hogg son of Betty S. Hogg to Miss Mary E. Fiske, both of Waltham, Mass, U S of America.”

I must now bring my correspondence to a close or Mr. Hogg will be in my hair. I was in hopes that my kindness towards you and the many letters & gifts that you have received from me might have had some effect upon you, but I am doomed to disappointment.

I shall ever hold you in mind but not anywhere else. I hope you will overlook all bad Spelin and Grammatical errors for I have written this upon tremendous excitement. May you ever live a happy and long life.

I am as ever your humble, honorable, scientifical(?), enduring, and affectionate friend.
John Bumblebee

P.S. It snowed in Waltham the other day.
Yours,
J. Bumblebee, Boston, Mass.
Caution: Please not read this in school time.

I will send you an alarm clock as a present, as it might be needful if Mr. Hogg goes into the City early in the morning.
Yours,
John Bumblebee”

Price= $65.00


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