Letter from Charlotte Cushman to the Fields family, Apr 16, 1872

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[page 1] Dear JTF. [James Thomas Fields] & a F [Annie Fields]: both dear & true. Lo [?] & behold. I did not get to Boston for Egmont [?]. & there was no voice to tell you why. On Sunday night I arrived here from Phil^a. & was ordered by my +++ to send to Boston to say I could not read without peril of paralyzing the vocal chords! so I sent a messenger [?] to +++. who was troubled – but not as much as he would have been if he had not sold all his tickets on the strength of the combination & then he saved his $500 to me. which is much! & the fault not his — though the loss was mine, in every way! for I

[page 2] was well prepared & should have done something with the "dared thing!" as William Hunt would say. However. it was not to be. I have been musing [?] these straind [sic] vocal chords. which refuse to be healed. & how I am to get through My Phil^a engage [engagement]" commencing on Monday next ^22°. only the good father knows. but I must try! Reading "Macbeth". was the last stone upon my head. it was awful. but. I tell you. in confidence — it was not bad! Though I say it as shouldn't I have not heard a word from any mortal soul —or seen 

[page 3] about my not keeping my engage [engagement]? I think John Pray who keeps me informed. is ill. & no one else tells one anything — Let me see anything that may have been said: another thing. I send you a "war saga" have you seen it? written by a +++ poet Evidently in England! I don't know if it has been reprinted here. but if it has not. I want it to be printed--with this reply to it — a Peace Saga--which I want to be paid for. & I think the Atlantic will do it. you may attribute it to whom you like but you must not know who wrote it. & you must make the Artantic [sic] Editor, on every Saturday take it & pay for it. just for fun [?]. Dont [sic] tell Annie [?] to answer me about it. but just you. JTF. do it!

[page 4] +++ +++ +++. you see is good enough for a newspaper printing & Host & print & publish it after. Osgood might have done it before & made money out of it. but the poem is another matter & as you see made by another head. Do you like it? if so just send me a word to say so. My nephew went to see my house in Newport. I asked Richard Hunt for three things only. & left all the rest to himself. I have not one of the three I asked for! Who would build a house? not I again! Ever my +++ Love Hunt. +++ porcelain. that she is. Love to you both. write to me at La Pierre [?] House Phil^a. P^a from the 18" — & believe me ever faithfully & affectionately
Yours C.C