Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, June 1861

Cushman advises Emma not to visit Mary in Saratoga but that she should be accompanied by Ned if she will. Mary Cushman herself is behaving rather "imprudent" concerning her health which Emma should not indulge.
Cushman is dismayed that her paper envelope containing important papers still has not arrived.

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[283] Monday Night.
since I came home here [inserted], we have had a lot of company & it has been impossible to get away to write to you as I wished but my heart has been with you. dear dear darling of my heart. I am a little troubled about your being alone with Mary at Saratoga! It seems to me. that if Mary were really too ill to be moved from Saratoga. The Hitchcock would hardly leave her there alone especially as your father placed her under their care. & if they thought some one ought to be with her — they would have written to you about it! It also seems to me strange that Mary should be able to go out to a serenade & be so imprudent

[283 reverse] as to call forth remonstrance on the part of the Hitchcocks. & get be unable to leave when they find it nescessary [sic] to do so. You must remember darling that Mary is very unwise. very stubborn & head strong & very imprudent! & you ought not to encourage her independent spirit by going to her. If you could not go — as you could not last week - or the week before - she would have been compelled to do as the Hitchcocks had wished. which I feel morally satisfied would be the right thing for her to do. Ned dear is not so able to judge in such a case as you would be - Therefore you must not be guided by him. His deposition to wards Mary - would make him say in a minute - "go to her at once" – but darling I dont [sic] think this would be

[284] quite [?] what your father would like. Besides darling - if you do go. I dont [sic] want you to go alone — If Ned can get a pass to go - for himself & you - let him take you but if not. I dont [sic] want you to go without him. He might - if nescessary [sic]. go with you there. & then take you down to Lenox & remain with you for a time & then leave you - but I dont [sic] want you to go alone - I think he could remain away three weeks very well. but after that I think he ought to go back to business. & you could easily go to Boston. from Lenox in company with Mary. without him but Saratoga is a different thing. was disappointed not to receive my paper Envelope to day I remained in town very late for the purpose. but it did not come. I was so stupid to leave

[284 reverse] it for the papers in it are of the utmost [?] importance to me before I sail. Oh Im [sic] so +++ & hurried in town to day. Wednesday. I am in despair my own darling. The portfolio of paper by Mrs Truman has arrived. but find to my infinite dismay that a long envelope which contained all my important papers. Among them the two policies of insurance on Alexander Cushmans [sic] life. & all [?] the statistics of my property in the +++ of M +++. or +++ this. as it was most important that I should have them before sailing. I sent a telegram for them. I hope +++ you may find them [?] in your desk or somewhere & +++ them on by the conduction of the ...