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Fragments: Mrs. Reuben Chandler writes to her husband during a cholera epidemic

By Anne Stevenson b. 1933 Anne Stevenson

note: Most of this journal, written on shipboard, seems to have been destroyed, probably by fire. What remains suggests that Mrs. Chandler journeyed to New Orleans without her husband's permission, thus becoming indirectly the cause of her baby's death.

August, 1849 EN ROUTE FROM NEW YORK TO NEW ORLEANS

ABOARD THE 'GENERAL WAYNE'

Two weeks aboard the 'General Wayne'

is little more than a floating hospital

vomiting spells. I attribute them to

is truly ill. For two days he has

in his bunk.

Belle seems to recover. At least

fretful which indicates improvement.

struck by a nervous disorder.

I sleep very little and take no solid food.

(page torn)

(Second page)

Yesterday evening poor little Cookie died.

She was seized suddenly with spasms, poor thing,

and died in an hour. You will accuse me of

but it was truly frightful.

I have not slept for weeping.

only a dog!

(page torn)

(Third page)

arrived safely in New Orleans but

embark. We are all in quarantine

might be better, but Belle is

all day by her bedside. Doctor

plague and gives me no hope

pray for survival.

(page torn)

(Fourth page)

have not been able to put pen to

all over. Our dear little girl

among the blessed, my beautiful

authorities let no one near.

darkies. I am full of

one who was without fault and so,

lies shrouded in my sister's

blame God and myself, dear

why you have left me without support?

(page torn)

Anne Stevenson, "Fragments: Mrs. Reuben Chandler writes to her husband during a cholera epidemic from Correspondences: A Family History of Letters" from Poems 1955-2005. Copyright © 2005 by Anne Stevenson. Reprinted with the permission of Bloodaxe Books Ltd. www.bloodaxebooks.com

Source: Poems 1955-2005 (Bloodaxe Books, 2005)

Biography

Born in Cambridge, England, Anne Stevenson moved between the United States and the United Kingdom numerous times during the first half of her life. While she considers herself an American, Stevenson qualifies her status: “I belong to an America which no longer really exists.” Since 1962 she has lived mainly in the U.K., including Cambridge, Scotland, Oxford, and, most recently, North Wales and Durham.

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