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June 24, 1870-February 14, 1872; Thatcher, Luna Young, to George W. Thatcher. The correspondence continues while George is still in the East with his parents. Luna's letters are a continued avowal of her love and affection and of missing him. She wishes she could be with him and be presented as his wife, that any of them could not refuse to accept as such. July 29, 1870, finds her writing again to her husband who has returned from the East and departed (probably to Salt Lake City) on business. She tells him that someone had passed through Ogden and saw white flags on residences, noting that the occupants were suffering from smallpox. Luna sends her love to her mother and also to Fanny and she worries because George has to work so hard and that she can not help him with expenses. On October 12, 1871, Luna is once again in Salt Lake City. George has been gone four weeks (he has gone to England on a mission for the church) and she says it seems like six months. She has decided to rent their home and is moving on the hill with her mother. Her expenses and the business of selling their cows are discussed. She hints at some disagreement between her father Brigham Young and her husband George and tells him that she has not said anything to her father yet as he has been ill and she did not want to vex him with the matter and advised George to forgive and forget. Although she is happy to be by her mother she now has to be housekeeper for her mother, Alice and her boys, and her own family. This is more work, but she feels the income from their home will help. She constantly worries over George's ill health and hopes he will come back home if the weather proves to be too damp. A writ was served on her father, Brigham Young, and he has been to court a number of times and paid $5,000 bail. Brother Wells has been arrested, but was out on bail, and William Kimball, Hosea Stout, and H. B. Clawson have been detained at camp. Their sister and brother-in-law Harriet and Preston had come to the city so Preston could marry another wife, Bertie Anderson, which she feels is strange inasmuch as he can hardly support the family he already has. She informs George that her father's charge and trial were not for polygamy, but for murder. Wonders if Brigham Young will return from St. George to attend the trial, but he does attend of his own free will. However, all criminal proceedings were suspended until March. He is permitted to remain at home with a deputy marshal to watch him. The marshal behaved in a very gentlemanly manner, leaving her father quite free. Most of Luna's letters entreat George to take care of himself and ask him to come home if his illness becomes any worse. Describes the Christmas they had at the Lion House--a tree trimmed with red, white, and blue ribbons and all the presents hanging from it. It was a beautiful sight. Many balls are being held and other amusements, but she has only gone to the theater. Longs for him to come home and that is the only ball she is looking forward to. Sometimes she wonders if he has found an interest in any of England's fair daughters, but hastily adds, I have too much confidence in your integrity to accuse you of filling your Mission with winning a girl. Luna informs George of the birth of a ten pound boy of his step-mother, Jane. It was rather hard for Luna to rejoice over this when she knew the trial this caused his mother in the evening of her life. Judging by her own feelings, this would be a bitter dose for his mother. Prays that Jane will not separate his father and mother. Luna often writes George of dreams she has about him--one is when he has returned home and was cold and indifferent to her, his affections going elsewhere. She was so glad it was only a dream, but ponders if it could ever really happen. Luna and Alice are invited to be guests at Amelia's (Young), and decide it would give offense to refuse, so accepted the invitation. Reassures him that she has not spent any of his principle, but has lived on the interest as she could not bear to have him return home to any debt. Deary, my thoughts by day and dreams at night are of you, darling, and both are filled with longing for your return. The roads are blocked with snow and the mail does not come through, and it is four weeks since she received a letter from him. She gets almost sick for the want of one. At one time she notes members of the Japanese embassy were in town and not able to continue their journey because of the blockage of the roads with snow. The last letter, written February 14, 1872, says it was the most appropriate valentine she could send him. She tells of a fire burning down the Sherman Building (Logan). There were books and papers belonging to the Utah Northern Railroad burned, and also twenty-five kegs of blasting powder in the building were carried out while fire dropped over them and they were obliged to brush it from the tops of the kegs |
