One Day Nearer

Ruth’s sister, Bessie.

Summit, NJ
June 9, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

Here it is, Wednesday night, the one upon which I hoped to see you, but this
miserable weather having asserted itself, I shall have to be content with writing.

If I were only in possession of Aladdin’s Lamp, I would immediately have the genie
transfer me to your presence, but none of our lamps which I have tried respond to the mystic touch, so once more I shall have to be satisfied with my lot, as it is.

Well, how do you do on this beaut – miserable June night? Are you quite well? My
only wishes are that you are and that the weather of the past few days has not
permitted you to take cold.

Now that I have started, I don’t know of anything to write about. So far as personal
affairs go, each day is a repetition of the previous one, and not a new thing happens.

Monday and Tuesday, I was asleep before 9:30 P.M. and am at present very well indeed. Joe’s time in this latitude is now very short, isn’t it? I should have taken the
opportunity Sunday evening of saying goodbye, but of course didn’t expect all this mean weather would come to prevent my seeing him again. However, Ruth, I am going to say goodbye, for if Joe goes as Dave has arranged I shall wait in Hoboken tomorrow evening and see him off.

David tells me that Bessie is not well. I sincerely hope nothing serious is the matter
and that she will be well when this reaches you. It seems to me if either you or Bessie is ever unwell, the cause is the same; too much work. Dearest Ruth, good health is to be prized above everything else so do be good to yourself.

I didn’t see you at the wedding today, primarily because I wasn’t there and I don’t
suppose you were either. Ed was our only representative, he having strayed in after
returning from New York. He said there was no conspicuous features, except perhaps, the “I wills” of the bride and groom. After the ceremony, the main doors were locked, while the married pair escaped through a side entrance.

Ruth, dear, if I could only be with you tonight even ever so short a time just so that I
could get one look into those generous blue eyes I so love. How much better equipped I would be for following my solitary way for the rest of the week. But, Ruth, as it is, I am far from unhappy. God has been very good to me, very much better than I deserve. I could enumerate a long list of blessings and I am going to try and be thankful for them, instead of thinking of the few that are temporarily withheld. 

 

This Has Been Another Glorious Day

Ruth’s brother, Joe

22 Cliff St, NY
May 19, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dear Ruth:

I have been thinking that, however sincere my motive may have been, it wasn’t very
generous of me to ask you to go to Summit Friday night, when you will be hindered by so many things. As you said yesterday, the horses will probably have worked all day and for that matter, so will you, and perhaps it would be better, being Friday, for you to get a good nights sleep, so we can have lots of energy stored up for our fun on Saturday. Then again, Joe being home, and your grandmother visiting you, perhaps the trouble and fuss of hitching up would create a disturbance you would rather avoid. All these things didn’t occur to me last night and if they did to you, I know you would rather bridge them over than place any discouragement on my suggestion. 

 

Friend, Get Some Oil!

Gray/Barrell Croquet Photo (Ruth sitting on left, Will’s father seated in middle, Will standing behind his father)

Summit, NJ
May 13, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

Here it is, Thursday night, and I am writing you as I said I would, providing I did not
call on you instead.

Your letter was awaiting my home coming today and it is needless to say that its
receipt was the greatest pleasure I have had since Tuesday evening last.

I was sorry to read of your hurting your poor nail, and if it were your right hand, must have interfered with your writing me as well as your piano practice. Ruth, when are you going to stop maiming yourself – or more correctly speaking, when is that shadow ofmmisfortune which seems to control those things, going to raise itself from you?

I am very sorry to know of Abe’s misfortune. I confess, Ruth, it is the part of our
religion I don’t understand, which causes or permits these repeated visitations of what must be both physical pain and mental strife upon persons so undeserving of it, and so ill prepared to meet it. From my point of view I can only feel for Abe the sorrow one creature of this world can have for his less fortunate brother, but to stop and consider calamity after calamity, which has overtaken him, rendering his poor home almost barren of everything that makes a home, it is really something terrible to contemplate. He has my deepest sympathy and my sincere wish the future will do much in happiness, to hide the misfortunes past.  

 

No More Fulton Street Cars for Me

May 8, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dear Ruth:

It is now close to nine o’clock and I am going to devote a little while before retiring
to a little talk with you. Indeed, my feelings compel me to write, so great is my
disappointment in coming home to find that no one was at the Post Office for the evening mail. I do not know that you have written and would not be so much disappointed if you had not and I only knew it; but to think of the possibility of a letter awaiting me, and being unable to get it for another whole day, so tires my patience that there is no relief, except in writing you, and as I know you will understand my position, you will also excuse so selfish a motive I have in writing.

I have been thinking of you all day and wondering if you are better. I have been
trying to think that you are, from the fact of your seeming so, when I left you last night. If I only knew that you are and that you had taken a good rest today, I should be very much more at ease.  

 

May is the Month of the Apple Blossoms

Summit, NJ
May 3, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dear Ruth:
While it is a little contrary to the order of your note, I know you will not object to my
writing you and entering into your proposition for tomorrow night, too.

Our horse and vehicle will be utilized by the family tomorrow evening and while I
gladly would have secured a rig in Summit for the occasion, yours is in every way a more agreeable plan, besides making it possible for us to be at the show in good time.

So, my dear Ruth, if it is according to your good pleasure, instead of my meeting
you, you will call for me at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, as proposed. I am sorry that you shall be caused any trouble or inconvenience at all in the matter, and it is not my disposition towards you Ruth, if you should be, but this time there seems to be no avoidance of it and what I cannot do to help, I shall make up in appreciation of your kindness.  

 

Hoping All Your Chicks Are Flourishing

Will’s mother, Elizabeth (and Jim the dog).

22 Cliff St, NY
April 28,1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruth:

Here it is Thursday morning and I haven’t written a word to my love; but it is not my
fault Dearest. Last night after reaching my room, I started a letter to you, but I was so
sleepy I had to give up before I was fully underway.

Your violet-clover perfumed kiss laden missive came to me yesterday morning and
brought with it too, that deeper pleasure I always have in following the tracing of your pen through the dear home incidents which occurred since my last visit with you. My heart goes out to you, Dear, with an ever increasing love and admiration for your sterling character.  

 

What a Pretty Story Could Be Written

Ruth and Ethel, 1890

Summit, NJ
April 21, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

I have just finished reading your letter for the second time and in gratitude for your
many kind loving words I am going to write in return at least to express thanks. It was your intention that I should receive your letter last night, but I did not receive it until tonight. I was quite sure last night that you had written and you can imagine my disappointment when I found that nobody had been to the Post Office for the afternoon mail.

However, Ruth, the anticipation of a letter from you is the next pleasantest thing to
receiving it and I have been quite content all day, being positively assured that my
expectations would be realized tonight. I did not take any chance of no one having been to the Post Office today, for while the train stopped at Summit I ran there and returned just in time to catch the train again.

As I have already said, your letter being delayed was all the more acceptable, and
when I read it and reread it, my heart seemed to swell with love for you Dear, in return for your kind and true expressions. I have not only love for you Ruth, but admiration and pride in your noble character. How proud it makes me to be loved by you Ruth. How proud I felt Sunday to be near your side when we were out walking together. How can I help being proud when I am loved by so good and true a girl.  

 

All My Thoughts Will Be Fixed on Saturday

Summit, NJ
April 8, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My dear Ruth:

The rainy aspect of the weather is not the reason for my not being with you tonight,
but because I am not feeling well and would make miserable company. It is only a bilious attack resulting from a disagreement between some of the things I ate at dinner time,,although I try to be careful and not eat anything of an indigestible nature. I have one of those mean head aches which makes it laborious even to push a pen. I shall retire early, and as is usual it will wear away in the night and I will be all right tomorrow morning. It makes me feel worse to know that I should be prevented from seeing you after having looked forward to the pleasure all day.

It is raining quite hard now, and it will perhaps get through and permit Saturday to
be clear and I shall be happy thinking of the promise that I will see you on that day. 

 

Two Minds with but a Single Thought

Inside the Barrell house.

Summit, NJ
April 7, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

Dearest Ruth:

In exact accordance with my expectations I found your letter awaiting me tonight. I
cannot explain to you just how it is, but it seems I always know in advance, through some intuitive knowledge that you have written and that there is a letter awaiting me. Perhaps you Ruth, can tell me why this is. Maybe it is explainable in the old expression, “Two minds with but a single thought,” etc.

My mind is somewhat relieved on the subject of your cold, knowing that you are now taking a remedy which I think will make you proof against such repeated attack. If your cold is better, Ruth, please do not cease taking the emulsion regularly. I know it is disagreeable stuff and am sorry it is so, but if it can bring about the desired result, you won’t be sorry for having tolerated it, will you dear? Don’t think I am a crank on the cod liver oil question, Ruth, for I am not, but I’d want to see you rid of that seemingly indomitable cold. If my taking the medicine would only result in your welfare, I would willingly take it if it were ten times worse than it is.  

 

A Glorious, Hope Inspiring Day

Will is now working as a clerk for Iron Clad.

Summit, NJ
March 30, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My dear Ruth:

Unfortunately, your cousin Tom’s lunch hour and mine are at the same time, while
he is eating, I am too and for that reason did not see him yesterday although I went to his office twice between twelve and one. Today I went before twelve and succeeded in catching him in.

Austin, he tells me, is getting on nicely; just about as well as the disease ever
permits. The fever seems to have run its course and now it is only a question of time when he will be as good as ever. Mr Tom Myrick says Austin does not quite understand why they should keep him shut up and why his father never comes in to see him. Tom said that on Sunday he sat at the closed door and read him several stories. Besides being interested in the stories, Austin enjoyed the unusual circumstances attending the reading of them, and thought it a very nice game. 

 

Filled with Revived Ambition

Will and Ruth, 1920

Summit, NJ
March 23, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, % Mr James Myrick, 279 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, New York

My dear Ruth:

In a few words, I can give you a history of my actions since I left you last Sunday night. I arrived at my room in New York just as a clock in a neighboring church tower was striking eleven, and it is needless to say that not many minutes elapsed until I was in dreamland. But before I fell asleep, the different incidents of the day just closed passed before my mind, and do you know, Ruth, before slumber did take possession, I had resolved to undertake my work with increased energy, and I seemed to have been filled with revived ambition. Perhaps you will wonder what
caused this; I’ll tell you: In my reverie of the events of the day my mind dwelt particularly on the happiness which seemed to reign in the home of your cousin Tom, and in that home, I saw loom before me a vision of what ours might be, sometime in the future, sooner or later, according to the effort put forth to attain it. Hence my resolution to work harder from now on. Ruth, the great love you so nobly bestow is to me a sacred responsibility and if God will spare me and give me
strength, I will some day perhaps be worthy of that pure noble love. I never can do for you quite as much as I shall want to, that is because there isn’t any thing, in my eyes, quite good enough for you Dear. My ideas are high. Can I bring about the realization of them? I can and will. 

 

So Noble a Girl As You

Ruth’s grandfather, Henry Wisner. During this time she is visiting Henry’s sister’s family in Brooklyn.

Summit, NJ
March 23, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, % Mr James Myrick, 279 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, New York

My own dear Ruth:

Your letter was not awaiting me tonight at home, but I was so sure you had written that after supper I went down to Summit, and sure enough my expectations were rewarded. Of course, Papa would have brought it to me, but I really could not wait.

I am very sorry to know of your having a head ache on Monday and it makes me feel worse still to know that your thinking of me as I looked when I left you Sunday aggravated it. Did I look sad? Honestly, Ruth, I didn’t mean to. I might, however, have felt a little so, because I was leaving you, not to see you again for perhaps a whole week, and because I may have felt my own insignificance more keenly than for some time before. I do not want this letter to indicate, like my face on Sunday, that I am sad tonight. I was overjoyed to hear from you as I have told you before Ruth. I cannot be sad when I think how greatly I am loved by so noble a girl as you.

I am very sorry to hear of Austin’s threatened illness and sincerely hope that nothing
serious will develop. Like you, Ruth, I have contracted a very great attachment for the manly little fellow and cannot bear the thought if anything happening to him. Being near his father’s place of business, I shall go in to see him tomorrow and inquire after Austin’s condition. 

 

Brooklyn is the Particular Haunt of Grip

Summit, NJ
March 18, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, % Mr James Myrick, 279 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, New York

My own dear Ruth:
Just a few words in acknowledgment of your anticipated letter received tonight. It is
now nearly 10 P M, and I have just returned from Summit with Father, so the hour will not permit my writing a very long letter. Nor is there much to write about. Nothing has happened in my narrow sphere since Sunday that would occupy a line of interesting reading for you.

Indeed, as you say Ruth, it will be nice to see each other again. I cannot tell you
how very lonesome I feel tonight. Perhaps not because I am not with you at present, but because it seems you are further away from me than ever before. I have grown
accustomed to thinking of you at night in your home in New Providence and am so familiar with your occupations, that my fancy could follow you from one thing to another, that I could almost feel I was with you, in fact. Now you are in a strange place, to me, and I cannot follow you there. And, although my heart is with you, it does not send back any consoling impression. All this would tend to indicate that I am one of the most unhappy of mortals, but it is not so. I cannot ever be unhappy and loved by you, my Pet, at the same time, and as that is to be always, I guess it would be sensible for me to stop complaining of the loneliness due to a few days separation, so I will.

I knew you wouldn’t like the proofs, I guess, because I didn’t like them myself. They
may be like me, perhaps so much so, that they are not good pictures. You will get a better idea of what they would be, when finished, by looking at them from the wrong side over a light. However, I think they can be improved upon, and as the agony of beholding one of them will be chiefly yours, it is my desire, as I love you, to have that diminished as much as possible. So I will hie me once more to the executioner, and try if he can not do a little better in taking off my head. If not less painful to me at least so to my friends. In equipping myself for the ordeal, I think better results can be obtained by wearing different hair, collar, neck tie, etc. Enough of this!  

 

Not Much to Write About

Second Proof

Summit, NJ
March 17, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, % Mr James Myrick, 279 Gates Ave, Brooklyn, New York

My dear Ruth:

It is now about 2:00 P M and while there is not much to do I’m going to steal a few
minutes of the company’s time to have a few words with you. It was my intention to have written last night, but circumstances combined to prevent: i.e., I had to go on an errand to Summit and it was too late to write you a nice letter when I returned.

However, there is not much to write about. Nothing has happened in my narrow
sphere since Sunday night, that would be at all interesting to you, and although I could easily fill these pages with something or other, if I were home, my surroundings at present do not furnish the inspiration.

You have been favored with good weather so far, for your visit, and I only hope it
will keep up, so that nothing will interfere with the entire pleasure of your city excursion. 

 

I Have Loved Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter All Alike

Summit, NJ
March 3, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My own dear Ruth:

I did not see you last night as I expected, consequently it seems so long since our
parting on Sunday, until I may have the pleasure of seeing you again that I must break the interval by writing.

I fully expected to be a guest at your public supper last night, but as I was walking
up from the station, the sky looked very stormy and even then rain was commencing to fall. Although usually not inclined to let rain interfere with any of my plans, especially one which involved the seeing of you, I decided to postpone my visit until a more favorable night, thinking at the same time, that you would rather I’d do so, than run the risk of getting wet.

I’m afraid the night spoiled the financial result of the supper, didn’t it? I’m sorry the
weather was not what it ought to have been but when I think of my pretty waitress and the fact that fair weather would have brought her additional work, my sorrow drops 99% in its intensity, and gladness begins to creep in.   

 

Moonlight Rhapsody

Summit, NJ
Jan 28, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dear Ruth:

If the night had permitted, I would now be with you in person, but as it is, I shall
have to content myself with the very poor satisfaction that writing furnishes.

My first thoughts are “how are you feeling on this dreary blizzardy night.” Are you
quite well? I hope you are, my love.

I was very glad to receive your letter Tuesday night. I didn’t quite expect it on that
day, so the pleasure it brought me was all the more intense. I read it with much interest, and its only disappointment was that the end came too soon. How nice it would be if your letters were so long that I could fill in all the intervals between seeing you, in reading them. If you will only write me one as long as that, Ruth, and a little longer, then and not until then will I even consider an apology for having written me so much. 

 

Illusory Caramels

Sitting:Walter, Lillian, Dave. Standing: Ed, Will, Gardie

Summit, NJ
Jan 20, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dear Ruth:

I found your note awaiting me this P M and vary glad you told me yesterday that you
had started letter, for if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would not have asked you to send it and you possibly wouldn’t have, thereby depriving me of a very great pleasure.

I am very well tonight, but am of course rather sleepy, as a natural consequence of
last night’s dissipations, and therefore cannot hope to write you a very lengthy letter, but just a few lines in grateful acknowledgment of yours, and all the sweet sentiments contained therein.

Sleepy and all as I am I certainly would have seen you for a little while tonight had
the mean old snow storm held off. I had my shoes adjusted to the skates and as a
precaution against further interference with a real fine hour’s skate, I bought another pair of straps. But as the old chestnut goes, “The best laid plans” etc. You know the rest. 

 

Be a Very Good Girl to Yourself and Try to Avoid Colds

Jan 12, 1897
New Providence, NJ

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My Dearest Ruthy:

Upon second and wisest thought perhaps it would be better for me not to go to your
home tonight in view of the very disagreeable weather. I want to see you very much but know you would prefer my not making the journey in this weather. Am so busy too that for appearances sake had better not leave the office for the 5:40.

I want to fix things so I can get away Saturday, and to do so will require constant
digging.

This is lunch time and this ought to reach you tonight. I hope it does so you may not
be inconvenienced by keeping supper for me.

Over slept this A. M. and missed 7:10. Mailed a package at West Summit, which
you have probably gotten in morning mail.  

 

The Day is Done

Summit, NJ
Jan 6, 1897

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dear Ruth:

Nothing could have been more welcome than your sweet letter which I found awaiting my home coming tonight. I have neither words nor anything else to offer that would adequately repay you for all the sunshine and love you scatter in my path, making what ordinarily would be a dull monotonous existence one most pleasantly attractive. After reading your letter I could not help thinking of that familiar verse:

and the night’s shall be filled with music
and the thoughts that infest the days
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away

How sweet will be the time when in our lives this verse will find steady application.

You dear dear girl, to be candid I think I like silly Ruthy quite as well as I do dignified Ruth. I love them both dearly and they are too closely related to make any distinction.  

 

As Always, Your Will

Ruth, 1889.

Summit, NJ
Dec 15, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dear Ruth:

I guess it is I from whom an apology is due for having so unceremoniously thrust
upon you so much O C S B C literature. I was very badly off for something to do yesterday and, as a result, you are the one imposed upon. However, Ruth, because I sent it, it does not follow that you should feel obliged to read it. The office is full of that kind of stuff and they are very glad to have anybody take it away.

Yes, Ruth, those old New England towns must possess much that is of interest, and
the time when we shall visit them together is one of the many beautiful visions of the future.

What has been the chief object of my concern since Sunday, was your being unwell
on that day. I am very much relieved to know that you are better, and sincerely hope you are “all well even now, before tomorrow comes.” What adds to my discomfort when you are not well is my utter inability to do anything to make you well. Well wishes are very easily bestowed and they are just as unsatisfactory to me as they are ineffective in curing any ill.  

 

I Can Never Love Any Other Than You

Summit train station, 1890s.

New York, N. Y.
Dec 8, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My dear Ruth:

Papa didn’t get home until quite late to-night, considering it was almost ten o’clock
when I received your letter, and although I cannot hope to write you a very long letter, I cannot refrain from writing at least to tell you how deeply grateful I am for your very interesting note.

Yes, Ruth, that “queer feeling” has cleared away and I guess I’m myself once more,
only I’m sorry for having left you Sunday night with thoughts of my not being well to trouble you. Hereafter I shall always try to be well, at least in your presence.  

 

All Things Come to Him Who Waits

Barrell Family Home.

Summit, NJ
Nov 12, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dear Ruth:

It is quite late, later than usual, but I must write you a few lines in acknowledgment of your pretty letter, for the sending of which you make such unjustified apology. Next to seeing you, your letter furnished me the greatest pleasure possible, and I want to thank you more than I can express for your loving kindness in writing it.

There is one part of your letter, however, which I must take exception to, that which told of your wood cutting experiment. While I am not blind to the funny part of it, above all I see the exertion it caused you, and while the old adage “saw wood” is sometimes good advice, it rather pains me to think of my Ruth indulging in any such practice. Please don’t do it again. If it is necessary at all, make Uncle Charlie do the whole job.

Yes I too have thought of the duck incident of Sunday last. Am very sorry that one of the pet superstitions of our grandmothers should fail to pan out, and that before our very eyes. I don’t mean that I am sorry it didn’t rain Sunday, no not at all, but I have always had a deep respect for “the odds and ends and the superstitious ways, and the signs of the times in my grandmother’s days,” and what I do regret is to have seen one of them disproved, thereby upsetting my faith, in the faith of my respected grandparents! Is this right? 

 

Hurrah for McKinley

William McKinley

Summit, NJ
Nov 6, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

Dearest Ruth:

I have just finished supper, and by way of desert I am going to write to you.

By some reason, most likely forgetfulness of my father, I did not receive your note of
Wednesday until this morning when I found it on the breakfast table. The delay however was of no serious consequence as the contents were not of a perishable nature, and proved just as sweet to my mind as though no delay had occurred.

I had it in mind to see you for a few short minutes tonight but upon second thought,
and in humble submission to your advice, perhaps it is best for me to forego the visit
tonight and place all anticipation on Sunday, which I shall be very glad to spend with you, if you will permit.

Thanks for your loving solicitation, my head ache, as is usually the case, departed
with the night and I awoke Wednesday morning with a head which was perfectly clear, and not a bit swollen, a fact which certainly is not true of all who recover consciousness on the morning following eventful Tuesday.

You said “Hurrah for McKinley,” permit me to reecho those words with all my heart.
May he live long and be reelected many times. 

 

Sound Money Parade

Sound Money Parade in support of electing McKinley for President

Summit, NJ
Oct 28, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

Dearest Ruth:

This has been such a long tiresome day that I must do something to redeem it and
can think of no more fitting way than by writing a few short lines to you.

I still have uppermost in mind that cold of yours and am wondering if it has left you. I sincerely hope it has. Colds are very peculiar things and what they need is gentle careful treatment, which if you give yours I’m sure it won’t stay with you long. Perhaps, Ruth, my over exercise of caution is wearisome to you, but I cannot help asking you to be very very careful about yourself. If you could only appreciate your own value as I see it my word of caution would be wholly unnecessary, but it is always the way with one like you, whose many virtues are surmounted with so much modesty that in the consideration of the welfare of others you are prone to forget yourself.

I have not been so busy this week as I thought I would. The man who arranged to
go on his vacation this week and whose work I have to do, for some reason or other
postponed his trip until Friday, so that I have yet a few more days of grace.

I have some more good news. The Fall River Line has decided to close all day
Saturday, but that does not mean a holiday for me for I have decided to enter their ranks with the Railroad and Steamship men in parade on that day. I do not know how much of the day will be consumed by this. We are, I believe, to form at the Battery and march to 59th Street, which I believe allowing for the usual hitches, will take about 4 hours. There are to be about 25,000 men ahead of us, and as it is estimated that 100,000 will parade we have a good chance of finishing early.  

 

No Time to Measure the Distance Between Us

The Puritan, of The Fall River Line (Where Will was working at this time)

Summit, NJ
Oct 12, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dear Ruth:

I cannot promise you a long letter but I must tell you how glad I was to hear from
you after so long an interval of silence, and how very pleased I shall be to see you
Wednesday evening if nothing arises to prevent.

I wrote you last night, not so much because I had something interesting to tell you,
but because, in doing so, I seem to be nearer you than ordinarily.

I did not send you the letter for a couple of reasons, the chiefest being that I thought
it too painfully dry and uninteresting and the other, that I wasn’t sure whether it would have reached you at Lawton.

However, I will enclose it with this one, and the two together might make an excuse
for one.  

 

The Only Approach I Have to You During Your Absence

Ethel, Dolly, Ruth (1889)

Summit, NJ
Oct 11, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, % Mr A R Holbert, Lawton, Orange Co, NY

My Dear Ruth:

Everything tonight seems to contribute to make one, or more correctly me, feel
lonesome and melancholy. This has been a long dismal day. It has been cold out and
cloudy and just now (8.20 ½ PM) the wind and rain are having a very boisterous time. But the weather tonight has nothing to do with this lonesomeness which seems to so entirely possess me. It is because of my separation from you, Ruth, a separation which I can never reconcile myself to and in which event I shall always feel just as I do tonight. I have always, since my more intimate acquaintance with you, looked forward to Sunday as the day of all the week upon which I was happiest, but in looking back over the happy Sunday’s of the past, I shall have to exclude the two dated Oct 4th and 11th.

But in starting this letter I did not mean to communicate anything but bright thoughts and if you will forgive the past, I shall try to proceed in pleasant strains.

I haven’t much to write about, but I’ll try and tell you how I spent the day. To
commence the day I went to church — which by the way was held in the Christian
Endeavor room, the church heater being out of shape. It is needless to say that the late comers, those who were compelled to sit around the stove, and of whom I was one, were almost roasted to death. However, I was glad I went for it didn’t occur to me until I got there that this was Communion Sunday. I walked home with Mrs Barrell and saw your sisters. 

 

Beneath the Spreading Chestnut Tree

Summit, NJ
Oct 6, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, % Mr A R Holbert, Lawton, Orange Co, NY

My Dear Ruth:

This has been a very long day for me, not tediously so, but as I look back it seems
like a long time since morning. It is now a few minutes past ten and I have just finished tea or supper rather, so you see it has been a long day for me since 6.20 this morning, at least so far as hours and minutes go.

Although it seems proper that I should spend the remainder of the 24 hours in
repose, I cannot refrain from stealing a few minutes from the slumber account and add it to that of wakefulness, which I send to you in some of what you have chosen to name silliness, and with which my heart is overflowing.

Permit me to thank you for the intensely interesting letter I received from you last
night. Like the summer sun, in the morning, your letter’s brightness shown in me for a long time before I received it. You, having told me you would write on Sunday, made things ever so bright on Monday, so happily expectant was I that evening would bring to me that loving epistle.  

 

My Every Thought is Made Beautiful by Your Participation in It

Summit, NJ
Oct 4, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, % Mr A R Holbert, Lawton, Orange Co, NY

My Dear Ruth:

This lonesome, unusual Sunday is about spent and it has been so unreal that I
won’t be sorry when the mind occupying rush of the new week begins. Having retired late on Saturday, I didn’t have the energy this morning to get up and go to church. I managed to be at Sunday School on time, and that was the only religious service I’ve attended today.

This is about C E meeting time, but I’m going to shirk duty in that direction tonight to
follow what I consider a higher and pleasanter duty, that of writing you.

Sunday School was rather interesting today, you know we had the new Quarterlies
to start in on, and the attendance wasn’t so bad either. If I remember right, I think there were fourth-nine regulars and one visitor — Mr Runyon. I noticed Miss Morehouse had a class full. The summer attractions have ceased, it has become too cold for swimming and in sheer desperation for something to do, the boys have returned to Sunday School. Sam Hunter loomed up most conspicuously in that class, he having in his button-hole a huge white chrysanthemum and you can imagine the harmonious contrast of the color of his face. 

 

Forever Your Will

Edward Gray Family (Will’s brother), 1910. Ed continued in the newspaper business, and later became a congressman.

New York, NY
Sept 29, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell

My dearest Ruth:

This night is not one to suggest very congenial thoughts and feeling somewhat depressed in mind I seek relief in writing to you. I say I feel depressed in mind because I anticipated spending a social evening with the one whom I prefer above all others and the one in whose company I find my only real happiness, and then to come home amid a storm of wind and rain which seemed to cry in my ears, “No Ruth tonight,” you will not blame me for feeling a little out of sorts. However, as I sit here at a window listening and writing, there seems to be a far off echo, buried beneath the more conspicuous melancholy of the night, which seems to furnish some quiet
hope. I suppose this revival of spirit comes because I am writing to you. Do you know, at least I think it is so, that if one is removed from another whom he thinks a great deal of he can always find himself brought very much nearer to that person by permitting his thoughts to flow from the point of a pen. This theory arises, at least it is my present experience as I write that I can picture you beside me while I tell you what I am now writing.

But pardon, Ruth, for taking your time required in deciphering this nonsense. It must be nonsense, I mean sillyness? because you spoke of being “silly sometimes” in your last letter. Somehow or other, (I guess its the other), I enjoy that peculiar kind of silliness, and it gives me very much pleasure to indulge in it tonight. So asking your sweet pardon, once more, I will proceed. 

 

My Whole Soul is Burning with One Thought, and That is of You

1896 photo. Robert Gray, Robert Barrell, Will Gray, Ruth Barrell, David Gray, Florence Cronce, Dorothy Barrell

Summit, NJ
Sept 17, 1896

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth Barrell, New Providence, NJ

My Dear Ruthy:

It is now some time past nine o’clock. I have just finished my evening meal and
while giving it a few minutes to settle before retiring, take the opportunity the interval affords to indulge in the sweetest of past times, — that of writing to you.

Yesterday was for me, a long one. I took the 6.20 A M train (or it took me), missed
the 6.30 from N Y in the evening, by about 30 seconds, killed time in Hoboken until 7.45, and after walking from Summit, finally reached home at 9.15. Was I tired? No, not very and even the feeling of that little, was dispelled when I found your letter awaiting me at home.

Ruth, if you had been present to witness the cheering effect of your letter upon me,
even though your interest in me was nothing more than the desire of a philanthropic soul like yours, after the welfare of common humanity, you would have gone away with the assurance that you were the cause of making at least one heart supremely happy.