On December 26, 1896, Harriet Hosmer wrote one of the loveliest thank you notes I have read to Cornelia Crow Carr. Carr and Hosmer had gone to the Sedgwick School together in Lenox, Massachusetts, and by 1896 they had been the closest of friends for 5 decades.
The precious box came safely yesterday afternoon all in time for Christmas and laden with all the precious things my precious had the loving thought to send me–never in 50 years have you failed my precious friend to remember me on Christmas Day–Wherever I am your love and ceaseless goodness follow me–far and near the loving thoughts stretch out to me on Christmas Day–yes and all days.
And then all the pretty gifts are so useful–the very things I want. That is the charm of a gift–not only its usefulness but the thought that absent friend is so much a part of yourself that she knows exactly of what you are thinking and what wishing for–again my precious I thank you for the lovely gift . . .
This letter inspires me to put more effort into my thank you notes this year–certainly to do more than fire off an e-mail.
A Biographer's Blog 
Leave a Reply