Julia being the well and strong one, volunteered to do the washing and ironing. She said, “she’d rather have a good day’s work and be done with it, but could not endure puttering around all the time.”
The fact was she had a scheme she was particularly anxious of carrying out, and which would take her away from the kitchen, where Myra and Lucille were mostly occupied, and into a far part of the house. About this time, very obligingly, as a cold winter was prophesied, Julia offered to tie some comforts, and make some quilts for the beds. The large front room over the store not being much used, Uncle Tut sleeping there, but being unoccupied during the day, this place by mutual consent was devoted to the quilting and tieing, when the work had been suggested. The apartment was warmed by the heat from a sheet-iron drum, connected with the immense box-stove, large enough for holding cord wood, being in the store below, and by the pipe passing through the floor into the drum and thence into the chimney of the room, producing an even temperature night and day.
In this secluded spot, away from the noise of the family, there afterwards occurred illness long and grievous, nigh unto death — even death itself — and a birth, which had better have been a death.
A memorable room, filled with sad, gloomy histories connected with never to be forgotten tragedies. Myra’s unhappiness was at last rendering her very restless, but no one suspected how much she was suffering, outwardly she remained so calm, so sweet and patient.
Even Lucille failed to notice the tempest, the whirlwind, the tornado of passionate longing and regret which was racking her sister’s inmost soul.
—
ex The Stalwarts; or, Who Were to Blame?, A novel, portraying fifty years of American history, showing those political complications which have, in the United States culminated in Civil War, and even in the Assasination of two good Presidents. By Frances Marié Norton, the only sister of Charles J. Guiteau. (Chicago: Frances Marié Norton, Publisher, 1888) : 59
Princeton copy/scan (via google books) : link
London edition (1889) —
with "The New American Novel" at top of title page, and an abbreviated title (The Stalwarts; or, Who Were to Blame?, only), and minus seven pages of prefatory material (suggesting that the author’s late brother “was but a ‘scapegoat’ for those who were really to blame”) —
U Michigan copy/scan (via hathitrust) : link
- The Chicago Chronicle 3:17 (13 June 1897)
Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection : link —GUITEAU’S SISTER IS ILL.
Prostrated at Her Home In Ravenswood — A Woman of Rare Attainments
Mrs Frances Marie Norton is dangerously ill at her home in Ravenswood, 1190 East Ravenswood park. Five weeks ago, while in the city, she was prostrated and was assisted home by a friend. Since that time she has been suffering from a severe attack of nervous prostration and at times her recovery has been doubtful.
Mrs Norton is a busy active woman. In 1869 she organized the first woman’s club west of Sorosis, which was known as the Woman’s Mutual Protective league, of which Lucinda B. Chandler was an officer. Some time later she also organized a society to investigate the cause and prevention of crime. Mrs Norton has written four books, “Who Were to Blame,” “Cast Thou the First Stone,” “Magdalene a Story of the Slums,” and “Sister Eleanor, a Campaign Story.” The latter is fresh from her pen and “Magdalene” will appear in print soon. For five years Mrs Norton has edited the Ravenswood News, a local newspaper. At present her condition is somewhat improved and hopes are entertained that her recovery will be speedy.
Mrs Norton’s name was often before the public during the Guiteau trial. She was Mrs Scoville then, a sister of Guiteau. - Galena Daily Gazette (17 June 1897)
Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection : link —Mrs. Frances Marie Norton, formerly Miss Guiteau of Freeport, now of Ravenswood, is very ill at the latter place. Mrs. Norton Is quite well known as a writer, several of her books having been published, and she has edited the Ravenswood News for five years.
- Charles J. Guiteau (1841-82), a very troubled man, assassin of James A. Garfield, 20th president of the United States
link
5 November 2025