Handwritten letter from Dr. George R. Starkey in Washington, D. C. to his daughter, Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. “G. R. Starkey, M. D.” letterhead. Addressed to "My Dear Baby." Dated "Sunday Easter 1876." Starkey stayed in Washington over the weekend because he never received a telegraph confirming plans for his visit with Gertrude and Mamma in Philadelphia. He has been enjoying the alone time, including a long walk after Church to the bronze Lincoln statue in Lincoln Park and to the Congressional Cemetery. With them, he has also been very distressed about Pauline but has decided “that if she comes back without having formally committed herself, it will all turn out right.” She will be home soon, and they should receive her lovingly. He can’t help feeling sorry, though this may save her from some much worse step in the future. He wishes she had spent “that little effervescence” on him instead, because “[t]hen the bloom would have been all her own.” He sent Pauline a draft for $175 and requested that she return home as soon as possible. He received Gerturde’s “remembrancer” of pixie and arbutus, which had faded somewhat but was still fragrant and pleasant. He also received a buttonhole bouquet for Easter from the Sunday School. Gertude may take $5 or $10 of the enclosed money to buy herself a birthday present. Starkey sends his love to “Mamma & all her young Spaniards.” Names mentioned: Auntie P. (Peirsol), George (George G. Starkey), Pauline (Pauline Starkey Wells), (Abraham) Lincoln Placed mentioned: Phila (Philadelphia), W. (Washington, D. C.), Omaha, Lincoln Park, East Capitol St., Congressional Cemetery