"I Should Have You in My Arms Now"

Norman and Adeline Judd

Norman B. Judd was clearly devoted to his wife Adeline, whom he married in 1844, and wrote her sweet letters to prove it.  Also, he was apparently the poster child for the cult of domesticity - his line about "Home and its associations are the man of business' resting place" could have been found in any domestic advice manual or Godey's Lady's Book of the day.   

Norman B. Judd to Adeline Judd, February 3, 1847
Normal Judd Letters, SC 839, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

“If a railroad was built between here and Chicago I should be with you today, as it is I must content myself with sending the welcome and wishes of the husband and father. And what could be warmer, truer, purer. Home and its associations are the man of business resting place—around which cluster all those feelings that warm his humanity and brush off the hard points that the strife and contact with man have fixed upon his mind and feelings.”

Norman B. Judd to Adeline Judd, October 9, 1859
Normal Judd Letters, SC 839, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

"I should have you in my arms now instead of being in this stupid town looking after bridges instead of giving you kisses. I cannot yet determine what my stay here will be and have stolen a moment from the examination of papers to scrawl a how do you do and a lot of love to my own dear wife."