Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1840.09.23 – Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, Sep. 23rd, 1840
Creator
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 8)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1840-09-23
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
Elm Valley Sept. 23rd 1840
My dear Frederic1,
Shall I tell you how very still and lonely we were after you left us?2 How much we missed the sound of your step, and the sound of your voice, and your kind efforts to amuse and please us? Then you will not like probably, for you are but pleased with the bright side of things. Then I will tell you that your sister and I, to drive away dullness, or to improve in some way our own accommodations, have been trying to brighten and enlighten our little parlor, and by removing some of the causes of darkness, have endeavored to prepare for ourselves a comfortable and decent apartment for the winter.
Last thursday Mrs. Abbot left Eliza3, and Bethia4 took her place expecting that Mrs. Lyon would arrive the next day – she did not come till monday and so I was obliged to go limping along without my staff.5
We had a very pleasant visit from Edward6 over the sabbath – he came before sunset saturday and left us on monday morning after breakfast. He invited me to go to Northampton to worship in the afternoon with him; and we heard Mr. Dwight preach the second part of a sermon on home. He first gave nine of the reasons or rather mentioned some of the causes why home so often fails of being what the fathers of our nation designed that it should be. He observed that many heads of families were of that groveling disposition, that would be content to provide the necessities of life and barely get along, without and desire for improvement, or intellectual enjoyment, for themselves or those around them. Often tho’ suitably desirous of advancing themselves, and providing for their families the means of education and refined enjoyments, were still destitute of that which constitutes a happy home. And their one thing is religion, for this alone is the foundation of all happiness. His text was, “and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”7 Amelia came home last saturday, having made application for a situation as teacher, at [Thenking?] on Long Island – she expects an answer soon. Theophilus returned to Amherst today. We are not much better off since the bridge was finished, than we were before. The agents have given notice that they will make no contracts, but permit the residents of Hadley and Northampton to pass for half price.
Your father8 thinks they ought to let us pass free on the sabbath, to attend worship. And it does seem a little oppressive, that our good friend, Bob Porter, after driving us from public worship on this side of the river, should be willing to start up the bridge against us, or place obstacles in the way of our crossing it to attend public worship on the sabbath. However by and by we shall have a bridge without a toll-gatherer – free to all – and in the meantime we can use our brook, your thoughts, and blessed be God his mercy seat is ever accessible, and his ear is attention to the cry of the humble. Your price on a sister’s influence of like accordingly – may you never love the impervious you have received from our dear Mary’s life and death.9 I cannot help feeling a solemn satisfaction in the recollection of the events which this season so vividly brings to mind; and I often find the [hour] starting [unseldom?], as I see her beloved farm, patiently and faithfully, [falling] a sacrifice, to her ardent attachment to her friends. You will not I hope reprove me for these feelings. Tho I cannot help feeling sorrow at the remembrance of her sufferings, I do most heartily require that she has been transplanted from this bleak and stormy world, to the pure and peaceful region of light and love. Be it our care to why her […] and thorn of her brother and sister, that we may at length share their happiness. Especially, may we study the character of our blessed Lord and find ourselves growing in a likeness to him.
Your last letter to me I believe was written the […] th of July. Your observation [on?] the celebration of the 4th were highly interesting and [inst…]. As you said, I can say, would that such feelings and sentiments were more prevalent.
Your letter to Theodore10 came on Thursday last. We were all very glad to see it?. B and I began to wonder what you meant by waiting so long and making us wait too. Your proposal for us to write once a fortnight is cheerfully [accepted?] to, if you will agree to do the same. We had a letter two or three weeks since from Lucy, addressed to your father and mother. also a supplement on the same sheet from William.11 his call for help to build churches in the west, [seem?] to be [eff…], by the motives in the Region. May the Lord carry on his own work.
I wish you prosperity in your enterprise. Probably you will be expected to aid this young man, in his […] so far, that he may get fairly through college and have a degree. What a happy thing it would be if he should become a christian, and employ his time talents and wealth in advancing the kingdom of Christ. The hearts of all are in the hands of the Lord and the treasures of the earth are all his. The kindness of your friend Mr. Dall should be traced back to this source – may a blessing rest on him and all his interests and pursuits. Theodore has gathered the broom corn. […] what finished cutting up this corn and is now getting in the apples. The season has been very fine and he seems to be […] Wednesday evening – While writing this afternoon I was informed that Amelia had received a […] invitation to return to Richmond and that she intends leaving on Friday.
- Elizabeth is writing to her youngest son, Frederic Dan Huntington. Frederic was born on May 28th, 1819; making him 20 years old at the time of this letter. ↩︎
- Frederic is off at college in nearby Amherst. ↩︎
- Eliza refers to Elizabeth Fitch Lyon, Frederic’s second cousin, who is also Theophilus’ (Elizabeth’s 7th child) wife. Eliza and Theophilus apparently live in Hadley. ↩︎
- Bethia is the daughter of Elizabeth and the sister of Frederic. She is 35 years old at the time of this letter and is living at home with Elizabeth. ↩︎
- Elizabeth is 61 years old at this point, so she seems to be complaining that her daughter, Eliza, has gone to aid her other daughter, Bethia, leaving her home alone. ↩︎
- Edward is Frederick’s older brother and Elizabeth’s fifth child. He is 33 years old at this point and is working as a businessman in Cabotville, Massachusetts (close to Springfield). ↩︎
- Gospel of John 12:3 ↩︎
- Elizabeth’s husband is named Dan Huntington. They both underwent a conversion to Unitarianism and were censured by the Hadley Congregational Church in 1835. This may explain why Elizabeth thinks their friend, Bob, is trying to hinder their ability to get to their church. ↩︎
- Mary, Elizabeth’s 9th child, died on October 14, 1839, at only 24 years of age. ↩︎
- Theodore is Frederic’s older brother. He was 27 years old at this point and lived in a house he constructed on his fathers land. He married Elizabeth Sumner and worked at this time as a gardener and fruit grower. ↩︎
- William is Frederic’s older brother. He was 36 years old at the time of this letter and although he was trained as a Doctor, he later attended seminary, became a preacher, and used his preaching to campaign against slavery. He would later be ordained as an Episcopal Deacon by Frederic, whom this letter is addressed to. ↩︎