Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1841.03.25 – Elizabeth Huntington to Edward Huntington, Mar. 25th, 1841
Creator
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 5)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1841-03-25
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
D. Huntington P.M.
Free
North Hadley
March 24th
Mr.. Edwd.. P. Huntington
Cabotville1
Springfield
MA
Elm Valley – March 25th 1841
Dear Edward,
We have certainly been blameably remiss, with regard to complying with your wishes when you left us, as to writing to you soon. The request was not made to me, and even if it had been, my situation was not the most favourable for this employment; for in addition to the usual distractions and hindrances, I have of late felt an excessive indifference or perhaps I may call it a dislike, to every thing; first to myself, as most intimately acquainted with my own disagreeable qualities and faults; and also generally to the objects about me. But lest you should remain ignorant of Mr. Fisher’s2 arrival even until he leaves us, I proceed to say to you, that he came the day after you left- that is Monday evening. He has spent the time with us, excepting two or three days which he passed in Northampton3 last week. I believe his concerns with Mr. Nair of Oswego4 boost him over the water. He is waiting for letters from his agent then, and if he does not go there in person we’ll perhaps have his business in Charles’ [Land?]. He has walked to Northampton this morning and thinks of staying till tomorrow night. He has a curious way of blinding people as to his intentions. Soon after he came, he spoke of buying a place and bringing his family back in the course of the summer; not long after he said he might keep them there a year or two longer.
Our friend on the other side of the house set up for them when last week on Wednesday, just four weeks from the day of their marriage5, and the next day being Theodore’s birth Day6, his wife requested T.P. and his wife7, with your father and mother, and sister, including Mr. Fisher also, to take her with them in their new room. I supposed it might pass for a house warming – the room was certainly very warm. The pleasure would have been greatly augmented, if you and Frederic would have been with us. We as yet, have hardly realized the full extent of our loneliness. Mr. F.8 with his various subjects of information, has afforded much entertainment, especially to your father; they have enjoyed many hours in this way, and when weary with talking, have sank insensibly each into a quiet slumber, from which when awaking, they would easily resume the thread of their discourse.
The spirit of contention and persecution which began to be exhibited against a few heretics many years ago, seems to be operating powerfully in the midst of this once peaceable people. The inhabitants of the west street have formally separated themselves from the regular society, and intend to build a church for themselves. In the mean time, they expect to hold worship in the Academy Hall9. By this measure, they forfeit the fund and the vigils for the sacramental table10. Now needful in every age and for every individual is the injunction – “See that you fall not out by the way.”11 –
If there had been any prospect of a union, they would gladly have postponed this decisive step. They now hope to enjoy peace at least on the sabbath. I believe the society at the Upper Mills12, have hired Mr. [Beman?] for another year. Your uncle Phelps13 returned from Boston the fore part of last week in pretty good spirits for him, but as the dreary season approaches, things appear under a gloomy aspect. People who suffer under a [preface?] of this kind, seldom receive much sympathy; but I have known and felt it too deeply not to communicate their condition. I indulge a hope tho, that He who “as a Father pitieth his children, pitieth those who fear him” will at some time give the “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”14 When the earthly tabernacle falls and the spirit rises unfettered, hardened, and purified, to the light and purity of heaven, the burdens and doubt and tears of the way, will no more be remembered but God himself shall wipe all tears from all eyes, and his favour and presence enlighten the joy of every heart.15 Do not send me a long lecture upon being disgusted with this [word?]. It is enough for you and others of your age to look with eagerness to worldly circumstances for enjoyment – but for me – just about to lose all connections with sensible objects, quite different objects be the subject of my own temptations. – Tho I thus write, you will not doubt of my earnest desires for your success in every land and undertaking, indeed I shall be truly gratified to hear that your plans are prosperous. As ever most truly your affectionate mother,
Elizabeth-
I think Mr. F will not leave until Monday, but he did not tell when. Will you not come and see him? Theodore says he shall write soon.
- Cabotville: a town in Western Massachusetts near Springfield. ↩︎
- Mr. Fisher: George Fisher, husband of Elizabeth Porter Huntington Fisher. ↩︎
- Northampton: a busy town about 5 miles away from Elizabeth Huntington’s home in Hadley. It was strategically located between Boston, New York, and Albany and very religious during the 1800’s. ↩︎
- Oswego: a prosperous port city in New York. Elizabeth Porter Huntington Fisher and her family resided in Oswego, where Mr. Fisher was president of the North West Insurance Company. ↩︎
- Day of their marriage: On February 17, 1841, Theodore married Elizabeth Sumner. ↩︎
- birth day: Theodore’s birthday was March 18th. ↩︎
- T.P.: Theophilus Parsons Huntington, seventh child of Dan and Elizabeth. He married Eliza Fitch in 1840 and lived in Hadley until his death. ↩︎
- Mr. F.: Mr. Fisher ↩︎
- Academy Hall in Hadley ↩︎
- Sacramental table: part of Christian worship on Sundays. The table is where the wine is poured and the bread broken in remembrance of the blood and body of Jesus Christ. ↩︎
- This phrase come from Genesis 45:24 in the Bible. Joseph says this to his brothers, asking them not to quarrel. Elizabeth is a devout Christian and often references Bible verses. ↩︎
- Upper Mills: a neighborhood in Hadley. What does the hiring of Mr. Brown have to do with the heretics or Mr. Phelps? This sentence seems out-of-place. What might the Society be? And what is “Mr. Brown’s” role in it? ↩︎
- Uncle Phelps: Charles Porter Phelps, brother of Elizabeth Porter Phelps Huntington. He was a lawyer in Hadley and served many terms as Hadley’s representative in the legislature. This meant frequent trips to Boston. ↩︎
- Elizabeth speaks of God, the heavenly Father and quotes verses from the Bible: Psalm 103:13 and Isaiah 61:3. ↩︎
- Elizabeth refers to the apocalypse where Jesus comes back to earth and establishes a new Kingdom of God. ↩︎