Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1829.11.26 – Elizabeth Huntington to John Huntington, Nov. 26, 1829
Description
In this letter, Elizabeth talks extensively about how she had expected Elizabeth Fisher and her family to arrive at her home and had taken great pains to prepare for their arrival only to find out when Pa came back from town that she had written that she was unable to come. A bed had already been moved to the North kitchen and apple puddings for the children were in the hearth. Elizabeth was unable to come because the season had progressed so quickly and she worried about the children getting sick on the journey. They planned to come to the farm in the summer for Commencement. Elizabeth talks about how Charles and Helen were able to come as well as Mary and Theodore. She also mentions that Edward’s business is doing well and wonders if God will bless him with success. After talking about the family gossip, Elizabeth shifts over to religious admiration of John Huntington (a preacher) and God, writing the importance of faith in God. She concludes the letter by telling John that they are looking forward to his visit and have given him $5 and that they can send more if he writes to his father.
Creator
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 11)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1829-11-26
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
Hadley Nov. 26th 1829-
My dear Whiting,
Having just completed our last meal for this day – that is, for thanksgiving day1, it being near eight o clock – I can sit down quick at leisure and have a little chat with you – you remember what a scene of working in acted over here about this time – and can easily imagine what a bustle we ^ (have) had, to prepare, not only for this annual festival, but for this accommodation of our Dear Elizabeth and her little family – we had made every arrangement, the bed put into the north kitchen – wood laid in the fire place – and we’ve four little apple puddings baked in little tin hearth for the children – and we were every moment expecting to hear them driving into yard, (this was Tuesday morning) when your Pa came home from the town with the letter from Elizabeth informing us that she could not come – the disappointment was more painful to me, by a great deal, than it was before – but it is over – “[some pearly?] those we droft, but without them soon” – we have [much?] to be thankful that their lives are spared might have heard of their sickness or death – Mr. Fisher (look up) had been detained so long by [?]- that he found it necessary to go as readily as possible – and the season ”’had so”’ far advanced that they feared the little ones might suffer on the journey – they hope to be here next
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summer, and be at farm bridge at Commencement.2 So we had to content ourselves with Charles and Helen3, who came over about four o clock yester
-day and returned this morning after breakfast. We wished you here, and wondered how you felt, it being the first Thanksgiving you were passed away from home. Mary came home last Thursday with Theodor who went to carry Mrs. Homes4 to Westhampton5 to spend the winter with her aunt Hale. [Hegus?] has been in the store6 with Edward there for four weeks; the business there has increased very much since Edward came from New York. Who knows but the lord will give success – that your education may be come helpful – and that you may be prepared to preach the unreadable riches of Christ – it is a blessed work – I hope your heart will be more and more informed with a sense of its importance- The glory of God should be the first object with us all, and in order to know and do his will, we [crossed out word] must wait for him in in secret – Prayers in as necessary to the soul as food to the body and we have abundant encouragement to serve him in this duty by the examples are find in the bible as well ^ as what our Saviour has himself told us – but why do I enlarge – I heard you know and prize the privilege – as to your being a preacher, however, I wont have you think I am anxious about it- I would choose to have the path of duty plainly marked out but to be religious
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In the duty of everyone, and to fear God, and work riotousness is in the power of everyone. Did I say the duty of everyone – [symbol] it is the unspeakable privilege of all who love the gospel in their hands – and woe must be to them who are indifferent when eternal happiness is at stake.
You know we want to look forward to something pleasant now we are anticipating your visit – I hope we shall not be disappointed as we were with Elizabeth coming – The rumor with regard to William, I think must be fake – as our last letter from him was dated Mr. Allister.town Nov. 6th he had taken a school there for three months – and wished us all to write to him – Bethia is engaged in this very business now – however as it is after mine, and I have made you a long visit and chattered away without mery you will be very glad to see the name of your affectionate mother Elizabeth
A cap of course, my dear Whiting, & whatever else you think necessary for your comfort and credit. Edward encloses you a $5 dollar bill7 with his love. We are greatly indebted to him for his readiness to help. He is hard at work for us and had gathered around him an immense custom, for little country merchant where there four or five others. If you receive no word to the contra-make your arrangements to come home in The Stage. If you want more cash before you come home mention it immediately to your father.
- What would a typical Thanksgiving Meal consist of during the time period/for a family with high socio-economic status like the Phelps-Huntingtons? ↩︎
- Ceremony for local school ↩︎
- Helen Sophia Mills; the wife of Charles ↩︎
- A friend and neighbor of the Elizabeth Huntington, possibly could be Elizabeth Homes ↩︎
- A neighboring town ↩︎
- What information do we have on the store? ↩︎
- Worth about $128.21 in 2014 dollars (based of 1829 CPI data) ↩︎