Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1832.06.05 – Mary D. Huntington to John Whiting Huntington, June 5, 1832
Description
This letter, written by Mary D. Huntington on June 5th, 6th, and 7th, 1832, is addressed to her brother, John Whiting Huntington. Mary regrets a previous letter that caused concern and thanks her brother for his supportive advice. She shares her struggles with homesickness, ill health, and adapting to her new environment since arriving at school in Troy, New York. Mary describes her initial physical discomfort, including fever, and how her emotional state fluctuates between loneliness and contentment. Despite her challenges, she appreciates her situation and describes a failed chemistry lesson and a letter her brother Williams wrote in French that was appreciated by French speakers at the school. She expresses discomfort with the religious differences between her new community and home and reflects on the influence of public opinion and prejudice in her surroundings. The letter gives insight into the emotional challenges of being away from family, the religious context of the time, and Mary’s efforts to persevere.
Creator
Mary D. Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20 Folder 15)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1832-06-05
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
[stamped] Troy NY Jun 8 Free
Rev D. Huntington P.M.
Hadley
N Mills
Mass
[annotated] Mary D Huntington June 5 1832
Troy, June 5th, 1832
Dear brother John,
I received your letter today, and must say that I regret more than ever that I sent that foolish letter home, which has excited so much sympathy. I thank you very much for writing me so soon after you knew I was here, and for the kind advice contained in your letter, and hope I shall profit by it. By the description you gave me of your feelings soon after you went to Cambridge, I should suppose you possibly might have suffered almost as much as I did. Since my arrival, I have not suffered as much from fidgety feelings as from homesickness, and real ill health. For the first two or three days, I had a considerable fever hanging about me, but this wore off, and since that time I have enjoyed myself much better at intervals indeed I have had gloomy feelings, yet still I have great reason to be thankful that I am so pleasantly situated, and it should be ungrateful indeed in me to be constantly complaining. I am not so highly favored with regard to religious privileges here as at home. Almost all my acquaintances are zealousreligious orthodox people, and on that account at least you must acknowledge that you have greatly the advantage. You cannot imagine how delighted I should be to hear Mr. Stearn preach again. Seems to me as though I should value his sermons more than ever, if permitted to hear them again. I think if you have courage to oppose the mighty current of public opinion, there is a wide field here for all the effort you profess. If I may be allowed to judge from the little I have seen, I must give it as my opinion that the people in and about Troy are very bigoted. I would not have you understand by this that I think there are no liberal ones among them, this is very far from the idea I meant to convey. But I think the majority of them are very much under the influence of prejudice.
June 6th… What a favor it is that I have friends to whom I can without reserve communicate my feelings. I am now going to tell you some of my troubles, which I feel the more freedom in doing, because you requested me to write particularly with regard to my feelings, health, etc. There is a surprising variation in my feelings. For instance in the morning I may feel very lonely in reflecting, that I am so far from my home and my dearest friends, a stranger in a strange place, and that a long time must elapse before I see them again, if I should have to return home and then perhaps before night I may feel quite contented and willing to stay till the term closes.
We recited our first lesson in chemistry this morning if a lesson it can be called. None of the scholars knew the lesson perfectly. I think I had a good excuse for not knowing mine. Cousin Eunice gave us the lesson, and as I supposed she was not in earnest. I did not look at the lesson until about half an hour before we were called to recite. However if I can prevent it, the case shall not be the same the next time.
I received une lettre Francaise from brother William yesterday, which with the help of Stella, I shall endeavour to answer soon. Pauline the little French girl saw it and was delighted with it. She told me to tell him “that a French person have seen it and say that it is without faute.” I showed it to some of the other girls who understand French, and they declared it was beautiful. Stella says his handwriting is in the French style,
Tuesday, June 7th. As I wish to send this letter by tomorrow’s mail, I thought I would sit down now and finish it. I think you cannot complain that I have not answered your letter immediately, though I confess it but a poor an[rip in the paper has taken out words].. to your kind letter to me. You must [same rip in the paper]… find in it, and remember it comes from your absent but affectionate sister.
Mary D. Huntington
P.S I shall be obliged to direct this letter to Father and put him to the trouble of sending it to you
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