Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1837.01.30 – Mary D. Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, Jan 30, 1837
Description
Mary is writing a letter to her brother, Frederic, to tell him that their father brought her her guitar. She is very enthusiastic and reminds her brother of his own enthusiasm when he received his flute. However, she asks him to let her know if she becomes too attached to her instrument. She then mentions the afternoon they spent together the day before and how much she liked it. Afterward, she reports that Catherine Upham came to spend the evening with her, to sing and play the piano, and that Mr Apthorp visited them. She explains that the “Exploits Pedagogical” written by her brother made her and her friend laugh a lot and that she hopes he did not write about his own experiences. She ends the letter by asking her brother to write to her and lets him know that she would be happy to read about any subjects her brother likes.
Creator
Mary D. Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 20 Folder 14)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1837-01-30
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
[Annotated] Sister Mary
Mr F D Huntington
Amherst
Mass
Northampton, January 30th 1837
Dear brother
I have seated myself to write to you without knowing exactly what I have to say to you. I trust however that with the motion of the pen my ideas will begin to flow. If they do not I shall be obliged to defer writing until some other time. But I have one piece of news to communicate + that is that: my guittar has arrived after so long a time. Yes, to-night just before tea Father appeared at the dining-room door with the musical box in his hand, + well pleased I was to see him I can assure you. If I had been alone I believe I should have sung out a hearty welcome to my guittar ex tempore. You will excuse my enthusiasm on this subject, I know, if you will but revert to your own feelings when you came into possession of your flute. I am afraid I shall become too much attached to this instrument. If you should ever see any indications of this you would do me a favor by gently admonishing me of my danger. It is the settled desire of my soul that I may not become so attached to any earthly objects as to forget those of higher moment, or to feel greatly distressed at the thought of a separation from them. Any thing which serves to strengthen this desire ought to be cherished, + for this reason I have made this request of you.
Father told me that he carried you out this morning. I hope you had a pleasant ride. You do not get many sleigh rides I suspect this winter. It was such a fine afternoon yesterday that I half wished to ride home with you. I spent a great part of the time after meeting in collating passages of scripture + found it quite an interesting exercise. In the evening Miss Catherine Upham came in to pass the evening. We had just commenced singing some psalm tunes, when Mr Apthorp (attracted probably by the sound of the piano) made us a call. Helen tried to rally him a little upon his brothers engagement + told him we probably should see more of R. A. than heretofore. He pretended how ever not to take the joke, but insisted that he (R) should attend to his engagements at the Counting Office in preference to any of a different nature. I am quite obliged to you for favoring me with your “Exploits Pedagogical” Helen + I have had our risible faculties a good deal excited by it this afternoon. I intend to show it to Caroline before long I sincerely hope they are not your own experiences which are so graphically described. If they were I should certainly pity you much more than I have done heretofore. So let me know if you are so shamefully abused.
My dear brother do write to me soon. Your letters I assure you are truly welcome. Let me Know that every thing that interests you will also interest your affectionate sister.
Mary
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