Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1840.10.25- Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, Oct. 25, 1840
Description
Describes Elizabeth’s reading in the journals the Monthly Miscellany and the Western Messenger, including appreciation of an essay on “a sister’s influence” written by Frederic and presumably meditating on his sister Mary’s recent death. The letter also discusses the receiving and sending of letters and packages within the family, Dan Huntington’s health, and in a postscript, Elizabeth’s fondness for singing in church.
Creator
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 8)
University of Massachusetts Archives and Special Collections
Date
1840-10-25
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
Elm Valley Oct. 25th Sabbath Afternoon 1840-
Dear Frederic,
As our good gentlemen did not feel like going to Northampton1 today, we have been at home. Your
father has been troubled a day on two, with a slight stiffness and pain in his neck and head. Perhaps owing to inaction it has made him more uncomfortable today than before. The weather too has looked rather threatening, and for [these] reasons we have kept snug. I have been reading in the Monthly Miscellany2 for which I believe I have never given you my thanks nor expressed to you the satisfaction I derived from reading your piece on a sister‘s influence. It is sweet to bring back the image of our dear departed ones, believing as we do that their warfare is accomplished and the days of their mourning ended. Though invisible the thought of their purity and happiness must have a hallowing influence over us. Mr. Ellis‘s sermon on the three witnesses I like too very much. We have received the last Western Messen–ger. I think it the best we have had. I write these few lines not because I had really much to say for I sent a letter on Thursday, but because we are about to send your bundle and I know you will like to have a few words enclosed. [Mr. Bolden] whom you have seen here is going to Boston3 and will come tonight for the package.
I hardly feel pleased with the thought that we shall not see you at our annual Festival. Edward wrote us last week that he should not come again till the week of Thanksgiving.
Theodore received yours last evening as it was directed to him we did not have the perusal of it. –Something interesting no doubt. May we all be safe and happy under the protection and influence of our Father in heaven is the constant desire of your affectionate
Mother Elizabeth
The piece on revivals4 in the Miscellany I like much. How I wish [haventh] could feel as the writer seems to. I should like to know who it is.
How do like singing in church. Don‘t give up.
- Northampton is the relatively large town where these family members from Hadley take trips to in order to shop and attend social events. ↩︎
- Monthly Miscellany is a collection of letters and religious thoughts, which Elizabeth faithfully reads and to which Frederic submitted a piece on his departed sister Mary. One of many editorials Frederic’s writing appeared in. ↩︎
- During this time period Frederic was studying at the Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, MA after completing schooling at Amherst College. This letter is addressed to Cambridge, MA. ↩︎
- Much like his mother Elizabeth, Frederic was very involved the examination of religion. He was a writer for multiple religious monthlies and eventually became the first bishop of central New York. ↩︎