Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1832.05.21 – Elizabeth Huntington to Mary Huntington, May 21, 1832
Description
Elizabeth writes to her 17 year-old daughter Mary while she is away at school. There seems to be some concern about Mary’s health or happiness and Elizabeth seems willing to have her return home and study with her brother William if she prefers. Elizabeth sympathetically recalls her own unhappiness when away from home as a girl. The rest of the letter is full of family and town news with special attention to the family’s horses and to the antics of baby Frances. She writes about church describing the music of the church organ and the content of a recent sermon. She ends with a postscript written in French–a language Mary was probably learning in school. Elizabeth planned to send the letter by post, but instead sends it with a man going west to sell hats.
Creator
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 12)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1832-05-21
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
Elm Valley May 21st 1832- Monday afternoon
My dear Mary,
Your welcome letter arrived Saturday evening; and from your firmness at [parting] with William I had hoped to learn from it that you were contented if not happy. I have been thro’ a most severe scene of suffering of this sort, and when I was less than thirteen years old. So that I know how to sympathize with you; and assure you that if your health is not good and you feel borne down with weakness and fearfulness, your father will very willingly fetch you home. Bethia and I have been thinking that while William is here you can study with advantage at home, and you can have as much time to devote to it as will be profitable. Perhaps you will find yourself in better health after a week or two, and as you are there on the [ground] you may prefer staying till [sic.] the term closes; but if you really choose to return, I hope you will not fail to let us know it-.
Cousin Sarah and Caroline have spent an hour with us this afternoon; your uncle and Sarah with little Susan expect to go out to Belchertown tomorrow and proceed from thence in the stage to Boston, and Charlotte is to spend the afternoon with us; we shall want you to entertain her.
Tho it was rather rainy yesterday, we all went to Northampton, excepting Theophilus and Marian- your brother William’s horse has become so manageable that he is quite an acquisition to our riding establishment he and old Sunderland go very well in the covered carriage, and Rob, you know carries the chain very pleasantly. William and Edward stayed in the vestry the rest of us went to Charles’s [sic.]- Little Frances has had her dress shortened and uses her feet with considerable dexterity. Ask her where her little white teeth are and she will put her hand to them and so to her black eye. She will take a handkerchief and wipe her mouth too if you bid her. She did not seem afraid of us at all.
Mrs. [Stearns] was at meeting, sat in the pen with Mrs. [Whitmarsh]; as we stood in the porch waiting, Mrs [Whitmarsh] [sic.] introduced Helen and B. and me to her; she is rather tall, has a delicate appearance, & tho’ she is quite pretty- I think her husband has rather the advantage as to looks. The organ was used yesterday, and it seemed as if we were to be overpowered when the sound first began. it [sic.] was played very well, by a Mr Kingsley who teaches sacred musick there, and has Harriett Mills and Frederic among his scholars-.
Mr. [Stearns’] sermon in the morning was upon the use of the term morality; in what respects if differed from religion and how it was connected with it. He gave an example of the lowest kind of morality is a person who should abstain from sin on account of the injury which it would do to himself- a higher kind he said is found when a person abstains on account of the injury it may do to others. The highest kind and that which connected with religion is that when a regard to ^pleasing God ^in everything^ is the governing motive. In the afternoon his text was “Now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation” He urged very forcibly the importance of doing immediately what we knew to be our duty to do at all. If there is any thing which we have hitherto neglected and which we really intend to do, now is the time- he would not say that at any future times. Pardon and mercy might not be granted, but the longer known duty is omitted, the ^more^ difficult will its performance become, even should even a continuance of life [be] sure. but considering the rapid flight of time and our constant liability to be arrested by death, and hurried to the Lord God, nothing but immediate faithful attention to all duty can ensure peace or safety-. Those who had already [ventured] on a course of religious obedience he exhorted to diligent perseverance in the great ^work^ of life. I marked the hymns and send you the numbers- 72nd 310th 241st 56th 57th-
Frederic does not complain of being homesick, but seems to have his old fidgety fears coming on again- it may be want of interesting employment which occasions it-.
Tomorrow the examination at the Academy takes place, but as the highway claims attention at this time
your Pa thinks he shall not honour them with his presence. When I began this letter I expected to send it by mail, on finding however that Dwight is expecting to set out for the west tomorrow with a load of hats, I think it will be better to send it by him together with your [indecipherable] and the forgotten books. When your letter came Saturday evening it was in company with one from Whiting – I copy a few lines from it. “Home has occurred to my thoughts most frequently and most forcibly within a few weeks, and I have a very strong desire to see them whom I so much love. It seems an age since I visited you; and if God shall spare my life and health to another happy reunion it will add another to the endless blessings with which He has enriched me.”
Thro’ the divine goodness we are all comfortable let us not be unmindful of our unwearied benefactor – write often and let us know just how you feel. In all anxiety, endeavour to leave yourself and your cares with him who cares for us; this is the only resting place for sorrowing sinners. – most affectionately and tenderly your mother E.W.H –
We all [unite] in kindest wishes.
Sideways: [French]