Subject: Benevolent Societies
From Boxes 1 & 2
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[Addressed to:] Mr. Ebenezer Burr
Norfolk
Litchfield Co.
Ct. [Connecticut]Prairieville [Wisconisn], March 30. /47.
My dear Parents & Brothers,
We were very glad to receive your letter last Sat March 27 — I wondered why we did not hear before but did not allow myself to feel greatly troubled about it. I did not hear much worse news than I expected to for I concluded she was sick, or at least I feared it. O how it makes me feel but I cant help it. I am very glad to hear Ma [Pamela Benton Burr] say she intends to be careful about her diet, for I think it will be a great preventive to sickness — I shall not exhort her as Mary did to be picking up things &c. but rather to do as little as possible & not get overdone. Am glad you have got a good girl for a while
Brother John wrote us a letter about a week before the removal of his tumors wh. [which] he did not send until after the operation when Martha Woodward who accompanied him to N. Haven [New Haven, Connecticut] enclosed another giving an account of the operation. his state &c. he became very much exhausted & was for a time considered in a very precarious condition — The physicians thought before the operation that the tumors were the cause of the paralysis, but on removing the tumors discovered that the back bone is diseased. so that there is no hope of his ever being well — this fact John was not aware of when the letter was sent — but frequently spoke of being able in a few weeks to walk — what must be his feelings when he learns his situation I cannot bear to think of it — <I do not> it is enough to depress all our spirits. but there is comfort in thinking that God knows what is best & will do all things right —
It is comparatively healthy here at present although there are a few cases of typhus fever — quite a number are again having the ague as the Spring is opening Daniel did for two or three weeks feel quite aguish but has taken medicine & hopes to escape it — he is better now — he has been in school a little more than three months & expects to close soon. he gives good satisfaction for aught we know & <does> is not so tired of teaching as to feel that he will never again engage in it.
We have lived much more comfortably & pleasantly in this little room this cold winter than I expected to. we have had an excellent family to live with.
We expect soon to remove to a very pleasant place in the village about a quarter of a mile from here, have room enough, as there are in the lower part of the house two rooms a pantry & large recess for a bed, beside a shed. in wh. [which] is the well there is one plastered room in the chamber. beside the # house,# This house has rented this winter for $12.25 cash per week
we are to have & garden, & another small piece of land & the use of a cow or its equivalent, & in exchange we are to board the owner of the property & do his washing he furnishes his own bed. — this gentleman is a goldsmith & besides employs persons to make tin ware. he will wish to employ Daniel some in <p>selling tin & doing various other jobs for wh. [which] he will pay in cash & otherwise as we need. Daniel does not think it best to try to go to farming at present but expects to work out, or teach school or both or do something else & get what he can & live comfortably as we go along Mr. Pennington in whose house we are to live is going to put a plate in our looking glass frame. we also hope to have a bureau or something of the kind before long but can not tell whether we shall be able to.
Daniel now expects to put up a house in the upper end of the village on the road leading by Joels 40 acre lot. as I have before said we shall be able to make the house very comfortable to live in without going much if any into debt though he will now be obliged to take this winter's wages as he was disappointed in selling sand last fall — he now expects to purchase the lot on wh.[which] he intends to build there is about 1/3 of an acre — price $50. we do not think there will be any risk in getting this property as there is little doubt but that it will sell or rent should we wish to dispose of it — should we have a house of our own where we think of we shall not pay rent & shall be conveniently situated to obtain work. attend meetings &c. It is a great privilege in many respects to reside in a village. I dont see but Daniel is just as busy as when we were on the farm — has earned several dollars this winter beside teaching — when not at work there are meetings to attend & his relations to some of them are such that he feels obliged to attend being Secretary of a Young Ladies & Gentleman's Temperance Society & President of a Phonographic Association — these meet once a week & there is also a stated Thursday evening prayer meeting, beside other meetings occasionally — We like our minister better than I expected to like one after hearing Mr. Curtis.
Little Abby is well most of the time, several weeks ago she came very near having the croup. she was suddenly taken about bed time with a very hoarse dry cough & oppressive breathing so we gave her some lard & molasses & put a little oil upon her throat she seemed a little relieved but continued so bad that we rose twice before morning & bathed her in cold water pouring it most freely about the neck & chest. we then rubbd her off briskly, wrapped her in flannel & laid her in bed — for sometime we kept a cloth wet with cold water upon her throat & chest over this we put a flannel one — we think this method of treatment vey good indeed — it is said to perform wonderful cures in cases of croup — Mrs. Curtis cured her baby by the application of water — I should mention that Abby had some croupy symptoms remaining in the morning but they seemed much abated Abby does not seem much more fleshy than she was last summer, but grows tall is 2 ft. 7 1/2 in. in height. she will attempt to say almost any think that she is told to, & speaks very plain for one of her age, so all say, she puts words together considerable she will say "Papa gone spool", "here comes Mama". Yesterday Mrs. Root put her rag baby on a little cup — Abby says (after being told I suppose) "here 'tis baby on cup." you cannot know how pretty all this sounds, as you do not hear the peculiar emphasis with which she speaks. here Papa comes, she accents the first word half sings & half laughs — Mrs. Root she calls Anny for Anty & Antoinette she very distinctly speaks Annette. she sometimes hops & dances. when things do not go to suit her, but she is usually a very good little girl to mind. I take her to meetig week days, but Sundays one of us stay with her — when she goes out she wears that scarlet flannel dress & pantalets & white apron — I have made her that little black hood wh. [which] she wears common & have got most of her summer clothes in readiness making them shorter with pantalets &c. . In answer to your inquiries I will say that I did not pay any thing for extra baggage when coming. I did not materially injure my new delaiu on the journey through I got it some soiled. but cleaned it — it makes me a very pretty dress, but is not going to wear well my velvet hat was repaired in Milwauk [Milwaukee, Wisconsin]. I gave a dollar for it — was glad I did not have it done before I left as the style was not such as is worn this winter — I lost on my journey [...] scissors, a little [...] of sweet oil & that calico loose dress that was Mary's — think I left the scissors at Aunt Emeline but am not positive I intended to have mentioned them before — none of our things that we left were injured of any importance —
A few days since I had four decayed teeth taken out — I am going to sew to pay for it — am glad Ralph takes so good care of his —
Our heifer has been dry two weeks but we expect to have new milk within a week or two —
We had rather live here than in Milwaukie [Milwaukee, Wisconsin].
The name of this town is changed to Wankesha. I do not like the new name half as well as I did the old one hope it will be changed back again next winter —
I was grieved to hear of the death of Aunt Jane's little Edwin. I know they will feel his loss deeply — am daily looking for a letter from May I have rec'd [received] no letter from Father Grants since we wrote to them a long time ago — but know they cannot write often — I would like you to send them this & then we shall not need write them at present — hope they will write soon telling particularly about Martha [Martha Woodward] & John [John Grant] Give our love to all our relatives & friends It is our prayer that you may bell all of our dear friends
Yours very aff. [affectionate]
Caroline [Caroline Burr Grant]-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
[Addressed to] [Alletta Hill Hulsizer]
Bennington, Vt. [Vermont]
Wednesday April 4/ [18]80Dear Lettie [Alletta Hill Hulsizer]
What under the sun have you been doing; but I guess I’ll “hold my peace” as I’ve nothing to say against it. Now let me congratulate you, for I think Mr. H. [Abraham Chamers Hulsizer] will make you a real kind and good husband. I rather suspected that this is the way it would end if Chalmers could have his way in the matter. I’ll forgive you for not writing oftener I can easily see what has taken up your time.
Am glad Halsizer [Abraham Chamers Hulsizer] passed well in his examination
Wonder of wonders that Mother [Mary Burr Hill] should have gone to Princeton [New Jersey]. How on earth did you get her off. That accounts for the cold snap we have just had. Did Mother see Cousin Frank [Frank E. Burr] when she was down, and how did she enjoy herself?
I heard of Alice Irwin’s marriage when I was home Minnie [Mary P.B. Hill]told me
Well I should think you had rec’d [received] a splendid present. Please tell me more about it. What Encyclopedia is it. How kind is Cousin Warren. I did mention to Lewis that you had such a present, but said nothing about the name of the giver, and of course he could never guess. Fannie’s husband is a carpenter. So far as I know they are still at home. They, that is the Baldwin’s have moved into their new house. Bessie has been sick with the “beasles” Nellie is a little better <they> she says. I am afraid the arbutus that I sent home did not amount to much. That we kept here, although it was kept in water has the most of it withered
Lewis & I got up before half past six Sunday morning to go for it and we were back before nine. It was cold and windy but we walked fast enough to keep warm. Yesterday it began to grow warm and today it has been quite like spring. I’m sure I hope it will continue so that we can enjoy going after wild flowers. I wish I knew some way I could get that compound microscope. I tell you what it is, I don’t want to be a know-nothing. Besides the pleasure of studying botany I want to know something that will make me appear a little intelligent.
There is a Ladies Sewing Society in the “Congo” [Congregational] Church. It meets every Wednesday evening (I believe) At six o’clock they have tea, at which the gentlemen are invited to be present. (That is if they will give 10 cts.)
This evening I went. Its been a long time since I’ve had so pleasant an evening out. I had not been there more than 4 or 5 minutes when a real nice old lady came up and spoke to me by name, saying she had heard Mr. Read call me by that name. In course of the conservation I incidentally mentioned that I knew but few there. She said she supposed I did not know her name. As I did not I asked her if I might know it, and she gave it to me. She said she had seen me at the prayer meeting and they like to have young men to help them. (Mr. Read calls on me once in a while to offer prayer). I sat by the old lady (Mrs. Harman) at table and near Mr. Read. I enjoyed the conversation very much. Every body seemed to be ful of fun and sociable. After tea Mr. Read introduced me to some of the young ladies. (Lewis says they are among the best society the town affords, and I think he must be right, they seemed intelligent and refined. Altogether I had a splendid time
One of the young ladies asked me to their house to see a cabinet of curiosities which her Aunt has gathered, in her travels. She has had good oportunity for such a collection having been (if I remember right) to the Sandwich Islands besides other places that I dont now remember
Lewis and I are going there some<day> evening before long
Now good night I may add more to this tomorrow if I have time. Recd [received] a card from Carrie last night.
Thursday morning 7 A. M. We have had no fire since some time yesterday and the thermometer is at 56? now. Don’t suppose we will need any at all today. Guess I’ll send this now as I’ll have no time to add to it today
Tell Halsizer [Abraham Chamers Hulsizer] I’ll be down there one of these days to see what he means by such actions. Love to all. Your aff. [affectionate] bro. [brother]
S. B. Hill [Samuel B. Hill]-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Ipswich [Massachusetts], July 24. 1834.
My dear Parents [Elijah Grant and Elizabeth Grant],
Was the letter mostly written by Miss Cowles [Abigail Cowles Grant?]duly received? I suppose you perused it. Aside from one letter mailed about two weeks since to Elizabeth, & one business letter I penned for Miss Lyon [Mary Lyon], I have written but two letters since I came here. Miss Cowles has not heard, neither have I from home. Cousin Lovina received a letter from Grant and Miss Beach has heard a number of times, so that we have felt contented feeling that you all were usually well, yet I feel that a letter from home would indeed be acceptable My health has been good, for a week past a cold has troubled me some. Miss Cowles has been gaining strength, she has been absent from school but one half day — then because of the sick head ache. We enjoy rooming together well. Lovina is making good improvement I think, & is happy. Half of the term is gone, we are to have a short vacation soon here. The school is very pleasant, I do not know but I mentioned in my last that one section of 24 young ladies were committed to me. They are generally about 17 years of age from five different states. I never felt the privilege of living and laboring so great as this summer. I have often felt grateful that a kind Providence has brought me again to Ipswich [Ipswich Female Seminary]. I ardently desire that my principles may now become so fixed that I may be prepared for more extensive usefulness than formerly. Miss Lyon I think is more & more spiritual & enlarged in her views. She is confident one way in which the renovation of the world is to be accomplished, is the more general diffusion of correct female education, & I do think schools will eventually be formed where the domestic labor will all be performed by the pupils, & Miss Lyon will do something. It is known that she intends leaving Ipswich & she often receives applications, but she says, she thinks it would be wrong for her to accept any situation however desirable, unless on the domestic labor plan. She has given two lectures on fem. [female] education of about an hour each. She would have the intellectual advantages equal to any school now in operation. A few ideas in one of her lectures follow. Learn to philosophize upon what educated men & women ought to do in various ways, & what you ought to do & then do your part. I mean fem. [female] ed. [education] in general not principally our relations. The man without children may have that benevolence & comprehensive view of the subject as to render his interest ten times deeper than many men with ten daughters Throughout the country a man interested for himself alone is considered mean, but not so mean for an educated female to be contracted as an ed. [educated] gentleman. Females cannot rise so much above those around them as men. This one reason why the mass shd. [should] be raised — Aspire for an enlarged view. — education to go forth into the world to be actively useful. — God has blessed fem. education, & next to the preaching of the gospel a means of bringing forth the glory promised. — Investigate — write upon the subject find out what is lacking, what is superfluous. — physical system to receive attention — to understand philosophy of the mind, & of human nature, how the passions are excited & allayed, & prepare for action on society, eminently philosophical able to investigate general principles on every subject. — Should be no incongruity between theory & practice. Her own passions under perfect self control. — A great loss of moral power by being obliged to warn others by our follies, rather than by our correct deportment — Our country is not awake to its importance — the advance is slower than generally supposed, & has not been principally to extend the privileges to a greater number. These are a few of her remarks which I noted down at the time. Some of them may be so unconnected that you may not understand them. Miss L. [Mary Lyon] always has general attention in her lectures. Her face & voice express a great deal, & her sincerity & deep feeling can but fix attention. I do think it much to be lamented that the vast majority of females have not the means to become prepared for expansive usefulness. We have heard of a small society in Jacksonville, Ill. [Illinois] composed of females who lend money to indigent promising females that they may gain an education, & for two or three days at table we have been discussing the utility of such a society in New Eng. [New England] conducted something on the principles of the Amer. Ed. Soc. [American Education Society] Mother, I thought had you been here you would have entered into it with all your heart. Do you take the Nat. Preacher? If you do not, Uncle Cowles does. It is taken here by the society in school for general improvement. The Jan. & May No's contain some sermons by Prof. Hitchcock on Intemperance in eating. I have read them, & wish you could all take the time to carefully read them Perhaps you might have it read aloud when all the family were together, or some Sat. evening calculate to have all the work done early & read one sermon. As you both mean to be awake in every good cause, I have no doubt you would like to understand, & not be behind on this subject. And I think it would do the children good, particularly the older ones. Perhaps they will read them if you cannot during this warm, busy season. I think of you these warm days, — good hayweather, I suppose. The thermometer stood at 96° in the shade at one <in> this P.M. Sat. July 26. It is now three the thermometer was taken & hung on the [b]arn in the sun where it rose to 108.°.
Father, have you ever read Edward's' history of redemption. Miss Lyon & Aunt [Zilpah Polly Grant Banister] both think it very valuable. They made some efforts last winter to get it republished in an abridged form, as there are no copies to be obtained of the former edition. Some notes are to be omitted & the print to be smaller. Last winter when they anticipated to [hav]ing it in their power to recommend it as a ... wor[th]y <their> careful perusal, they received word th[at] the hard times prevented their procedure. This summer through the influence of the Rev. Bela. B. Edwards Boston, they thought it would be done. But its contents are too solid, & sp<r>iritual to sell, the bookseller said it was not sufficiently inviting for sale. Then Miss Lyon sent to know for what number of subscribers they would publish it. They informed her, 300. The number of subscribers is not made out. The single book will cost 75 cts. [cents] By the dozen a little l[es]s, probably 52 1/2 cents. It is a sorrowful thought that the great & wonderful plan of redemption has no charms for enslaved man, whose bondage is infinitely more dreadful than that of the colored man within our borders. The book is valuable for every one over 14. particularly for Christians. Could you not get a dozen subscribers within two weeks. Please write within that time & tell me what you think about whether you get any or none. If published at all, it will be soon after that time. I subscribed for two copies. You may say there are already too many books, but our people <might> must & will read something, & if a taste for solid feasting upon what is really elevating and good is already formed, no work can be more palatable or profitable than this. It wd. [would] tend to lead any one to be ashamed to live for themselves, & to ardently desire to cooperated with God both heart & hand in redeeming the world. Cousin Maria [Maria Pettibone] will bring them on, & will pay for them in Boston, & receive pay there of those who subscribe. It is not subscribing for a work whose merits have not been tested. Will you all, the family I mean, see what you can do, & write however the case may be. Remember yr. [your] daughter Mary at the throne of grace.
Yours, very affectionately, Mary [Mary Grant Burgess][written across second page] Mother. I think this work on redemption would be interesting to read together in the Maternal Association. & have conversation on its contents intermingled It is suited to elevate & show the great object of living. It is also suited to encourage us in our labors.
[written across first page] Love to Uncle & Aunt Phelps & cousins E. & M. also to all other relations & neighbors. I should from them, & write them, if more urgent duties did not command my time. What do you think of Bush's work on the Millennium. Good bye.
[written across fourth page]
My dear Abigail [Abigail Grant] July 28, 1834
I have been expecting a letter from Elizabeth, & was in hopes I should hear before I completed this sheet, but Miss Lyon has heard from Aunt [Zilpah Polly Grant Banister] five or six times, & through her I have learned some things respecting her school, & Granville. One of their company wrote a fine description of G [Granville] & its inhabitants which was read at table. One of the teachers here, Miss Foot from Lee, Mass. [Massachusetts] has spent considerable time in Granville she says, E. [Elizabeth] has a very good boarding place. <Since> Aunt [Zilpah Polly Grant Banister] left there, has since been at Chillicathe, Cincinnati & was about a week since at Yellow Springs not far from Xenia, towards the W. part of Ohio. She will leave for Detroit about this time, I suppose. Her health has not been usually good for a week past, but she was better when she last wrote.
Have you studied Arithmetic much? How far? I hope you will on an average get an hour a day. If you should ever come here or attend Miss L. [Mary Lyon] domestic labor school, you would proceed much faster for having a thorough kowledge of arith. [arithmetic] Do not say, you have so much to do, you cannot get any time. Your age & strength both require some rest from bodily fatigue, & by mingling mental & physical strength, you may relax, & increase the value of both. Have you kept an account of the time I hope you have, if not, will you begin now & let me know every time I hear from home. How is you health? Your bending forward proves your stomach to be weak, & I fear much for your health. Miss L [Mary Lyon] has given her pupils one maxim, & their attention to it no doubt has increased our happiness much the last month. Maxim. "Gain entire self control with regard to bodily sufferings & bodily appetites." Dear sister, I would like you to confine your times to taking food during the day to a certain number, say three, or five if you require luncheon, & quite probably you do, & then not taste any thing during the other parts of the day. Never taste any thing after supper. Write me how you succeed. Your sister, Mary-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---