[Original has no paragraph breaks and very little punctuation; some periods and breaks were added here to facilitate reading.]Westfield Jan 11th 1844
My dear cousin Harriet
I received your letter last week Thursday and read it with a great deal of pleasure. I concluded you had entirely forgotten me but was happy to hear the contrary. You may tell Abby that she need not be troubled for fear she will write too much or too often she said that she thought you girls done your part of corresponding but I don't think you write often enough. My dear Hatty I thank you very much for your friendly advice. I will acknowledge that it was very much needed.
You spoke to[o] of the death of Charles Eddy it was indeed very sudden. Cornelia Foote and myself went to see him when I was at home vacation he was not able to speak aloud nor had he been able to speak only in a whisper for nearly three weeks. He lived about one week from the day I visited him. I attended his funeral Miss Julia Waples was there she appeared to feel his death very much she had her bonnet trim[m]ed and lined with black the minister prayed expressly for her who was intending to be bound in the holy bonds of matrimony so I conclude she was intending to marry Mr. Eddy had he lived. I know not but you have heard the whole history therefore I will close.
Dear Hatty I received a box from home last week Tuesday and in it was several things such as apple cake walnuts and among the rest was several letters one from Sarah Kellogg and one from Eunice L. I should like very much to have you share with me by just stepping in and takeing [sic] some apples and walnuts. I think Newington must be rather dull this winter there is only twelve schollars [sic] in the Academy and only three girls it seems very different the school here and I presume it does from the school you attend.
I went up to Mrs. Shepard's last night and caught cold so I have such a head ache that I thought I would not go to school to day Hatty. I almost envy your happiness in your visit to Newington although it is short. I think that it will be pleasant. I shall not go home until the close of this term and I have not yet concluded whether I shall come back next term or not. I have been to Newington since you have therefore I have not forgotten how it looks.
I suppose Miss Cornelia Foote will be married in course of one or two weeks. I heard that she was to be married next Tuesday and I should like very much to be there.
As for Mr. H. Smith I have hardly spoken to him this term and I am afraid that I should get the [mitten?] if I should ask him and you know that would be bad as it is leap year it will do much [better?] you said that you thought him a very smart fellow I think so myself. There is a Miss Laflin in school which he takes quite a shine to she is nothing extra.
You mentioned your studies and among the rest was domestic lessons that study I am not troubled with. Since I left home I rise about six and sometimes later and retire sometimes eight nine ten and eleven. You will perceive I do not rise as early as you do.
Miss Jane Bridges is in the room with me although I can not call her my room mate as one of Mrs. Sheldon's daughters sleeps with me and one with her. There is four of us in one room we have first-rate time. I wish you was here with me I wish you was going to be at home when I go home at the close of the term. There is one or two girls that talk of going home with me though they may not go. It is about dinner time and I am some what hungry. You must excuse the writing you must write me as soon as you get back from Newington and tell me about your visit. Please give my love to all my friends in Newington.
I suppose you know that Elbert keeps the south east school and Nancy Whaples wrote me that Eunice thought a great deal of his company at that part of the place. Good bye for a few moments.
I might just as well search for something that was never heard of as to search for ideas in my head. I have written all the news (we have one schollar in school that is very green his name is Bacon he says the Pyramids of Egypt are works of nature). He spoke the other evening in the Lyceum (the baby's complaint and when he came to the sentence fill up my noddle with this thing and that one of the schollars told him that noddle meant a work bag so he took a work bag and shook it on the stage such a roaring I have never heard and since then there has been several compositions about the Puramids [sic] of Egypt yesterday there was a composition about Bacon saying that the bacon here was uncomenly white it generally was brown after hanging in the corner two or three weeks.
Harriet you must be sure and write so soon as possible and give me a long letter give a great deal of love to the girls and tell Cornelia that she has not written me a letter yet.
From your Friend and cousin
Lucy