Sept. 11, 1849.Ever dear Hattie,
I cannot realize that three weeks have passed since last I wrote you. But so it is and as you may be expecting to hear from me again I will write a few lines as strength will permit though I find I write with a trembling hand. The reluctant decision I came too [sic] in regard to visiting you has proved to be a wise one, as my health which was not firm has again yielded to the power of disease. Thatweek I wrote I was comfortable and I made one or two visits in town spent most of one day with our dear Pastors family a visit I would have been reluctant to have lost. The next Monday I had a Physician and he came every day for nearly two weeks. I had another attack of billious Diarrhea which has left me quite weak. I am now able to sit up several hours in a day & could you this morning come in you would find me in the rocking chair with my sick dress on writing by the stand I feel that I have much to be thankful for. For I have received of the loving kindness of the Lord from day to day. And as strength returns I do desire to consecrate it to the service of my dear Redeemer.
I have had every earthly comfort I needed what a blessing it is to have kind friends to watch around us in sickness[.] It seems as if I never realized it so much before. Never can I repay a mothers kindness & love. I have many sympathizing friends hope I may feel grateful to the Lord for them all. Among them are my dear Sab. Sch. pupils who by their notes & & [sic] other expressions of kindness evince to me that I am not forgotten though so often obliged to be absent from them on the Sabbath. One of the number has been sick of Dysentery but is recovering. Pray for me dear friend that I may be faithful to their souls, & that they may be converted. Please excuse me for writing of what perhaps does not interest you For I am aware you cannot know the feelings of one called to teach in the Sab. Sch. having never had a class yourself.
Wednesday Morning Again I seize my pen to write to my absent friend. Father has gone to Pittsfield to attend the meeting of the Amer. Board of Missions[.] Have just had a call from Mr. R. Winchell who has graduated at Andover & is now going to his home in No.
I must tell you that what I anticipated in your last letter has taken place. Yes our Dear Pastor Mr Wood has left us, and we are as sheep without a shepard [sic] I received previous calls from him just before he went I feel it to be a great trial but think it is overruled by our Father in heaven Cary & I have his & Mrs Woods Degueratype - [sic]
I have rode out to day though I do not think I feel quite as well as I did day or two since. As to the future I feel that all is uncertain I hope I may be prepared for all that that my heavenly Father sees fit for me. I hope we may meet some time on earth but if not may it be ours to sit at the feet of our Savior & sing his love in heaven. Oh forget not to pray for your warmly [?] friend
Do write very soon
[From the dealer's note on this letter:Well written 2 1/2 page stampless folded letter probably written by Harriet A. Smith at Chicopee, MA, on September 11, 1849, to Harriet P. Atwood at Newington, CT. We believe that the writer's identity is confirmed by her reference to Rev. Wood, who was pastor of the First Congregational Church at West Springfield, MA, and by mention of "Cary", who was probably her sister Caroline T. Smith. Pages measure approx. 7 1/2" x 9 3/4".
Harriet Amanda Smith is very sick and is aware of her approaching death. She writes a poignant letter to her former classmate: "I will write a few lines as strength will permit though I find I write with a trembling hand." She informs Atwood that her decision to not come for a visit was wise "because my health was not firm has again yielded to the power of disease." Her doctor had come "every day for nearly two weeks. I had another attack of billious diarrhea which has left me quite weak." Harriet writes that she can now sit up for several hours a day and is writing "in the rocking chair with my sick dress on..." Her friends and sabbath school pupils have extended their sympathy to her. She takes the time to relay the news that she had a call from R. Winchell "who has graduated at Andover & is now going to his home in Mo." and she writes, "Our Dear Pastor Mr. Wood has left us...Cary & I have his & Mrs Woods daguerreotype." She expresses her feelings about dying and adds, "As to the future I feel that all is uncertain." Harriet died in West Springfield in November 1849 and was buried in Ashley Cemetery. See 1850 Federal Mortality Census.
Harriet Amanda Smith (1826-1849) was the daughter of Horace Smith (1792-1869) and Gratia Bagg (1795-1864) of West Springfield, MA. Harriet attended Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary 1843-1844. She was teaching in a sabbath school in Chicopee when she wrote this letter. See Catalogue of the Memorandum Society in the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (1847). Harriet's siblings were Henry, Joseph, Franklin, Margaret, William, Samuel, Carolina (Cary), and Lyman. Horace Smith was a deacon of the First Congregational Church of West Springfield. See Encyclopedia of Massachusetts (1916).
Harriet P. Atwood (1827-1882) was the daughter of Josiah Atwood and Prudence Kellogg. She attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary and is listed as a non-graduate for the year 1844. In 1850 Harriet was living in Wethersfield, CT, with her parents and siblings. She married John S. Kirkham (1826-1918) in 1859. See Quinquennial Catalogue of Officers and Students of Mount Holyoke College, 1837-1895.
Rev. Artemas Augustus Wood was pastor of First Congregational Church in West Springfield, MA, 1836-1849. See The Church At Home and Abroad (1892).
Rensselaer Winchell graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1849. See General Catalogue of the Theological Seminary, Andover, Massachusetts (1908).
Postal History: 33mm red CDS, CHICOPEE MS., with matching 5 cents rate mark.
Condition: vertical fold, wrinkling, pencilling (with incorrect year) on front and back, soiling, bottom 1/3 of blank page removed, small piece missing at corner and piece torn off 3rd page (neither affecting text), fold splits repaired with archival tape.]