Wethersfield Dec 24 1850Dear Jane
Here I am seated by a comfortable fire with the intention of answering your letter. it [sic] is Christmas Eve Louise and Adalaide have just started for Hartford with Henry. Antoinette left home this morning intending to spend a week with Sarah. I often ask myself, when the girls are gone (though it be but for a night ) how life would seem without them, when the changes of life shall have separated us will strangers occupy that portion of my time, thoughts and affections which are now given to them. But enough of this subject. You wish to know what you are to do about coming home in January. I think you had better come without fail, I never wished to see you so much in all my life all the members of the family are anxious to have you come I do not think it would be a good plan for you to remain there and study you will have some time to read and I think the change of scene and air will be beneficial[.]
John says I must tell you that he wishes to have you come very much.
I spent an afternoon with Elizabeth Havens last week she is assisting[.] Miss Grace gave me a minute account of the praise bestowed when she entered school. I think she is quite blinded with the situation[.] Miss Stanton & family are in New York[.] Miss Grace boards herself at home I suppose after the fashon [sic] of Mrs Wilcox one day last week when she had been to Hartford in attempting to unlock the door of their house she dropped the key under the step stone and although late in the evening she was obliged to go and get some of the neighbors to pry up the stone and find it. you [sic] can imagine how difficult it is for her to get to and from school in bad weather[.]
I suppose you know Cally Harrison has gone to the Retreat mother visited there the next week after seeing you[.] Mrs Cornish spoke encourageingly [sic] of her case she thinks she will recover in three months. the [sic] money to defray expenses is to be raised by her friends, mother saw and conversed with her does not appear to be raving but very happy and talks constantly.
I visited M Cooke in the fall spent a week very pleasantly Maria has promised to come up here and spend a week but her visit like all other good things is to be deferred till you get home in January.
I might write a long letter, but as you will be at home so soon I think I will wait and tell you all the news[.]
I am glad you find the school so pleasant, but you must remember prosperity does not always make us what we should be it will do but little good to improve the intellectual powers if you neglect the moral, be wat[c]hful there even in prosperity and strive to grow in 'grace as well as knowledge.[']
When I contrast this Christmas Eve with many that have preceeded [sic] it I feel that I have every reason to be perfectly contented and happy.
as [sic] it is nine oclock [sic] I must conclude my letter by saying mother wishes you to look about the Seminary and see if you can find a pair of woolen gloves which she thinks she left there if you have our Smiths Atlas and can do with it I should like to have you bring it to John[.] You must write and tell us what day you shall start for home and I think we can meet you at the deppo [sic] as John calls it[.]
from your sister Mary
PS. You see Antoinette has been so polite as to cut into my sheet of paper for her own use so you must be content with part of a sheet
[Jane and Mary have siblings that match up with the names here. Mary is about 25 years old, Jane is about 22 years old, Antoinette is about 20 years old, and Louisa is about 17 years old. I don't know who Adalaide is, but Henry might be their first cousin. Their mother Hepzibah (Kentfield) Ayrault had a sister, Sarah (Kentfield) Griswold, who had a son named Henry Griswold, who would have been about 25 years old when this letter was written.]