[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]June 28, 1841.
My dear sister Elizabeth
I have just sent off a long letter to Nancy and now have commenced this one to you on a comparatively small sheet because I fear I could not get time to fill a larger one in four weeks, and I wish to send this in much less time than that.
Tuesday 29, Dear Elizabeth, This is a solemn day to the members of this Seminary. We are called again this year to lay one of our dear number in the cold cold grave. At eight oclock this morning her happy spirit took its flight to the mansion which we trust was prepared for it in a happier world, and this evening, all that remains to us of our dear Miss Arnold will be deposited in the silent tomb. You will probably think as I have never mentioned her sickness that her death was unexpected but it
iswas not so. It is ten weeks this morning since she first had a physician and it is nearly as long since she walked a step. She was first seized with a slow fever which run a long time after it appeared to have reached its height and did not decrease till after our last vacation commenced and when we returned at its close there seemed to be nothing to prevent her recovery but instead of gaining she continued to sink lower and the physician pronounced it an affection of the mucous membrane.She has been very very low for the last six weeks but we did not give her up till last Wednesday when her reason failed and the possession of that the physician said was his last hope. For six weeks I do not think she has taken into her stomach nourishment of any kind to exceed two gills she has usually wet her mouth about twice in the 24 hours. I have watched with her four times during that time and never but once given her a drop of anything. But her sufferings are over. I watched last night the last part of it. She seemed to suffer much till an hour or two before she died, when she gradually sunk away breathed shorter and shorter; and
theher spirit departed so gently that we knew not when it took its flight. It passed away without a struggle or a groan. She has been delirious most of the time since last Wednesday but even in delirium and apparently not recognizing any one if spoken to of Jesus she would answer immediately and while I sat with her after she was seemingly insensible to all around her I heard her say, "I'm happy."Her sister has been with her about two months and her father who is a minister in Westminster Vt. has been to see her once and came again last Sat. and with another sister and staid are to stay till after the funeral. She went home during the winter
onto see her mother who was sick but she died before she reached home. She was rather unwilling to return then but her father wished her toconand she came - came just to die and to teach us that neither youth nor firm health (for she was never sick before[)] nor high hopes nor love or any earthly tie can shield us from the arrow of death to teach usthat(and oh! may we learn the lesson and lay it to heart) that what we do must be done quickly for there is no work nor device in the grave to which we are all hastening. She was the favourite of a large circle of young friends at home as well as here but she has left us all and though we mourn her loss still we can say in the language of the hymn which we sung as we stood around her grave (it is now Monday eve) "Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee" for we trust she is where pain nor sorrow will ever reach her more.Tuesday eve, July 6. Yesterday the people of South Hadley celebrated the fourth of July and as they invited the Seminary ladies to join with them of course we accepted. I have not time to tell you much about it but hope to be able to say it to you all in about three weeks. Three weeks! they look as long to me as three months did last winter, for I have got so much to do that I dread it seems to me that I can never get it done and then I do wish to see home so much! I count the weeks about once an hour all day and every day. I know it is wrong to feel impatient but I have proved the truth of Solomon's proverb that "much study is a weariness to the flesh," this year for I am tired of studying and reciting. Dont think I wish to complain or am dissatisfied, no indeed. I have and do now enjoy it much but I do want to rest a little while. I have had three studies all the year except when I have heard a recitation and then I had two. This term I have had Euclid (the sixth book, and Supplement which contains three books) Smellie's Philosophy of Nat. History and Botany. I am delighted with Botany have analyzed 120 flowers already and hope to many more before the term closes. We study the natural system which is entirely different from Mrs. Lincoln's the one Susan studied. I often wish my sisters were here to enjoy with me our delightful rambles after flowers.
Sat. eve. Dear, dear Elsa, I received your very acceptable letter this eve and I cannot express half the pleasure it has given me. And father and you are really coming! it is almost too good news to be true. I have tried Susan and Nancy and S. said
sheAunt disapproved it so much she dared not mention it and N. said she was not coming home so I commenced this to try father once more. Now you are coming I will write about that first. You say you will stay at Irenes till Monday, and if you leave there so as to get to Wilbraham or Ludlow which is the same place at noon you can come directly here that P.M. but if you do not get there till eve[n]ing you cannot come till the next P.M. & if so be sure and not stay at the tavern by the depot but go up to Mr Kings. They will be glad to see you and if it is dark ask Charles Jenks for the young man who has the charge of the depot to direct you and as he lives next house to Mr K. and boards at home very likely you can go up with him and find them very easily but dont go alone and get into the river in the dark. I should like to have you get here Monday if you can.Now about fathers coming if he does not leave home Tuesday he will be just half an hour too late for he can not get here till two P.M. and the closing servises [sic] in the church commence at eleven A.M. so he must be sure and start Tuesday stay at Mr Kings that night and come here Wed. and if he does not not [sic] wish to stay at the tavern that night he can go to Mr Bishops who will be glad to see him, I doubt not. And he must make his calculations to be absent a day longer than is just necessary for us to get ready, for to go to the mountain and if possible to N. and I wish you could go to A. & S. too. I have not been to see cousin
ALucy this year. Her mother brought me two letters one from S. & the other from N. which I got last Monday. If Uncle comes in season ask him to come too the more the better but I wont promise to do great honour to the family but will do the best I can. Remember to bring a trunk for me to carry my clothes in. I have ever ever so much to say but no time to say it so good night.Love to all from your
own sister JulietMon. morn, Give my love to Irene and tell her I shall be very happy to see her here. I went to Mr Bishops Friday eve and staid till Sat P.M. Mrs Bishop and the children leave this week for Seekonk to spend some weeks[.] I have a long lesson to
lrecite at Thurs morn and have no more time nor much more room so good bye. 4 oclock [...] JulietBe sure or bring me a trunk. Harriet King is going home with me & you or father which ever stops there must arrange with her when we are to go so that she may be ready.