Dear Juliet,
I will now endeavour to contribute my mite to this family letter; I am seated at the table watching Susans babe who is lying on the bed asleep, she has gone to church and left him in my care, he is a noble boy the [...]artest grandson I have, his weight yesterday was 14 pounds. Elizabeth is a pretty child & very active; I expect we shall become so much attached to them we shall hardly know how to spare them, but I think I would not like to be obliged to bring them up in my old age, my health has been good so far & I weigh 102 pounds. for a wonder I visited Maria W. last Thursday with Susan & Abram & the children had a very pleasant visit. I think she is delightfully situated.
All our family have been together excepting yourself, it would have been extremely gratifying could you have been with us but that could not be, I am rejoiced that you have found such kind friends it must be very pleasant & I hope your school will increase and prosper, do be very careful of your health dont expose yourself to the evening air; I have heard it called very bad in that warm climate & take every precaution to keep well.
We have very dull weather for haying we have had a good deal of wet and it looks now like having more, your uncle is very feeble but better than he has been; your uncle Abel has had the second attack of Erysipelas but is now better; they have returned from church and I must close to leave room for others, your very affectionate
mother Elizabeth Blanding
[handwriting change]
Dear Juliet
I just add aline [sic] that you may see that I can write yet and your mother has anticipated that I have room to add as all wish to put in a line or two I have not room for much. I often follow you through all the turnings and windings from here to Camden and see or think I see you and the place I soon find it all a dream. do follow your mothers advice and take care that you do not expose yourself in any way and I hope that your life and mine may be spared that we may meet again in Elm Cottage
With affectionate regard your father
James Blanding
{What I have written is with a room full and all talking -}
[handwriting change]
July 9th /48
Dear Sister J.
I take my [pen] to add a few lines to this family letter, but what to write I am shure [sic] I do not know, for I suppose it all I have to write has been written by others, and beside I do not like to get you so much in my debt for fear I shall never get my pay, you recollect I presume, a long letter that you recieved [sic] before or about the time I left Philadelphia. Well I will say no more about it but tell you what I have to say and then give the sheet to someone else. I presume I need not tell you that I have got home for you have probably heard of it ere this; well so it is I have been at home ten weeks or more and as yet have not got my shingle out, though I have made some preparations for so doing; I have got me a horse and buggy, the horse is an old acquaintance of yours, he has been the family horse of James Blanding some 17 or 18 years. I have got him a neat second hand carriage to draw about the Dr and his pills and a shineing [sic] new harnes [sic] for his back which makes him feel so proud, and then I give him two extra curnarls [sic] of corn each day which puts new life in him; so you see the most of my estableshment [sic] is new. I have been trying for a week past or two weeks to get board at the village but can not, so I conclude to get a room and board myself, but I can not get a room unless I take the whole tenament [sic]; so yesterday I went to the village and hired [?] the whall [?] of Johniathon Whealoms upper story and think some of getting Harriet to keep house for me, but shall for the present keep bachelors [...] so you may think of my shingle in about the same place that the old post office signe [sic] was. I am going in with Uncle Royal, and think I shall get some business before long I shall try to get some of them sick as soon I think it will do. Wm is waiting for the pen so I must stop and send the remainder another time; with much love I remain your affectionate brother A.O.B. [Abram Ormsbee Blanding]
[handwriting change]
July 9th
My Dear Sister
Uncle says I must write a few lines. but have nothing to interest you except that it is very poor hay weather I havent [sic] mowed but very little I have been very much put to get help this season I have had several hand[s] this season David agreed to help me get my hay some time before the time and then went and let himself to somebody else & did not let me know until I found it out by somebody else just before haying then I asked him but he said he had not engaged to help any one but he left but I succeeded in procuring a colourd [sic] hand in Providence and yong [sic] man in Attlebourough the colord man I give 1.50 aday [sic] & white .75 cts I think the black man the cheapest of the two & cheaper than David at 1.00 which I was to give him when he went off I owed him a bout 7.00 dolars [sic] and I rather think I shall a spel [?] if he ever gets it pleas [sic] excuse all mistakes, for I wrote in great haste with much love I remain your affectionate brother William W [Willet] Blanding.
[handwriting change]
Dear Juliet,
If I had a larger space to fill, I suppose I should find, but little unsaid as so many have written on this paper, therefore I will only remind you to take good care of your health, not in any way fatigue yourself; My health is as good as I can expect
Affectionately your Aunt L [Lucy] Carpenter
[handwriting change]
My Dear July
I am at a loss for somthon [sic] to say, you see my space is Small and cant expect much, with much Love I am as ever S H Moore
[handwriting change]
Dear Sister - you need never expect to get a letter from Elm Cottage that my pen does not fill a part; this letter you must let fancy place you at home where all are talking at once to you each raising his or her voice to be the one heard - I was at home on the fourth inst [sic] as I I [sic] was the three previous days; a part of each day I spent in drawing for Uncle - you know not how much I miss you when I sit down to draw alone; but Susan has assisted me some in making a picture of Hiram Drown's [?] place, Grandfather Blandings birth place & Mr Lord Goffs place as when owned by Dr Wheeler - these three are to be sent to Dr Shubel Blanding - yesterday I drew the place owned by Uncle Pearses Father it is to be sent to Willie Murry when James goes to Illinois he starts next week on Tuesday - I received a letter from Roff the 5th inst he spoke of having received a letter not long before from you
We wish to know if the run [?] you cross in getting to your school is near enough Mr Purviances house to admit of his place being called after Dr Adam Clarks place (cc) Mill Brook Cottage - if not we will think again - On next Thursday week my examination takes place & is followed by a Vacation of six weeks unless they do like last Summer - during my Vacation I hope to use my pencil some I think my drawing lessons have improved me some[.] I also shall look very hard at my easel - you must not think our yard very beautiful for the season since May 19th has been so cloudy & cool that many of my plants have died & my cyprus [sic] vines do not grow any the Mexican vine is beautiful almost to the top of the trellis about ten feet - some four dahlias are out; the Oleanders & Hyderangas [sic] one of each stand in front of the parlor & sitting room all in blossom -
I must close - so good night,
N. A. [Nancy Augusta] Blanding.
Sabbath eve 9th July
Uncle has failed rapidly since I wrote you last
Graham cake; one cup sugar, one cup sour milk or buttermilk, one teaspoonful of soleratus, one spoonful of butter (large spoon) and flour enough to make it a consistency for baking I think your recipie [sic] said three or three & a half cups of flour - one item more William Carpenter happened to come in this eve to take another lesson in Geology with Sarah Hagadon Wells is at Mr Grovenors - I have not been to Church since the first Sabbath in May
Nancy