[The letter is not fully dated; it appears at least the first page is missing. Based on the fact that it is addressed to Juliet in Mississippi, I assume it was written in 1847 or 1848. This letter is signed "sister Eba," so I assume that the author of this letter was a sibling of Juliet's based on the salutation and the frequent mention of other family members, rather than a dear friend referring to her as a sister of the heart. But Juliet's siblings are Susannah, Elizabeth, Nancy, William, Abram, Lephe, and Sarah. I'm guessing that Eba is a nickname for Elizabeth.]
The vestry is furnished & is the nicest in the City & much does Mr L appear to enjoy it they have to arranged one room for an infant school & persuaded me to take charge of it - if you are not using your singing powers I wish you would enclose them in a letter & direct to me - Mr Leavett wants me to learn says persaverance [sic]will do it - I called there one day last week & with Miss Winthrop had a very plesant [sic] call - he asked me if I knew whether they had decided to open the infant school I told him they had; he waited a moment & I said nothing further & he then asked me if I had decided to take it I told him I had but if my not being able to sing was an objection as I very much preferred being alone if possible he said it was exactly as he felt & then prepared my learning to sing said it would be a safeguard against consumption [?], I told him I had pretty good breadth of chest as an assurance against that, he said he should think I had - he wanted to know if he had a standing invitation to visit at my fathers I told him I wished he would consider it so & he says if he ever gets to R. when I am at home he shall certainly call he was never in the town till he went there at the burial of Mr G's child - Miss Winthrop was highly delighted with her call, she nearly provokes me at times, she is so much afraid of the Bishop if she is away from church so she goes & almost agreeably [?] comes home saying she could not hear half the sermon, if the bishop preaches, & she admires Mr Leavett, she gives her money mostly in our church & her presance [sic] to the other - I wish Mr L. could have visited at our house last summer when all were at home, but may be the right time will come yet - I have connected myself with his church I long to know what his religious privileges are - suppose you have either the methodist or Episco. do you not? You must know that I cannot find apen fit to write a word with so excuse this daub
I wish you could see a cap Tom Brook had given him while he was gone - his father is president of the Court Martial setting in Washington for the trial of Fremont & Wm has been there for some weeks, the cap is the first half of a fox skin - the skin is cut about half way from the forward to the hind legs & the forward legs are left on & crossed the edge of the skin is turned in & lined the head is prepared as tho' to sit up glass eyes &c & the nose pitches directly over upon its paws & nearly to the forehead of the wearer. I wish Uncle cd see it, it would exactly suit him, it looks the most alive of any thing I have seen of the cap fashion. I have an invitation to go with a sleighing party this eve & Mr C. says he will keep house for me to go & I will lay my pen by till tomorrow - I believe all there is left of the sleighing is a slight covering of thin snow porridge you may suppose I anticipate real pleasure - we have only had two or three days of really cold weather yet this season -
Thursday Eve
I have written & sent to the office this eve a letter to Uncle & another to Mrs V. & took my sewing to conclude the day but was tempted to lay it by & resume my pen to you - Last night about the time the moon rose Adely waked, she was sleeping on the crib by the side of my bed & I took her with me, but she did not conclude to go to sleep again till after three o'clock but was all over the bed & crib & set on her chair & had water to drink & every thing you can remember of Harriets trying when she used to behave so badly nights - she has a cold & I found she was increasing it & when I saw talking was of no avail I gave her a hard slapping & she laid down & went immediately to sleep - I have put her in bed one hour earlier this than the last night & mean if she wont sleep at one time she shall another - I ought to have begun where I left off - We did not get our sleigh ride last eve - the snow did not wait for us & this evening there is very little to be seen - this afternoon M. E. Potter & E. Wells called to see me they represent the walking as not exactly first rate the[y] must sleep enough I expect nearly equal to Miss Nurse - Uncle sent me in your letter of the first of this month to him but I have not seen the drawing yet nor have I seen your picture which has arrived nor heard Uncles opinion of it. Sarah says it is very good Wm thinks it is shaided [sic] too darkly & does not think the hands any improvement - Nancy is about to do a piece of needlework for Miss Winthrop's screen it is a Cossack mounted upon a white charger, highly ornamented both the horse & rider - I think it will be beautiful - i ahve forgotten to attend to your request about the coloured thread - will endeavour [sic] to remember it when I return to Providence how much I wish I was there this evening, yes this minute for Mr Leavett is preaching now I expect the lecture previous to communion - tomorrow evening they have a prayer meeting
Now I am going to make sausages - this morning is like may - the grass looks quite green - do write me as soon as you can & tell me all about your school & prospects &c - & believe me your own attached [?] sister Eba
Aunt Carpenter was having another ill turn when I last heard from home - When Wm Brook came home his father sent Hatty a very handsome gold pencil. if she knew I was writing you she would send her love she often asks after you I wish this sheet was larger