[Some paragraph breaks were added for ease of reading.]Newburyport Oct. 27. 1848
Miss Susan N. my dear daughter,
My time like yours, as I learn by every letter we have, is so occupied that there has been hardly any part of it to spare to write you, but I shall now have, I hope some leisure moments for this purpose, and this morning after a [little?] spell of indisposition and after I had written to Mary Quincy, I sat down to write you, but what I shall write I dont know.
Well let us begin first by enquiring how you did enjoy the ride from Boston to Springfield did you [visit?] the villages & country seats on the way, and the acqueduct [sic] leading the water from lake Cochituate to Boston, the water of this Lake is now brought into Boston, last Wednesday was a great day in Boston they celebrated the day as the commencement of giving the City water from this Lake, it is stated that the procession was formed of 20,000 persons, 30 militia companies 50 fire companies &c.
Did you notice the flourishing town of Worcester and the beautiful buildings on the right as you entered that town[?] I mean the [...] Hospital, and as you left that town off to the left hand, the Catholick [sic] Nunnery a splendid buildin[g] standing across a ravene [sic] on high ground - has a very commanding appearance, and as you entered Springfield of[f] to the left on very high ground you passed the U.S. Arsenal which was really worth your notice if did not see it when you went on you can when you return -
You found I presume a good deal of jostling about of engines and cars in Springfield and found it quite convenient to have some Gentleman to assist you[.] I was very thank[ful] that you were so well provided for in this respect, did you get some refreshments here, how long did you stop in Springfield, and did you go by rail road or stage from this place to South Hadley[?] I presume you went by Rail Road and had the North Hampton Gentleman to accompany as far as Smiths Ferry did you notice South Hadley falls where is to be the Greatest City in New England probably, how did you like the crossing at Smith's Ferry I presume the wind did blow some, how many of you crossed at the time and how did you get up to the Seminary walk or ride &c -
Yesterday I saw Mr Case he told me they were making arrangements that is the girls were at his school, for anniversary, the committee do not much approve of it but I do not know as they will take any step against it, Mr. Case says he shall recommend as little done as possible. Rebecca and [...] E. Coolidge doing first rate in these schools. Rachel has rather hard work of it with her boyes [sic], but I am in hopes she will bring them under after a while. Mother has been hunting up some shawls for you to day, she had one at home for me to look at when I was home at dinner. Now I will enquire how you get along I should gather from what you have said that you like very well do you now think you shall like so as to be happy & enjoy yourself is your health good do you find young [ladies] there that you can love as well as the Newburyportery are you interested in your teachers do you have to work intellectually harder than you should like and how do you like your domestic work, do you see much of Hellen & Mrs Condit[?] Give my love to them -
And above all do you enjoy your religious priviliges [sic] I hope you will think highly of them, and let not the days pass away without often sending your earnest desire to God that he would make you a devoted follower of him who so loved the world that he gave his life a ransome [sic], may the blessing of Heaven be with you both forever is the prayer of your
Father
N. B...This is Friday Evening 5 oclock. I presume you have had a pleasant day, but we have had a cold cloudy day most of the time wind North East[.]