Tuscaloosa, Dec. 1, 1848.My dear Miss Hawes
Miss Lyon wrote me, that she had written you to write me if you would not come here & teach Music. Long have I waited your decision, but no letter has reached me. I should have written you long before this, but that I expected yours every mail. This is to ask you if you will not come South & teach music in the Ala. Fem. Institute. The salary $450 for one session of five months then I will rise on it, & I have no doubt I can make it satisfactory to you. From what I know of your skill in music, I think you will suit this place, & fill this situation well. Miss Lyon said you would like to remain at home this winter to perfect yourself in music, but if you come here you will improve all the while. Your pupils will be mostly those who have not much progress in music, & I have no doubt you would succeed admirably. On account of your musical skill, you need not hesitate. I think you would like to come & spend one or two years at least with us. You will find it pleasantly situated, fine society, many Northerners, some noted for their piety & worth. We have a pleasant building & grounds, we can make you quite comfortable & I trust happy. Some one told me your father did not like your coming to a slave state, tell him, he need not fear you in that, I can promise to return you safe to New. Eng. both in heart & principle on that subject. I have spent six years in a slave state, & am no more in favor of the system than when I first set my foot in it, & I find many Southerners who dislike the system & prefer free states[.] Miss Stone & Miss Dutton both prefer, wish very much for you to come. Miss Lyon very decidly [sic] thinks so, & I think you have more weight of character, than some others of your years. I wish very decidedly for you to come. Will you then write me soon after you receive this & let me know if you can come, & whether you can come so as to be here by the first of Feb. or whether you could better come if I was to delay a little longer; & if you cannot postitively [sic] come, please tell me if you can recommend some one having these charactistics Piety, can teach music on Piano, can sing, has some stability of character, is a Presbyterian, Congregationalist, or a kindred faith[.]
Miss Stone & Miss Dutton send love, but perhaps they will put a note in this letter. You can come in six days from N.Y. if not all ready you could have a box sent afterwards. You will enjoy the trip no doubt & to pause a little here in the Sunny South, particularly if you can do good by it. We have some lovely pupils here, aye, it does our hearts good to teach them, so much attached are they to their teachers, & so gladly would they tell you a glad welcome.
I shall look for an affirmation, please write soon, & be sure to come I will try to do without till you can come, & then you shall find us all ready to receive you, & we shall all be going North on a visit by the time you wish to go home. We have the months of July & August to excursion at our leisure. A very pleasant trip we all had last vacation.
If there be any thing you wish to engage after winter, I think I can plan some company for you, & be sure to come. Several persons wish to come who do not suit, but if you will come I will be satisfied[.]
Yours in Love
Levina M[...][Author identified by seller as Levina Moore, reportedly Mary Lyon's niece. With over 200 pupils, the Alabama Female Institute in Tuscaloosa was one of the first institutions of higher education for women in the state, dating from the 1830s. The Principal for many years was another Mount Holyoke alumna, and Moore herself became Principal before the Civil War, when the school was closed after occupation by Union troops.]