South Hadley July 19, 1843.Dearest friends,
Do not be alarmed when you get this letter. I will say at the outset, that I am very well & prosperous.
Cousin & I were sent for yesterday. PM. to see company in the parlor, & much to our surprise, we found it was Uncle Ebenezer E. & his daughter Evangela, whom we were delighted to see. They were returning to N. York from a visit to N. Hampshire, & came here from Springfield on purpose to see us. They travel by public conveyance, & are going directly to Albany, & if I was ready to go home now, it would be fine to go with them.
My F. friends wrote a number of letters, & all seem very much interested in my prospects, & very anxious I should return here next year, thinking it would be much better than to wait a year.
Uncle George told Evangela to tell me, that if I would come, he would lend me half the money & wait till I could pay it, (& AUnt Mary wrote that rather than not to have me come, she thought he would the whole.) E. asked Uncle Joseph if he would lend me the other half. He did not say decidedly, but said 'George is selfish, tell her to wait till the year after (when his daughter is coming) & I will say the same'. If it is best to borrow the money, I presume I could do it of somebody. I have been filled with gratitude that you thought of sending me another year at all, for surely you must expect to borrow the money, with your present prospects. - - - But, you will think by this time, that there is another important question to be considered in relation to my returning next year. Well, I went to Miss Whitman to-day & asked her, what studies I had better attend to, if I remained out a year: On my telling her, what I had studied, & what omitted, she said immediately, "Why you can enter the Senior class next year, you will jump over the Middle C. I am very glad you have got along so well." So she anticipated the question, I was going to ask, if I could get through next year.
She said, I could get through as well as some, if I did not study vacation, though she would advise me to study. E. of Chris. & she would recommend me by all means to come next year, if I could.
If I was four or five years younger, I should not care as much about coming next year. Now dear friends, please tell me what to do. I am sorry to ask so much advice, in every letter, but I know you love me, & are willing to advise me.
I would wait till I go to you before I decide, but - shall I say it - I do not know, as I had better go to Benson if I return here. I suppose I could go to F. & spend vacation without expense, & perhaps I had better.
My heart sinks at the thought of not seeing you for such a long time, but I should be willing to make sacrifices, for this object, & while you do for me. Perhaps you will think me ungrateful, that I can think of being no assistance to you another year.
But I must close, I have so much to do. I think I shall get an answer to this in season, if you write immediately.
Now if you really think, I had better return to you now, say so, & I go. I am sure if I consulted present inclination I should.
May Heaven bless you all. You have reason to think me selfish for writing so much about I but circumstances alter cases? I love you all, there is no mistake about it. Oceans of love to children & all friends If I go to B. I can stay till Mon. without expense if I wished.
One thing more, perhaps Uncle only thought of the half of 60 dollars, if so do you suppose I could borrow the rest of some one. Adieu dearest friends. If I just had time to the half I wish to I should be so glad.
From your affectionate daughter,
S. E. Everett.Evangela is a sweet girl I do wish you could see her. She has spirit equal to Mrs. Hayes, & the most perfect ease of manners. Uncle & she wished to be remembered to you.
Grandmother F. left me her gold beads, & a large silver spoon. I could not take them, because the will had not been proved I was named for her.