[The postmark is Jun 1 (no year stated), and the letter's heading is merely "Saturday morning" and continued on "Sabbath evening." I have another letter to Cornelia in South Hadley, and the date of that one is 1845, so I checked the calendar around that year. The calendar for 1846 was a good match. May 30 is a Saturday, which would have the Sabbath portion written on the next day, Sunday May 31, and posted on Monday June 1.]
Saturday morning.
Dear Neelie
Well, if you can make out the first words, or any of the surrounding ones, you are welcome to the sending of this letter, but methinks you will have to study awhile for it. "Well, as I was going to remark," how did you reach Holyoke? Is Mary there? "How do you find yourself this morning," or as Mr. Holister says, "have you not lost yourself?" Did you not almost wish yourself at home with me, when Pa left you at the State Line? I wonder if you shed as many tears as I, the afternoon you started. I almost sighed my life away, that day, but since then I have not cried a morsel, indeed I have been quite happy, and contented at home, and if I ever was disposed to be low-spirited, I would think how happy I should be, to see you all, when I did come. This morning Dr. Welch called again, and in a few words dashed all my bright hopes to the ground, but still there is a spark of hope remaining. Ma and myself have concluded to have an arbitration about the matter, she was to have it to Dr W- and Mrs. Mitchell, and I to Pa and Aunt Mary Landon. Pa is very anxious that I should return, and I take courage. I have not made the last preparation yet, but that will be but the work of a moment, as I do not expect to make much display this summer in the line of fine things. I have set one week from next Monday, or Tuesday, as the limit of my tarrying this vacation. Oh dear! I wish I was not doomed to disappointment. A raging appetite calls me to my dinner, and when this is satisfied I will tell you some news, but it will not be news to you after all, as you have had the pleasure of seeing the bride herself, and probably have heard all the circumstances of the strange marriage of Laura Zernick.
Was it not strange? I was never more surprised than when I heard of it. Did you know before you left home that Hannah Harrison was expecting the [?] knits her destiny with Mr. Orn in the course of a week or so? and that Matilda Averill [?] would be married next month? Well, all these are very astonishing facts, I suppose. Mrs. Bush arrived at Mr Loop's this morning, and Mr. Algiers is expected, if he has not already come. Chapinville will be [...] again with many voices, and perhaps we shall hear dome of those hearty smacks and kisses that over resounded so loudly through the air. Fanny and myself visited at Mr. Holisters yesterday afternoon. Do not be jealous, I beg of you, if I tell you Andrew was our beau. I expect to spend part of next week at Esq. Mitchells, and if I return, this will be the winding up of my visiting, if not, as Dr Welch thinks riding so beneficial, I shall be on the go for several weeks to come. I forgot to tell you, I had another council of physicians this morning. It was Dr. Benedicts pleasure to call with Dr. Welch. I do not know what the decision of his sage head was, probably that I was not dangerously sick. I have been very busy since you left. I could not begin to tell you all I have done, suffice it, that I have made another black cap, and was exceedingly sorry, you could not pass your [...s] upon it. Ma has come from the store, with some work for me,
andI must not write more to day.Sabbath evening
I think I will finish this letter this evening as I some expect to go away tomorrow, and perhaps may not find time to finish it. I imagine you and Mary are dozing by this time, Pleasant dreams to you. I should like to know if you have conversed on the usual Sabbath evening topic this evening? I happened to think how invariantly we talked of certain things once a week at least, and that generally on Sabbath evening. H[ere] I sit shivering in the cold, with a dim light, and Ma has just come up to hurry me to bed, I shall not be able to write much more I fear, with her at my side to tell me to stop every moment. Don't get out of patience in sending this letter, or if you do, please wreek [sic] your vengeance on this old pen, that goes by fits and starts about making a mark. Dear Neelie, you must answer this very soon, if you have not already written, for we are very anxious to hear from you. Here is a drat of love for you and Mary, and tell Molly I am waiting for that long letter. Now, do you think of Hattie sometimes, and be good girls, and do you write me very often, for I am often sad, and a letter at such times makes my heart glad. I will enclose a note for Lucile Goddard that I promised her long ago, but have not found time to write before. Is Miss Whitman at the Sem? How much I would love to see her. You are all twice as dear to me now I am separated from you. My love to Carrie, Nelie Butler, Nelie Bd if she is there, in short to all who ever think to ask for me. It is quite late, good night
Your sister Hattie
[P...y] don't show the inside of this letter to any one.