[The recipient of this letter was Hannah Chickering Briggs. Her daughter was Mary Balch Briggs x1857. According to "The Use of a Life, memorials of Mrs. Z. P. Grant Banister," Hannah Chickering's home with her mother was open to Miss Grant. She spent weeks and months there. After Hannah got married to Dr. John Kingsbury Briggs, they set apart a chamber in their home for her beloved friend. It was called "Miss Grant's room," and was ever ready for her occupancy. There while at Ipswich she often went to rest. Hannah Chickering was educated at Mr. Emerson's school in Saugus, Mass. where Miss Grant was a teacher. "Over the younger girl she cast the spell of her wonderful personality, just as she later did over Mary Lyon."]
Londonderry, June 1, 1827.
My dear Mrs. Briggs,
After leaving you, I had a pleasant ride to Boston, save the suspicion that I had left that conserve so carefully put up. By the way, please to mention in a letter the proportion of the ingredients. The remainder of the day I spent at Deacon Melledge's. I saw some company, among others, an English lady, who has been teaching a private school in Boston a few years. She had a deal to say about her success, such as having a greater number of pupils than others. To sum up the whole, however, she supposes her success to be owing to her numerous circle of friends. I could not but secretly say, how unlike Miss Grant.
Saturday a little past noon I met Miss Grant. I never was more rejoiced to see her. I think her countenance has never indicated so much health since she came to L. Soon after the commencement of school, she took cold, & I think has not been quite so well since. She has been afflicted with a daily head-ache, a part of the time, tho at present she suffers but a little from that kind of pain in her head. She thinks her health has improved from the exercise she has taken. The flexibility of Miss Grant's joints gives her a great advantage.
AboutLittle more than a week since, she commenced teaching the young ladies.Last Friday we had a very amusing scene. The seats & tables were so placed as to give most of the floor to the
to theyoung ladies, & as we keep the swing partition raised to accommodate monitorial recitations, a convenient station was furnished for Miss Grant. Just imagine nearly 80 young ladies, arranged in geometrical order, all jumping at the same moment with the addition exercise of constant laughter. Miss Grant never appeared more lively & graceful. But to damp the merriment, the leader of the play received an injury in her ancle, [sic] which has confined her to the chamber ever since. But of this lameness, she designs to give you a particular account, on the last page of this.We board at Mr. Bly's. So far, I really like our accommodations & independence. Miss Grant says but little as you might expect, but when I tell her that on many accounts I think this a better place than ____ I mean better than I expected, she seems in her countenance to assent to it. One exception however, C. T. Esq. is our company at table with Mrs. Bly. At first he attempted to introduce religious subjects, but you know Miss Grant has a talent to evade whatever she thinks it expedient to evade. Of late he is very silent on such
subjectspoints, & we have heard by the by, that he says he is afraid tointroduce such conversation, "express his opinion on religion to Miss Grant." The division of Londonderry affairs at the city of Washington, & political subjects generally furnish us with abundance of table talk. Sometimes the story is so important, that it seems as if the last saucer of tea would be spun out to an insupportable length. This is more tedious, now Miss Grant is confined from the table, & I must be the chief replier. Occasionally I get excused, but I suppose it very important to treat a very polite [...carver] with all due attention. We rarely see him, except at the table. He never comes into Miss Grant's room, only when he introduces Mr. Bell, or some gentleman from abroad, & then Miss Grant is particular to invite him to walk in & take a seat [she is] particular not to invite him at any other time.We have good food. For breakfast & dinner, we have meat, & always that which is very nice. Mrs. Bly is very attentive, especially since Miss Grant's sickness. She is as ready to do as to say.
We have a good school. The monitorial system is more popular than it ever has been. The school had been brought into a very good state before Miss Grant's lameness, which gives us a great advantage now. She hears the Senior class recite twice a day at her chamber, besides her individual attention to many others. But we think it not best to admit the young ladies into the chamber generally without an object.
Yours sincerely
Mary LyonMy regards to your mother & husband, & my love to little John Grant. [John Grant Briggs, named after Zilpah Grant]
[handwriting change]
Saturday morning, June 2. After using my feet a few minutes as Miss L. has mentioned, my left foot felt tired or rather a small place by the side of my heel. I rested a while then began to use it again, & it soon failed entirely, that is, refused to support me. It seemed like cramp rather than like turning my ancle [sic] one side. The pain was so severe as to cause distressing faintness for several minutes. The injury has proved to be in the heel cord, & the swelling, & pain extend for 8 inches above my heel. For about three days my suffering from pain was considerable, & the soreness of the part injured, I compared to the bare nerve of a tooth. Of course I was confined to my bed. Dr. F. directed to have it kept wet in a preparation of opium, sugar, of
oflead, vinegar, & water in the day time, & the application of a hop poultice during the night. Since that I have applied an ointment, and sometimes wet it with rum, camphor or brandy. Now I am using a volatile linament. [sic]
The cord is shrunk up a little, so that my toes fall out. I can sit up now & my health is pretty good, but I cannot let my foot hang down, & it is generally a little painful. If it gains as it has done I hope I shall be able to walk a little in a few days.
My friends at Lon. are exceedingly anxious for the letter I gave them some encouragement of your writing. As I am rather weak at present it seems as if I do not fix my mind on that subject enough to write. If you can consistently write a little to sister N.P. I shd be more glad than I can express. Love to your mother, husband & child.
Z. P. G.
Thank you for your letter. A lone call from Mr. Tucker this morning has shortened my time to write. Messrs. Thom & Tucker are very attentive since my lameness [?] as well as Dr. F.