[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading. The letter does not include the year in the date, but Oct 26 landed on a Sunday in 1834, 1845, and 1851. According to research on Ancestry.com, the recipient of this letter, Mrs. Dorcas N. Merrick, had two daughters, Dorcas and Flora. If it were written in 1834, Dorcas would be about 12, and Flora about 9. The handwriting on this letter is very sophisticated, and Dorcas passed away in 1849, so I am assuming it was written in 1845, when Dorcas was about 23 and Flora about 20. Since Dorcas is referenced in the third person in the first paragraph, I assume it was written by Flora. The 1845 date can be confirmed by the mention of a murder of a woman in Boston on Sunday Oct 26. That was Maria Bickford, a story that would scandalize Boston over the next year.]Sabbath Night Oct. 26
Dear mother
As Dorcas sent her cold respects to me
yesterdayby a certain gentleman who called upon me yesterday and passed most of the morning, I thought I would not take the trouble to write to her this time. Yes Our Moses came here, I was all in the suds, cleaning my room when Miss Jackson came to me and said that there was a very handsome gentleman in the parlor, who wished to see me. I guessed who it was, but wanted to know sure, so I sent her back to ask his name. I kept him waiting half of an hour, for I had to change my dress fix my hair & he seemed very glad to see me, hung on as ever (plague take these everlasting hangers on) wanted to know where I was going to be this winter[,] took the street and number, and I expect now he will be quite neighborly. [I]t went all over school about my beau, he advised me to take lessons of Webb in singing as well as Piano, it is one dollar a lesson private he says it is high time for me to speak for a place, Miss Holman says that she should rather take lessons on the Piano of Mrs Gordan that boards these Caroline takes of her I dont think she is better than any other lady she asks twelve dollars a term.I have not got my dress out yet, I shall have it out Wednesday cant get it done short of two shillings. I went all over Boston Saturday and could find no one to out it for less. While I think of it, if you or Aunt Mary want a common muslin de lane I can get a very pretty one for 12 1/2 per yard. I want my hood every morning when I walk out I wonder you dont send it to me.
Saturday I dressed me in my silk put on my new shawl thought I would go prepared if anybody should ask me to stay over sabbath went to Mrs Holmans, she told me all about the wedding, but forgot to save me any cake, gave me my bundle that came by Mr Phelps, but never said one word to me about staying over sabbath although I told her it was the day we could go away.
I then went to Mrs Kents, told her I was coming to Mr Phelps meeting the next day, she invited me to come there, so this morning I went with five others to hear Dr Bucker, at noon went down to Mr Kents took dinner after dinner Mr Mills one of their boarders invited me to go to St Parks church with him so accordingly I went I made Ann Amelia go to, I told Mrs K. I would not go with him she said go by all means after meeting he came all the way home with me left Amelia to go home alone, I was much as you please, he was so disagreable [sic] waited upon me to the door, I did not take the trouble to ask him to call I can assure you. The teachers saw him come up to the door with me, Hiram is coming some evening this week. I do not know what they will say to it all.
Tuesday eve. I have staid out of prayer meeting to finish my letter, recited [...] to day, had perfect lessons, only six times more to recite three weeks from thursday school will close. When I was coming home saturday I saw Allen Roe on the walk he was talking with some one and did not see me but I went up and spoke to him, I told him I was not in the habit of speaking to the gentlemen first but I wanted to hear from Stoneham, he said they were all well.
[N]ow I want you to let me know how much you can pay for my board at Mrs Kents, how much for practicing and all, as I have not said anything to her about the price tell me how much you can let me have for fuition for I imagine it is quite expensive. I need to attend more particularly to singing Moses said Roderick old him the singing would be slain now that L and I were both gone, I should not think of singing without a salary!! am going to spend forty cts to morrow for worsted to knit those boots, pay my new bill shall have fifty cts left, I want two or three dollars, I dont like to be here without any mony [sic], I have not enough if I should go away thanksgiving to send me some the first opportunity tell pa to give me a little as you have made quite a mistake and sent me an emancipator I will send it back I should like very much to see the [...].
Last thursday morning I had the toothache so that I could not go into school, it had ached several times before, but now worse than ever; I bore it about [an] hour two of the teachers came to me and [tried] to make me go and have it out, at last I consented, it wa a double one, he did not hurt me but very little so I let him take another it hurt me some more that took fifty cts of my money but I am not sorry to part with those teeth they troubled me so much. I have only two more defective ones, if I had money I would have them out.
Perhaps you have heard of it but a woman was murdered in Boston Sunday night, I have not heard the particulars yet. I do not know how it is with you but, we are having our Indian Summer now we have not so pleat [sic] weather since I have been here you did not so much as send me a note Saturday. I have not heard from Mary Briggs since she went home, she was to write me when she wanted me to visit her, I shall not go without she does if I dont go perhaps I shall go out to Stoneham Thanksgiving, I should like to come home if I had money plenty. So Mrs Clark is really going from W. I wonder who wont go next. I shall stay and see her when I go home, for she asked me to. I suppose we shall have to go back into Granny Burts class, however she is an excellent old lady.
Moses told me that Henry Summer and Eliza Brewer were at the wedding I want to know they will be married perhaps I shall get home before that happens. I do not feel in a hurry about coming home should like to spend the winter here taking music. I would write and ask Pa to put enough with what you have and send me a whole term, if I thought it would me any good I want very much to go through a course of lessons if you have no objections I should like to have my Alpacka dress dyed black O have worn it until it is quite dirty and some spotted, if colored would be a handsome dress.
I wish you would send me a pair of fine white wollen [sic] stockings the first opportunity to wear with my light dresses as I shall p[l]an to wear cotton if you do not
[The letter is unsigned, but probably written by Flora Merrick, Dorcas's younger sister.]