[Though the letter does not have a year on it, March 15 was on a Saturday in 1845.]Boston Saturday eveng [sic] March 15.
My dear daughter,
It is so long since I have written to you that I hardly know at what point to begin to give you a connected history of family matters. - for my own part I have been unusually busy (altho it is not the most busy season for our business[)] - but I have had persons here from abroad concerned with me in operations in the upper countries that have occupied my time so that till now I have not seen the time I could set down & think about Jane - I sent my last letter I think by mail the same day we started for Hartford and as we rode by the depo [sic] where you alight, I wished there was a way to get to you that would cost no time. I trust there will be some new invention soon by which we can travel in less than no time to any place we will to go - when that goes into operation what travellers [sic] we shall be - It was on Tuesday that we went up I had one day at Hartford - it poured down all day so that I scarcely went out at all, but enjoyed a good talk with your grandm [sic] & aunt Martha - your mother staid till Saturday & then returned with M Mrs Adams - on my say home on Thurday [sic] I met M O Dutton at Springfield fresh from S Hadley & heard by him of your good estate & took some letters to Boston - your aunt Elizabeth came down the day we left for Hartford & was the superintender [sic] in our absence, all the boys behaved like gentlemen - she is yet here & we hope will continue some time - she has been to day to see Mrs Danforth who had a fall about a week ago - dislocated her ancle [sic], & fractured a bone & has been in much pain since - but is getting better but has to lie in bed -
We had a very pleasant party at M Steels this week, there were about 50 present - Mary has been quite ill - not been out for nine weeks scarcely any & is obliged to give up her class in the Sabbath School[.] Charles & Alicia came in to the party but Marshall & Rebecca were not there - Charles is busy minister hunting & was off yesterday to Hopkinton to argue the case with M Haven to whom they have extended a call - our friends don't like the idea of losing M Haven he would no doubt make a capital minister for Brookline -
don't [sic] you think instead of tearing down the old asylum opposite our house & putting up a block of handsome houses - they are going to put it into say 20 tenements & then build right in front of our house a block of houses to [...] with Mrs Battermans - so that we may have the pleasure of say 40 irish [sic] families and a few paddy companions for our boys - a fine prospect truly - I could weep, but that is of no use - so I hired a man with a barrow to get me 20-30 [?] loads of of [sic] the loom for the front yard to nourish & improve our extensive assortment of plants - they are already excavating for the footers -
I perceive by your letter to Charles, (which by the by was a bright thought, I hope you will write him & Marshall too, often - it will be of advantage to you) that you have decided to add a year to your pilgrimage at South Hadley. I think you have done wisely - but I wanted you should act for yourself and according to your own judgment. I think it will be for your future good - it is a sacrifice to me to loose [sic] so much of your society & I could not consent to it did I not fully believe that in the formation of your character for future usefulness you be greatly benefited - these little boys around me & you my only daughter are the objects of my affection - to promote your happiness is the dearest object of my life - for this & for my Savior I desire to consecrate the few remaining days I may be permitted to live in the world - Tomorrow is the rest of the Holy Sabbath - how blessed to enjoy it, unmolested & in a christian land - think how many have no such privilege - & what responsibility is upon us to improve them. we [sic] ought to be emminent [?] for a devotion to church & his cause.
Your mother has retired with a sore throat - and I grow sleepy - good night - the boys have all got better for you ready for a private opportunity -
Affectionately
Charles Scudder[The letter has some notes in pencil on the folds of the address side that are not in Charles' handwriting. They are difficult to read but appear to be related to a sermon or religious teaching on Psalms 147.7 "Shout to the Lord with thanks; sing praises to our God with a lyre."]