Boston
May
18th,
1850I take this opportunity to perform [sic] you that you are no better than you ought to be. Now I hope you will not take offence at my plainness of speech (or writing) and in the excitement of the moment set yourself to writing to me. O no! Sue let me beg of you not to do any such thing as that. I hope you will not just out of spite inflict upon me the postage & perusal of a letter from you. If you should do such a thing, the most serious consequences might result therefrom. I will not mention any of the consequences that might result from your doing so, because I have no very clear notions on the subject myself; but I must again entreat you if you have any regard for me or love of pumpkin pies not to write me a let her. [sic] I wrote to you I think about 3 mos. ago - I dont think it was longer ago than 3 mos. because my reccollection [sic] dont [sic] extend back farther than that, and I have a distinct reccollection of writing to you - but you was so obliging as not to ansewer [sic], for which you have my sincere thank. [sic] I suppose you consigned the document to the receptacle for all worthless trash.
I suppose you have been rusticating at Wilbraham awhile. Did'nt [sic] seem like days of old to visit among your old Cape Cod neighbors? I dont know that I have anything more to say on that subject. I suppose you hear from Sarah or Ernestine concerning the things that transpire at home, and in Cambridge. If you dont I cant tell you anything for I dont know much about matters & things in that village. I can give you one piece of information however, which may surprise you some, & that is that Mrs James Smith has got a baby - its a fact, but I will add furthermore that it is about ten months or a year old. I could tell you another pieces of knewse, but I suppose I am not at liberty to divulge the secret, or at least the names of the parties, but it is concerning a matrimonial alliance that is supposed will take place in the course of four or six weeks.
I suppose you are aware that a new law passed the legislature the last winter, by which the of [sic] old fashioned way of publishing is dispensed with and all they have to do now is to get a certificate from the city or town clerk & the ceremony can take place in an hour afterwards.
I suppose you'd like to know when I am going to get married. Well Sue I'm going to get married next fall anyhow. I have got about ten dollars & I reckon I can get about as much more in 4 or 5 months, and I guess that will do to begin upon; though it is not quite so much as your friend Mr RIchardson wanted to start with. $60 I believe he wanted[.]
We have a Panorama of the Connecticut River in Boston & I went to see it the other night it gives some very pretty views. One is a view of Mount Holyoke & view from the to[p] of it looking into Hadley & I think is a first rate one natural as life. We have also a Panorama of the Lakes St. Lawrence River Niagara, Saguenay & the country along them, which as a whole I think is the best Panorama we have had in Boston.
We have also had Whipples Dissolving Views, which a person will enjoy much more than seeing any Panorama. They are curious & beautiful. I hav'nt time nor space to describe them.
Mary Jane sends her love to you and wants you to write to her. She is well of course. We intend to go out to Cambridge next Saturday to see the folks &c. Wont you be there also.
Amos & I have had some talk of going on a cruise this summer. Dont know but we shall go up to the White Mountains, & return by the way of Northampton So. Hadley & Springfield. If we should, we should probably be along there about the time your School was out. Let me know if you please when the examination commences. It is quite doubtful however whether we go that route or not, because it will cost so much.
Fearlessly & Firmly I subscribe myself yours till next winter if it dont rain.
Sparrow & I.