Farmington. March. 13. 1848.
Dear Sister Louisa
It is 9 o'clock, good season to commence a letter. I intended to have commenced it early in the evening, that I might finish it tonight, but had an engagement that could not well be neglected. It is a long time since I received your letter, and should have answered it sooner, if Abner and Frances and Ellen had not written of late. I thought you would not hear from home as often the second year, as you did the first, but I don't know but you do. The older members of the school formed a reading circle at the commencement of the term, which meets every Monday evening, we are reading the Queens of England, which I think very interesting, tonight, we finished the first volume. I was exceedingly gratified in reading Frances' letter, to learn that perhaps you would want me next year, I think I should like to go very much. I am studying Euclid, shall be through the third book, in a few days, but I didn't commence it with any idea of going south. As for Botany, I never studied it, but can next summer. I don't expect to attend school, but I can study it alone.
Mr. Hedenberg told me, I might send my likeness this year, and come myself next year. I didn't think I should then, and don't more than half think so now, but I guess I would if I could. You say it is too far from home, and now do you sincerely, honestly and candidly think it best for me to go, that is if I am wanted.
Ellen and I talked the matter over calmly last Saturday. She says she dont [sic] want me to go, for then she wont [sic] have any sister left, Ann is married & Frances little yet. She talks some about being married next fall, I don't hardly think she will, at least don't say anything about it, until you know something more about it; if I go down to your house, I want she and Abner should both be married first, that I may have the pleasure of attending their weddings. But I dont [sic] see much that looks as if either event would take place very soon. Charles Richards and Lucy Ann Hawley were married a fortnight ago, Abner and Harriet stood up. That old Edward Hawley, (what went to see Mary Hatch once upon a Sunday night) was at the wedding, when he went up to salute the bride, instead of kissing her, he tried to kiss the groom, Mr. R. dodged him ever so many times, he finally found it was of no use, and so he kissed Ed, Abner was standing close by., and saw it all, he was ready to burst with laughter, but he made out to keep still, and Harriet said going home, he laughed as loud as you know he does when he is mightily tickled. John Lewis and Elizabeth Bodwell were married a few weeks ago, and I believe those are all the weddings we have had this winter. Ellen Strong Bartlett is going to he--m [sic] next month, Kate Deming in May, and George Lewis' wife, some time or other. Mary has been down to aunt Jane's a week or two, all her Camp babies have been sick. Ellen expected to go to New Hartford last Saturday with John Wadsworth, but did not, the travelling was so bad. She was greatly disappointed of course. Louisa, I will tell you something, if you will believe it, and you may as well for it is a fact; Ellen is less than half a head taller than Frances, I could hardly believe the evidence of my own eyes at first. But it is getting late, I wish you sweet sleep and pleasant dreams, good night.
Wednesday evening. Have just returned from singing school, it is late. but this letter must be finished. Saw Harriet Newell at the singing school, she sent her love to you, and says, you ought to marry the best and richest man in Louisiana; she says I hadn't better go down there, if I do I shall die, and I ought not to throw myself away. I presume if I should really think of going, everybody would tell me just so,
theypeople think more of the danger since Cornelia's death. Sarah Smith sends love.I believe that I have told you already that Sarah Andrews from Waterville boards here; last night, she and I went out to her father's, and spent the night, we walked out and back, a distance of about two miles. Jane Wadsworth boards there she said, she would send some word to you, but I presume she forgot it, she says she is going to write to you some time or other. Sarah S. has just come in from a cold room, she says it is the coldest night we have had this winter, she probably stretched the story some, but it is stinging cold. How did that Hedenberg business end? you must write all about it. Has J M Caughey returned from Ohio? it appears to me I heard that he has, but you have not spoken of him lately. I spent the Sabbath in West Hartford last week, had a good visit of course, for Mr. Brace's is a first rate place. You asked me once why I mittened Fred Butler, but it was easier to decide, than to give reasons for my decision. he wanted to know why himself, but I couldn't tell him, the reason was I didnt fancy him & knew I never could love him, and was not that a sufficient reason? Mother says if you dont like a fellow, you dont and cant, and you cant tell the reason. Mr. John B. Gough is to lecture here next Sunday & Monday evenings, Farmington church will probably be well filled, for they come from all around to hear him. It seems a long time since I have heard from you, because you didn't write any 'sanctum' the last time. I made a sanctum of the whole sheet, for I suppose you dont have anyone to show your letters to now. I am glad for your sake to hear that Eliza Phillips has got home.
I had a letter from John Case a few weeks ago, a real good one too, I dreaded to answer it, for I thought I shouldn't have anything to say, but when I had once commenced I got along well enough, and made out to fill the sheet finally; Nell says she shall not have John writing to all her sisters. Harriet said tonight that Abner had a letter from Cornelia a while ago, it is getting to be sort of fashionable, for brothers & sisters to correspond is not it? You ask if I get acquainted with the 'town folks,' I dont at all except with the scholars, and dont care if I dont, I dont want to, the scholars are very kind & pleasant, and I enjoy myself very well indeed. Little Billy is building a house, I get laughed at occasionally, but not often about it, I believe he is going to have Laura Hamlin, but dont know. The singing business dont get along a bit; they fight like dogs and cats all the time. Mrs Rowe & Mrs Wilcox are sick, Dr Rockwell from Unionville attends them; people say he attends Elizabeth Wadsworth, evenings occasionally, but I dont know how true it is. Eliza Porter has been spending some weeks in Cornwall, I have not seen her since her return, (she is at home now) but Ellen says she is the same "Lies" yet; the thought of being married if she has such a thought does not seem to sober her down any.
Do write very soon & dont forget the sanctum. I have written so much on this page that I have got to put it in an envelope, & Sarah is writing on it.
Emily
[The envelope mentioned is no longer with the letter. The John Gough mentioned at the end of the letter was a well known temperance orator.]