[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]January 14th 1850
Dear Friend
We received your highly prized and long-expected letter of Dec. 16th a few days after date, & I need not say perused it with the deepest interest: In answer to your kind inquiries, regarding my health, I am happy to say, that I am better, than when you was [sic] here, & would thank you, for the kind interest in evince in my welfare, & hope that it may ever be thus. It is communion to-day with us the ordinance, having been deferred, on account of Mr Reid's ill health, & he is not able I suppose to be in attendance
to-day[.]Sarah Luce, the young lady, who attended school with you at Hadley [she must have meant Martha Luce], is to unite with the people of God
to-dayhaving given apparently good evidence of a change: She reggretted [sic] very much, not having seen you, when she heard you had been here; O! what precious privileges we enjoy, in being allowed the ordinance and preaching of God's word, & how ardently I should prize, as I trust the pleasure of mingling with those, "who go up to the house of the Lord," I can realize now the language, & feelings of David when he exclaimed, "My soul thirsteth; yea longtheth; [sic] for the courts of the Lord, for the tabernacle of the God of Jacob."How beautifully how eloquently, does the sweet Psalmist of Israel describe the delight, which he experienced, in the ordinances of the house of prayer, & the luxury of - meditating, of the goodness, & mercy, & holding communion with his Savior, whom in his glowing & inemitable [sic] language, he so justly styles, "The Redeemer! & holy One of Israel" & declares, that he was all, & in all, there being none, in heaven, but thee, or on earth beside thee, filling all the universe with tokens of his matchless power, & God head, Truly man might well be dumb while contemplating such a theme, for he is indeed nothing, & less than nothing.
But if David, was so impressed with the love of God, while contemplating the displays of his mercy to his ancient, & covenant people methinks the Christian, has double cause for wonder, and gratitude, & adoring love, for he has a crucified, & bleeding Saviour, to contemplate his - humanity, & sufferings, to ponder upon, his words, & miracles, to read, & to cherish while he reads th:well [sic] might, the devoted, Apostle of the Gentiles, exclaim, while musing on that exhaustless theme, who can comprehend: "the height, or depth, the length, & breadth of the wishes, & goodness of God." well may sinful man be "lost in wonder, love, and praise."
I commenced this letter, three weeks since, but I have not felt able, to write or I should have finished it before, I am usually tolerably comfortable, altho I suffer, acute pain in my side, & back. I think the cold weather agrees with me, as well as mild, & better, than ever before, that is I am not - suffering, with a cough, as has usually been the case, during cold weather. I have been thus particular, in describing my health, dear Carrie, because you requested it. The children are all well. Willie, & Sarah, & Eunice, are attending school, a very good one we think. Maria says that she is going to write to Miss Williams when she gets old enough. Mother says, tell Caroline, that we shall never forget her, & that, she will always be warmly & gladly welcomed here.
I hope, that you will always write, as often as possible, you do not know, how much good, your letters do me, when I received your last, I was feeling sad and very much depressed, but your kind letter, dispersed the clouds & restored my wonted cheerfulness, so you see dear Sister, how weak, & foolish, your Alma is sometimes, and so little real cause for despondency, too. it [sic] is wrong, I feel, that it is, in one who is the recipient, of inumerable [sic], and undeserved mercies. I often think when alone, in my room, how delightful it would be, if you could step in, & pass a few of the hours away - which often seem so long, & tedious.
I cannot relinquish dearest, the hope, I might say expectation, of seeing you, before you return home, think Carrie, of the long distance, which would then seperate [sic] & altho no distance, time, or place, can prevent the mind, from flying to loved ones, or scenes, yet it is pleasant, very pleasant, to enjoy the society of dear friends, & if you can do so, consistently with duty, do come, & spend as long a time as you can with us, before you go home, for I fear, your friends would not spare you, to come again (indeed I would not, if I were they) & in that case, I fear, that it would be long, ere we should meet again, but if I ever visit Ohio, & Carrie Williams is there, I shall see her, as I tell our people, if she is to be found, I often wish that I could step in your little school, or room, & pass a few hours in sweet converse.
I think if we lived, where we could see each other, we might pass many happy seasons together: I sincerely feel, with you, when I think, how much you must miss, the cultivated, & refined society, to which you have ever been accustomed: I think that you must prize, very highly the good society you have, & doubtless, those young clergymen enjoy, Miss Williams company, it is not so, dear Carrie? tell me all about it, dearest: Willie says, give my love, & tell her, that I should like to see her, & Sarah says the same.
Willie, in looking at a number of engravings, the other evening, saw one, he thought looked like you I pointed out a centre piece, remarking I thought, that the finest, yes, he said, it was very pretty: but again selecting, the former one, he said that, was the only one he cared for, because it looked like, Caroline: so you see, that you are fondly loved and remembered by all: I hope that you will excuse, this soiled sheet, & poor writing as it was all I had, when I commenced, & I do not feel well enough, to copy it, writing makes my side ache, so hard: Maria says, tell Miss Williams, I should, be very happy, to see her but I guess you will think, Alma has written long enough, & I must close, as Father wishes to write: do answer this as soon as you can, all send love: & wish to hear from you often, Mother sends her best love & says she hopes, that we shall have an opportunity of seeing you soon.
Aff Your's Alma I Hutchinson.
PS I spent yesterday February third at Grandfathers with Mother and I need not say enjoyed it very much it is the first time I have rode since you were here I was not as much fatigued riding down as I expected altho before I came home at night & for a while after I was so very tired that I hardly knew what to do with myself to-day I feel very much wearied & my back is so lame I can hardly stand erect without pain yet I do not think it will hurt me in the end I hope not I was so happy there Grandmother is feeble I forgot to mention that Mary Gifford is married to a Mr Race[.] She left home without her Mothers knowledge & returned a bride I hope that she will do well she spends the winter with her husband at her Mother's.
Alma
[Handwriting changes to Alma's father's writing.]
Sabbath Eve Feb 3rd 1850
Very much Esteemed Friend
As Alma has left one page of her sheet unoccupied I feel desirious [sic] of using it to reply to your very interesting & equally acceptable letter last received[.] It would be needless for me to say to you that I feel myself disqualified to write anything calculated particularly to interest you - but you will allow me to say that since we were favored with an acquaintance with you - you have here friends who cannot but take a deep interest in whatever pertains to your condition & duties in which you are engaged[.]
Gladly could it be so would we spend an evening with you probably somewhat prolong the call but since this privilege cannot at present be enjoyed I would embrace the only method of communication a few thots[.] It was announced to-day that the funeral of Mrs Caroline Parks (formerly Jewell) would be attended too-morrow [sic] She has suffered very much for about a year past some months since her disease indicated consumption & for some time, there was no doubt that she was approaching that fatal termination of life[.] She was thought to have seriously impaired her health while at Mt Holyoke but although she there suffered in her physical health if I mistake not it was there that she hopefully embraced that Saviour whose grace was found so efficacious to impact consolation & sustain the soul when overwhelmed with earthly sufferings & trials[.]
Her mind was calm & composed her trust in her Saviour firm & confiding & no cloud seemed to overshadow her setting sun[.] I mention the above case as affording another illustration & proof of the faithfulness of that gracious Being who has said "my grace is sufficient for thee" & "Though I pass through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil thy rod & thy staff they comfort me."
I trust Dear Friend you find peace & enjoyment in discharging your daily duties to the rising generation remembering the old maxim so full of truth "as the twig is bent the tree is inclined" May you be directed in duty & in all your labors for their good designed to affect their present & future good[.] I need not assure you of an affectionate remembrance from us all[.] Be very particular in letting us know how you get along in your school & how you enjoy yourself. Please excuse both composition & writing
M Hutchinson