Austinburg [Ohio] May 15 1849My Dear Caroline
I thought perhaps I should not write again you was to return so soon, but you have been on my mind so much since I heard of the death of Miss Lyons [sic]; that I cannot be content without hearing from you, & I fear you will not write unless you hear from me first. - - - Miss Lyons stood so high in public estimation, that her death was considered a public calamity by those best acquainted with her worth. Her course had gained the approbation of the pious & judicius [sic] universally I believe, & her experience & matured judgment had secured her that confidence, which another could not expect to pop up at once - Miss Lyons system seemed so well adapted to form what should be American female character, that we had expectations of much good from her influence - - The successor of Miss Lyons has been with you I believe before her appointment.
I expect to visit at Jefferson during the summer - in a few weeks I think - I have a cousin there - lately come in. Mr Kellogg of Monroe her husband Abner Kellogg is clerk of the court of Common Pleas - I think much of having her so near me, & when you return, I may sometimes meet you there.
Austinburg seems more interesting to me than ever this summer - Our minister is a Mr Allen. He is much liked by some - some think that his thoughts are not in proportion to his words in weight I mean - His stile [sic] is polished studied -
with& this seems to be his chief ambition - He has had an excellent education or opportunities with one of the oldest families in Albany - & has been familliar [sic] with its fashionable circles."Mary" teaches our school again this summer I hardly saw her last winter & I suppose I shall not through the summer. Susan Pierce is not well. Has been obliged to give up work for a time - I have not seen her for a long time - - - You know I was expecting my niece in the spring - but she did not return with Mr Whiting as we expected. I know not why, but I was bitterly disappointed. I suppose however that she waits a while for the finishing of her brothers house - He has bought a new place near the centre & is repairing the house.
There has been something of a change in the situation of some of your acquainances [sic] of late - James & Lura They are now members of our family. They had a fine little daughter last winter. She lived to be two months old when she was taken with the whooping cough - She strugled [sic] many days with it but at last was overpowered poor thing she suffered dreadfully - James concluded soon after her death to go on to the water & to break up house keeping - Lura brought her furniture here & was to board with us part of the summer & visit some - But James was disappointed in the place he expected & returned hired out to Thomas - Lura has bought a piece of land in Saybrook, twenty acres - I suppose they expect to go on to it to live -
The family here send love to you - I asked Isabella what I should say to you from her - "Tell her I wish I was there, but I live in Cheesedom" - Do you know this regoin [sic] of country is called by that name - They have thirty cows here this summer - I did not intend to inflict such a long letter upon you - I merely meant to draw a letter from you for indeed I did desire to know how you bore the death of your friend. Write soon I entreat - adieu dearest.
Sarah Austin
Lura is absent, but James send[s] regards