Leeds Point May 27 "50My dear Miss Williams.
Mr Brown and Mr Eells called at the schoolhouse this afternoon, and gave Maria a letter from you. After they had gone we sat down on a bench together, and Maria read it aloud, and you cannot imagine how much good it did us. After working hard all day, it revived our spirits, and I feel ever so much better for it. I never saw Mr Eells till to-day and I do think he is a very fine man, and pleasant too. I must tell you how he introduced himself to Mrs Leeds. He came in and says, "Mr Leeds is not at home is he." "No, sir" says Mrs Leeds "Well, is this Mrs Leeds?" "Yes sir." "Well, my name is Eells; Eellls and Leeds are very much alike aint they?" We sung for him in school, and he says it lifted him right up.
Well, how do you get along? I want to see you real bad, and I think you had ought to go to camp-meeting I have been making great calculations on seeing you then, and a great many others. We want to go up on Saturday if we can, and go to the Landing, but I know of no way to get there unless the Doctor comes after us. Is it not funny that he came down here with Smith gunning. I never was introduced to the Dr till then. I had always heard that he was very bashful, but I thought he did not seem much like it the other night. I should just like to see you, I know.
Was it not unpleasant last Saturday and Sunday[.] It rained very hard, and I have not felt so low since I came from home. Maria was at her boarding-place all the time and I sowed all day Saturday till I got tired and then I went to bed, and stayed till dark. You cannot think how much better I get along now Maria is with me. I have seventy seven scholars in the whole, and it is a very interesting school[.] O, dear! I have got something in my eye and I cannot see to keep on the line. By the way we have had a letter from home. All are well, and Lucy begins to talk about our coming home, but Maria says that she don't think she shall go in the fall. What is it that Maria sees that is so attractive in New Jersey?
I do hope you will go to Camp-meeting? I want to see you, if I don't see any one else. If it don't storm, I think we shall certainly go. It is the Presbyterian meeting here that day, but I think I must go. There is a meeting here to-night to see about raising funds to build a church. I would like to attend very much for I feel deeply interested. Maria will write in here. I hope we shall hear from you often, and wish you would come to the beach, do come. Excuse my writing for I have written in a great hurry. I intend to make the skirt of a dress to-night[.] Remember me to Mrs Endicott, sure, and also to Hester P
If you see Joe and Smith give my best respects.
Your sincere friend.
Mary R. Patrick.Dearest Carrie,
Just as I let out the girls at recess this afternoon, I looked up and who should I see but Mr Brown, at first I was sorry, for as we had a smaller school than common, and as Mary had an errand to do she had just left me to get along alone, but when he came in & pulled out a letter, saying as he did so, I have a letter for you Miss Patrick, all my unpleasant feelings vanished, for I knew that it was from you, dear Carrie, how can I thank you enough for being so kind as to answer that hasty scratch of a letter so soon, and sending such a long, and such a nice one too.
Really, Carrie, I think you are very wise and cunning too, how came you to find out so soon who brought you the letter, but never mind I hope I shall see you by next Sunday, and then, (Sunday) I will perhaps explain all to your satisfaction. I suppose you know already that they did not start for this place, but they had got part way, and happening to think of us, they thought they would come on and see us, but enough of this for the present[.]
I cannot tell how glad I was to hear from my little scholars, and to know to[o] that they were glad to hear from me, and wanted to see me. To tell them that I hope I shall see them all soon, how much I do want to. I did not know that I loved them half as much. Please tell Robert's class how glad I am to hear that they are getting along so well. I hope that by the time that I come to the Landing they will have their new books, so that I can have them read in them. Tell, Mahalie's class, that I want to have them keep account of the No of times that they are at the head of the class, so that I shall find out who is learning the fastest.
How is Seth Herbert, and his class getting alone, they were learning nicely when I left them, I hope that they will all try to remember those little tunes that I learnt them, the little scholars here love to sing dearly[.] They have learnt half a dozen tunes already, I wish you could look in to our schoolroom when we are all assembled there. We have 77 different scholars, average about sixty, those come generally very steady, I like that very much. I have quite a pleasant time boarding around. [?] I find some very pleasant families here indeed I am going to a new place to morrow. I am staying to night with Mary. You asked me if I like Mr Leeds family. I guess I do first-rate, they are such nice people I feel perfectly at home here. Mrs Leeds tells me to come home with Mary whenever I feel like it and not to wait for an invitation. She tells me too that whenever I want anything to come to her just as I would go to my Mother, now is not that kind? I know you would like her she is very lively, (but she is sick just now with the hiccoughs) how terrible that is when one has it hard. I must go and take care of her now.
She has been working hard to day and has got overdone. I feel so sorry for her. I can't do her any good, she says it makes her worse to take anything[.]
I forgot to tell you that Mr Eells came in shortly after Mr Brown. I liked his appearance out of the pulpit as well as I did in. I think he is just the man for the pines. [?] He seems so free and easy in his manners, he seems calculated, to win alike, the respect and the affiction [sic] of the people.
I will send you the money you lent me, by Mr Brown if I do not forget it, and I think I will not. Mrs Pensington [?] got the dresses for us, but instead of getting dark blue, she got a very light blue with a satin stripe. It is quite pretty. I should like it very well, "if I was rich", but as it is, it is not exactly the thing for us.
Really Caroline, did you give my respects to Mr Paige. I was only infun when I wrote that, but never mind. I must say though, that I have a great desire to see the distinguished gentleman. I am so sorry, that I did not get more acquainted with Mr and Mrs Woodhull and Miss Wycoff before I left the Landing, but that cant be helped now can it.
Oh Carrie, I forgot to tell you how our hearts were made glad last Saturday night by a letter from home, it did me good where every thing without, and within too (for it rained so hard that I could not get with Mary) was so dreary, it revived my spirits, and I went to bed quite happy. But was it not dismal enough Sabbath day. Our poor scholars out in the woods had to go without teachers again. I am afraid. I wish every Sunday that I was there, for there [are] more teachers here than scholars. I am intending to join a Bible Class here which Mr Brown is going to teach, that will take off a few of the teachers I hope and help to make some good ones. Which we very much need[.] They are attending a meeting to night to see about raising funds to build a meeting house, which they very much need here we have the schoolhouse full every Sabbath, and more than full too.
I think that you have been very smart indeed since I left to have written nine letters. I am getting deeply involved myself. I am owing four now and do not know when I shall ever find time to write them, but I intend in future to keep up with you if with no one else. Now is not that a good resolution, I wish that I had some of your good books to read. I cant find any anywhere. Carrie you don't know how I want to see you. Do come to the Camp meeting, wont you, perhaps it is wicked to go to Camp meeting, Sunday[.] Do you think it is? I think myself that it is not right to go to see people, but I am so very wicked that I cant help wanting to go and see you, so dont complain of me, it is only because I love you so, you see. It is only Monday night and it seems as if since morning it has two or three days.
Please give my respects to Mrs Pensington, and kiss Willie for me a dozen times he is a good little boy, that is a fact, we have two of Mrs P's nephews in our school. They are pretty but very roguish[.] But I begin to think that my sheet is nearly filled so Carrie, much against my inclination I shall have to stop. Now Carrie, Good night - one kiss - may your slumber be sweet, and please dream of me to night. -
from your ever affectionate, Maria
I did not know that Mary was going to write so much, but she had just as good write [sic] as I, only it seems as if I had not written half as much as I wanted to but never mind, I will soon write again, but you must please to give my love to Mrs Endicott and Hester. I hope that Elisabeth will come home very soon for your sake, then you will have more company[.] And know if you do not go to the Camp meeting will you not write and send my [sic] by some one that is there, or not by Mr Brown when he comes Sunday to preach.