[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading.]Humphreysville Feb. 2th [sic] 1849
Dear Cousin.
Your kind letter dated Nov 30th was duly received, and should have been answered long ere this, but uncontrollable circumstances have so long detained me from doing that which is not only a duty, but a pleasure. When I received your epistle, I was very busily engaged, it bing [sic] about the last of the quater [sic] of my school. I had but one week vacation, was away from home most of the time - resolved to write as soon as I became again settled in my school, but at that time I was troubled so much with the Rheumatism in my wrist, that I was for some weeks wholly unable to guide the pen atall. [sic] I have not entirely recovered my strength in my hand yet, but will endeavor to write at all events.
Let me assure you, my friend, that the perusal of an epistle from you gave me unexpected pleasure. There had a long time elapsed since I had heard from any of my Ohio Friends, and your letter came as a messenger to revive old friendship, which had apparently long slept, but had not been forgotten at least by me, for I have often thought of the hours which I have so pleasantly passed in thier [sic] society, and have many times almost resolved to write to some one of them, and as many times have been detained from it, but I trust for the future that I shall have the pleasure of adding your name to my catalogue of corespondents [sic], as also that of your Sister Cornelia. Will you please favor me with her address It is indeed joyful news which you have received from her O that I could hear the same from all my dear young acquaintances.
I too humbly hope that I have recently met with a change of heart I have become convinced that the vanities of this world are not to be trusted and that to be happy, our affections must be placed upon a higher object and I have resolved, that by the Help of my Heavenly Father, I will renounced the world, and take up the cross and follow Christ, and Cousin I know that you love the Savior, and I feel that I need your prayers that I may be enabled to press forward, and do my whole duty, and may I have them. I am now very pleasantly situated as a teacher of a select school have eighteen scholars.. [sic] my present quater [sic] closes the second week in April. I shall then probably leave teaching for a while at last. I intended to have closed my school, and returned home last fall, but Sister was anxious to have me remain here through the winter, and I thought it would be pleasanter to travel home in the spring, - therefore concluded to do so.
My anticipations of pleasure in teaching have been fully realized - and the longer I teach the more fond, I become of it. I received a letter from Brother Chester a few days since, he wrote that he had a few days before sent you a letter he seemed to be enjoying himself as well as he could do away from home, and among entire strangers. My friends at Erie, and Pittsburg, were all well, the last I heard from them, which was date one week ago. Mother and Sister Emma intend visiting Conn. next summer I anticipate much pleasure in meeting them here, but I may be disapointed. [sic]
I conclude that you must be very happy in attending such an excellent school as the "Mount Holyoke Seminary" There is not one that ranks higher, in the New England States. I would like an account of the principl[e] rules, by which the school is governed, if it would not be to[o] much trouble for you to give them. It is not impossible that I shall attend that school some day.
Mr. Mrs Steele and Family are in the enjoyment of thier [sic] usual good health. Mr Steele's business calls him from home most of the time. He thinks some of moving his family to Derby in the spring. He has a Lumber Yard established there, and one in New Haven. Mr D. Forrest (his Partner) stays in New Haven, and he spends most of the time in Derby. We have two Young Gentleman Bourders. [sic] They are fine young men one of them is very pios [sic] and we enjoy his society much. We have had three or four weeks of excellent sleighing this winter, and it is now snowing finely.
I have written this letter with my scholars around me, and [occa]sionaly [sic] asking me questions, therefore I hope you [will pardon] all mistakes, should
keep it andlook it over, but it is now ten moments of 9 o'clock, and I have resolved that a Letter shall leave Humphreysville. Directed to you, by me this morning, and my duty to my school obliges me to close this scrawl rather hastily. Please give my Love to Miss Luce. Now Cousin do not, if you can avoid it delay answering this letter, so long as I did yours. I feel myself that it is almost an unpardonable length of time that I have been detained from writting [sic] to you but I shall trust to your kind disposition, to excuse me this time and with a promise to do better in future I will subscribe myself.Yours in Love and Freindship [sic]
Louisa Jones.