So Glastenbury [sic] July 15th 1842My dear cousin,
Many thanks for your letter, did I not know from experience that you were indeed very busy, I should be almost inclined to scold you for not writing sooner - but your excuse is a good one. I sometimes thought that mine to you had not been received in which case I imagined you pursuing your journey "unaided and alone." I suppose you are already counting the days and weeks that defer you from happiness and freedom - if you are not, I am, for I anticipate very much pleasure. We all think that you had better come here and spend the Sabbath and be ready for a Monday morning start. I have been consulting my Father this evening upon the best way for us to go - he thinks that we had better take the cars for Albany at Springfield - and if you think that so short a visit here will hardly pay you for your trouble of coming I will meet you in Springfield in time to take the afternoon train, I would like very much to visit Albany and I think we must go , a part of the journey in the cars for the sake of variety - however I think you had better come down here on Friday. I wish you could contrive to be in Hartford on Thursday you know that is Commencement day and some of us will probably be there - but if we can we will try to meet you there on Friday if not you can come down in the stage coach which runs regularly every day from Hartford to Portland via South Glastenbury[.] I am very much obliged to your friend for her kind invitation to spend the Sabbath with her, (if it included me) I should like it right well, if the stage passed on Monday but I think as it is, will be most too long a visit for a stranger. George proposed that you should go on and have me meet you in Catskill but I assure that would not suit me, for "where thou goest I will go." if possible.
I am happy to hear that you spent the Fourth so pleasantly - as for me I was obliged to remain at home being at that time very unwell. I have been afflicted for several weeks with the hooping [sic] cough, it is very distressing I am much better now though not well yet, think any journey to Candor will be very beneficial[.] Emily and Ellen have had the same complaint.
Last week I took a ride to Gilead, found friends usually well. Eliza has a fine nice fat baby, a daughter. I regret that we could not have visited her while you were here[.]
Saturday Morning. I am this morning seated in the counting room of the store. I am merchandizing. Wm and John are in Gilead & Capt Post has rode out past a few miles. I make a very profitable clerk. I should like to have you come in and trade. - I should like much to have formed one of your party to the mountain but should much rather have not, seen those "serpents"[.]
George received a letter from Laura a few days since - friends all well she has written me once since she reached home. They had a fine time going home, right pleasant weather. I hope we may have the same. You say the company of Mr O.B would be very agreeable, I do not think we shall be so favored - we must go beauless, should you not think he would be afraid to trust us. He is not a very devoted lover is he! Never mind. On the whole I think you had better come down here on Friday, as it might storm on Monday and then I should be completely "knocked in the head." to use a vulgar expression. I should not know whether you would be in Springfield or not. Grandmother Hollister has been quite sick, she is very nervous, is getting better now. Mrs Rhodes is as ugly as ever.
Aunt M. is well, she says she wants you to come here to see her oliander. [sic] I want you to come to see my ear-drop. Do we offer sufficient inducement?
Well by this time I know you are tired of my nonsense and as the Captain has returned, I hasten to subscribe myself
Your very affectionate cousin Martha
[The mention of Grandmother Hollister suggests that Martha is a cousin on Nancy's mother's side of the family, since Nancy's mother's maiden name was Electah Hollister. Electah's mother, Mary Welles Hollister, died in 1838, so she is not "Grandmother Hollister." Electah's father, John Hollister, had several siblings; perhaps one of them, or the wife of one of them, is "Grandmother Hollister." I was not able to located a Martha in any of John's sibling's offspring, but I did note that Electa's mother has a sister named Martha Welles Hale. This Martha passed away in 1837, so she is not the letter writer. Perhaps one of her downline is the letter writer.]