Thomaston June 25th 1849Dear Sarah -
If you recd my last letter you perceive that I knew you were in the sick room & was anxiously waiting to hear from you. I sent Will's letter to Caro to interest you, as I thought it might. I regret your illness especially as it puts you back in your studies. But if you do what you can you can make up lapses by your father's aid in Euclid & Algebra during vacation. Your father you know excels in teaching Mathematics - I advise you not to do your washing this term, as you will not be strong enough for it & I think you ought not to do it in hot weather at any time on account of heating your blood - I would certainly have some sassaparilla immediately if it agrees [sic] with you, & I think it is the best medicine you can have & will do you good especially just now. I know we are straitened just now, & perhaps shall always be, but you must take care of yourself, if you have to spend a few dollars extra. Tell your friends who have kindly nursed you that I feel grateful for all their kindness & care of you, & give them my sincere regards & best wishes. You must see
that youwhat your bills amount to & let us know & pay them as soon as possible. You must be careful about exerting yourself at first as over exertion will put you back & you will be weak for some time. I hope you can ride at first a few times instead of walk for exercise & that you will be excused from domestic duties a little while. Perhaps you can study some & review with the classes, & I hope you will manage to be a middler next year, & not appear to great disadvantage at examinations. They must favor you a little on account of your illness - I wish you had enquired for your doctor's bill when he left you. I dont [sic] know how you manage such things - My baby has been crying ever since I began this letter, I hope she will stop soon. I have her to the girl & she seemed rather cross - She is a dear little baby -I have given up going to Bath - rode over with Mr W. to the boat this morning & saw him off. I was with Miss Spofford an hour before the boat came in sight & gave her Miss Whitman's love - She has gone to the meetings also & several other ladies - They will have a rich treat. I should see [?] you if I could have gone without a baby, but I thought the fatigue would be too great. Perhaps I can have a journey after I wean it.
By the way Carrie is actually engaged to Pond. I don't feel so happy about it as I should if they were both older - He was nineteen last winter - but he got his father's consent & then Carrie's & then ours. I wish it could have been deferred a year or two. But I suppose I ought to be satisfied - He is fond of being with her more than I wish & it takes up their time. He made her walk arm & arm with him Sunday so as to have it understood which I thought quite unnecessary. He is pretty straght [sic] forward & decided & Carrie you know has a will of her own. She really felt annoyed by his taking her arm. This is between us. We all like Pond. He thinks some of being a missionary. But I dont believe he will. I dont think either of them have a constitution to endure much - His family are consumptive & Carrie wilts under fatigue -
I hope your music will be good. I will try & send in the morning & get a list of tunes which he (Mr Blaisdel) promised to make out for you (some glees &c). You mu[st] take anything as qui[e]tly as possible & not attempt too much & get excited & overdo in any respect. I do hope you will get well & be long a comfort to us. You & I seem more like sisters than any thing else. Sometimes I think I make you more of a confidant than any one. Our tastes are more alike - I think Mrs Chapman may be able to attend your examination. She expects to be in Putney or vicinity & if you write her soon in Cambridge & secure a boarding place for her or can let her be with you in the seminary I think she might come. I think Miss Whitman would like her. She is well educated & of good standing & would make no trouble any where, unlike many ladies not half so much a lady. Indeed that is one reason why she is a lady, she is well bred & understanding & unassuming - I have written urging her to go -
Give my love to Miss Whitman & Miss Scott in particular & my many thanks - I write you oftener because you are ill - I have just learned that Mrs Fogg has a pair of twin boys. I am afraid she wont do well - I never knew she was going to have any - Poor thing - I wish my girls would all be contented & happy & useful old maids - I should expect a world of comfort in them then. But I can only advise them - They must choose for themselves -
I dont know what you are going to live on. eggs lightly cooked would be strengthening now - I dont think milk in tea will hurt you at all - your father never takes milk except in tea & coffee, it never agreed with him. dont forget to take sulphur & cream of tartar especially if cholera is around. Sulphur is said to be a prevention & antidote. - which is cooling to the blood.
Your aff mother S.F.W - [Sarah F Woodhull]
Mr Blaisdel cant make out the list till Thursday. - There are forty scholars in all -
[According to FamilySearch.org, Sarah's sister Caroline Woodhull married William C. Pond on Sep 28, 1852. The 1850 census does not show a baby in the family; the youngest child is 3 years old, and is a boy. It makes me think the baby Sarah is nursing in this letter did not thrive.]