Susan writes to Edwin at week's end.
Lynn, Sept. 28th 1866 Friday P.M.
My dear Friend.
On returning from school this noon I was happy to find your letter; you were very kind to answer so promptly. I felt sure the evening mail would bring it, but hardly hoped to find it waiting for me. And I will begin a reply now fearing something may prevent my writing tonight. Mr. Hills & wife with his brother & wife, are visiting here. He and Eddie have gone to the beach. Have they not a fine day? I am reminded of some of the pleasant rides we have had there & hope they will enjoy theirs as much.
This is one of those lovely autumn days which ought to bring happiness to everyone. I can hardly feel contented to stay in the house but wish to be out among the beauties of nature & after writing to you think I will go out for a short walk.
You remember we were not to make the weather a condition of our going to Gravesend & so at one o'clock Miss Brown & I took the omnibus for that place. We enjoyed our visit very much & came home in the evening in that pouring rain. We rode, of course, but the conveyance was covered at the top but without sides & so we were not quite so nicely protected as I was in riding from Danvers; but I can assure you we had a merry ride. Yesterday I spent the afternoon at "at home" & returned this morning; not for pleasure alone but an errand called me there.Gravesend, which Susan often mentions, was a section of Lynn, Mass. Before being employed to teach at the high school, Miss Smith taught primary classes there. The area was named after Samuel Graves who settled in 1630. Nearby was well known Floating Bridge. It was an aptly named span that crossed a pond, thought by some to be "bottomless." The pontoon and plank bridge, after years of replacement layers, would sink to water level when a heavy load was transported across the span. The bridge remained in place, frightening travelers and amusing children until 1926.
When I tell you that I also received a letter from Mary, you will conclude that I am not forgotten by them. In reply to my question on meeting her, with you on Monday, she says I never came into the house when she was not glad to see me, but when I come as then, a feeling comes over her which she cannot describe; for which she is holding you responsible. I don't see, but you are getting into difficulty.Susan's sister-in-law Mary senses the two ladies may be soon parted.
I did not take cold on Tuesday, & still think a ride in the rain (if one is well protected) is by no means unpleasant. And do we not enjoy the sunshine the more after the storm? The rough, uphill places of life, are not always to be shunned for it seems to me that if we may go through them with kind and sympathizing friends, good , & even happiness may come to us from them. Have we not learned that it is the contented mind that has real enjoyment?
Evening. 9.25 o'clock.
I went out for my walk & found nature in her most attractive mood;& I wished that you could have been with me & seen the same beauties. Did you notice the fine sunset & the appearance of the evening stars? I do enjoy these autumn days so much, & I know you like them too.
I mailed a paper to you when in Danvers & you will see that the committee have given us a little vacation in October; I think I told you. The arrangements are nearly completed for heating my room; & next week I hope to have a fire; that is if it is cold & if it is not, I may, just to see how it will seem. I think your tintypes are superior to anything you have had in that line. It seems to me that it could not be better. Did you have them taken on Tremont St.?
I am glad you were not the man who was too late for the cars; & also to hear that you reached home safely. I thought of you many times on that rainy day. Did you see fine paintings into William's & Everett's?
I did not give Mr. Topliff any encouragement that I would go to Weston for I think he wanted a male teacher. But supposing he had wanted a lady teacher would you not have liked me to go?
Tomorrow measures off another week, even the fourth of the term, & I shall turn towards home. I thank you for your kind wish concerning my love for "home." I do not blame you, dear friend, for any of your wishes, but I trust if the location of my home is ever changed, & through your instrumentality, it will be to make yours a pleasanter one. You know when I shall look for a letter. Shall I hear from you soon? And now with thanks for the little rosebud & many kind wishes I must say good night.
With much love I am ever aff. Yours
Susan
Edwin spends a Sunday evening in his usual way, writing.
Acton, Mass Sunday Eve Sept. 30, 1866
My dear Friend.
Sabbath evening has come again and with it the pleasure of answering your interesting letter received last evening and which was read very soon after the arrival of the mail and has also been read more than once since and it shall not be my fault if you do not receive an answer tomorrow. What a warm summer day we have had and this evening it is also very pleasant, I can hardly realize that it is the last day of September. I made a very pretty bouquet for the church today and you know what I would like to do with it if not prevented by the distance between us. I suppose I shall have but one more to make judging from the past year as I see by looking over my diary that the frost made its appearance the 14th of October, as a birthday present I suppose - but this year I shall be very glad to have the day pass without such a visitor.
I enjoy such weather as we are now having very much and often think of the pleasant rides we have had together, most of which have been in pleasant weather, and when I think of the distance that prevents their being oftener repeated do you wonder that a feeling of loneliness comes over me? I hope it will not always be so and this hope makes the hours and days pass quickly away.
My brother and family returned last evening, riding from Lowell after tea. They had three very fine days but had rather a dark ride home. They took dinner with me today as usual. Brother John goes to Boston Tuesday and will attend the County Convention at Charlestown and also go to hear Mr. Groug the evening. I see by the paper you sent you are to have an opportunity to hear him at Lynn which of course you will improve.They are discussing John B. Grough, a notable temperance speaker of the time. During this period, lecturing was a prime entertainment and Grough was one of the most popular. Some called him the first national celebrity. His dynamic presentations stirred passions and he was most successful in converting his audience to "take the pledge." One Ohio city noted twenty-six hundred were saved at a single meeting. Much of the content of his addresses were spiced with past personal failings which unfortunately repeated themselves from time to time over his long career.
Father attends the Temperance Convention to be held in Boston Wednesday and Thursday. He has been anticipating much pleasure in attending and I hope he will realize all his anticipations. I would like to meet you this week but think I shall hardly be able to do so before next week and if agreeable to you will defer my visit till your vacation unless you have other plans and would prefer to see me at some other time.
It seems a long time and was it not for the hope of hearing from you often by mail before and a better opportunity of seeing you at that time I should not wish to lengthen the space between our meeting. I hope you will feel at liberty to change my plans to conform to your wishes if you would prefer to meet me at Lynn as usual.
I was glad to learn of your pleasant visit to Gravesend notwithstanding the rain. I took up some of my house plants last week and am hoping to have a place to put them before long and then you know I shall want someone to help take care of them and enjoy them with me. Do you know of any one in Lynn or Danvers that will accept of such a service?
I am very sorry that my visits to Danvers should be the cause of any unpleasant feelings but I am not surprised that it should be so. Tell your sister that I ask her pardon, but cannot promise not to do so again. And dear Susie you do not wish me to get out of the "difficulty" by making such a promise, do you? It would be unpleasant to think that she really wished me to stay away. To avoid such feelings perhaps you can console her by telling her that what is her loss is to be my gain and I hope you will find it yours also.
My tintype I had taken at 27 Tremont row and if in want of any goods of that kind perhaps you will do well to try the same artist.
I remember the beautiful sunset of Friday evening and thought of friends away looking at the same beautiful scene. Did you notice the fine appearance of the sky this P.M.? It seems to me I never saw such a splendid sight.
I suppose you have attended church today and enjoyed the day as usual. I often think of the blessing of the Sabbath and wonder how anyone can neglect and trample on it.
I think I have written enough to answer your inquiries in regard to your supposition of the school in Weston. And now dear friend I must close and I hope you will excuse me if I have written too much and spoken too freely but if you will punish me in the same way we will call it square and commence again. With much love I will now bid you good night and hoping to hear from you soon, Wednesday if not before, I remain very affectionately yours.
Edwin
Both utilize Sunday as a letter writing day. Once again, Susan describes an idyllic scene from her brother's home where she lodges.
Danversport, Sept. 30th '66 Sabbath afternoon
My dear friend.
I have but just returned from church & am sitting as I love to sit by my window which looks out on the water. The tide is now high & the smooth blue surface is only ruffled by its own inhabitants & the large schooner which is passing by to the wharf. This is a lovely afternoon & I wish you were here to enjoy the beauty but I dare say you find as much pleasure in the flowers of your garden as I do in this view before me. Not feeling quite like taking a long walk today I spent the morning at home & this afternoon attended the Baptist church & heard Mr. Carruthers preach the same sermon which I heard him preach at the plains last Sabbath morning. I was not particularly pleased with it then & did not much care to hear it repeated.
Sister Mary has not been at all well today, having severe headache & inclination to cholera morbus, & I have played the part of nurse. She is better tonight. When I commenced to write I felt just like talking with you & I would much rather do it than write, but I am afraid my thoughts are not such as are best to be put on paper, on Sunday. I presume you have attended church all day & I hope have had good preaching. I do not feel as if I had received much good today, but I suppose it is owing to my own wicked heart which has not been susceptible to good impressions.
Lynn, Tuesday afternoon.
I began my letter as you see at home & thought I would not finish it till I had received yours. Last evening I felt sure a letter was in the office for me; Mr. Hills is very kind to go for me & get any mail (it is so dark now at half past seven that I do not like to be out alone at that time) & he went last night but was too late to find the office open. I felt real disappointed, but remembered how pleasant it is to return from school & find your letter waiting for me, & I tried to forget the disappointment in anticipation of today.
On coming home there was a letter & a paper containing the sweetest little rosebuds, which I have now in a glass of water on the window beside me. They are beautiful in their form, in their delicately shaded colors & their perfume. I thank you for your long, kind letter; it seemed next to seeing you which I should enjoy doing this lovely afternoon, but as a substitute I will talk with you through means of pen & paper.
This morning on going into my recitation room I found it warm & nice, from a fire in the new furnace put in expressly for that room. Did not I enjoy it? Now I am independent in that line.
I think I must have enjoyed the same beautiful view of the sky, which you did in Acton & probably at the time to which you refer I was writing to you. These rich clouds & sunsets are truly magnificent & I hope they will not be all gone when you come to Danvers; so that you may see the beauty which the water adds to the picture. I think it has been said that "one may be lonely in the midst of company," which judging from my own experience is not wholly untrue & so I do not think it strange that others may have the same feeling.
Mary had quite recovered when I left home on Monday, perhaps careful nursing may have been the reason.
Charles was to go to Ipswich today & return tomorrow and Mary tried to induce me to come home, but I thought it best not to do so. I do not know as I better try to make any reconciliation between you, I might become myself entangled & I think she would rather settle with you. I think she will extend her pardoning favor to you, & if she should not I will intercede, for I have learned to regard you as too dear a friend to wish you to make "that promise" as a way of escape.
She is an unselfish sister, but we have been much together since my brother's marriage & my dear mother committed me to her keeping when she died & you can imagine the strength of our attachment.
I shall be happy to see you next week; it would be pleasant to meet you before, but shall feel more at liberty to enjoy your visit, being free from school labor, if you come during the short vacation. I presume I shall attend the convention at Boston on Thursday afternoon, as it is expected that we go to some part of the time & then the rest of the time I shall have at home to see you. I hope you will be successful in removing your plants & in finding someone to enjoy them with you. Would you like to have me make inquiries for you?
I hope to hear Gough next week. I shall hope for a letter very soon. When shall I have one? Do you not think I had better not write any more at this time? Hoping to hear from you soon, dear Edwin, with much love I bid you good night & remain yours aff.
SusanWednesday, 7 o'clock A.M. Another nice morning.
I hope your father will enjoy his trip to Boston. I suppose you will be left quite alone, but trust the day will not pass unpleasantly.
Good bye, Susan
Life continues as usual with no reference as yet to future plans. The devil is in the details.