It seems like old times as Susan writes to Edwin, from her recently vacated work place.
Lynn High School January 3, 1867 Thursday. 11 o'clock
My own dear Edwin,
I am sitting in Miss Brown's recitation room hearing her class in Mental Philosophy & meanwhile writing a few lines to you, just to tell you where I am & that I shall not get your letter till tomorrow; & I thought you would perhaps wonder why I did not reply as soon as you supposed I had heard from you. You shall have a letter on Saturday notwithstanding. I have this morning been living over my days in the school-room.
Everything is very pleasant; the sun is shining brightly, the teachers & scholars seemed glad to see me; yet dear Edwin, our "sweet home" & your pleasant company & true friendship have for me a stronger attraction.
I do not do wrong to tell you so; do I? I think it is due you to know it when you have been continually doing so much for my happiness; & when you know I trust you entirely.
I took tea & spent the night at your brother' s on Tuesday & Mary came to Lynn with me yesterday & returned this morning & I shall probably go home tomorrow. I went to Beverly & could not match the ware. What is it best to do?
The scholars have been here & brought to me some of their lunch just as of old. It is pleasant to have friends to love us is it not my beloved Edwin.
Our extension table is only 28 in. high. Excuse great haste & look for a letter on Saturday. With much love, Your own Susie. I want to see you.
Back home, she writes again the following day.Home, Danvers Jan. 4th,1867 6 o'clock Fri. eve.
My dearest Edwin,
While waiting for tea I have come up stairs to write a few lines to you. I returned from Lynn this morning & found your letter awaiting my arrival. Was I not glad to receive it? But I want to see you more & I have been looking forward to next week hoping that Monday will bring with it. Shall I have that pleasure then?
Probably you received a few lines very hastily written at Lynn, just to let you know where I was. I enjoyed my short visit very much, receiving many kindnesses & wishes for our happiness. I often in mind live over those pleasant hours we spent together while I was with you last week & as I was thinking of you tonight, I thought providence permitting, in three week from tonight I should be "getting tea" for you & watching for you to come home. Would you like that? Won't it be pleasant?
I need not tell you I have been busy, since I saw you. I do not forget your caution, dear Edwin, but there are many things which others cannot do for me & which need to be done; but I will try & be as careful as I can.
Charles has come & I must go down to tea & bye & bye will finish my letter.
10 o'clock.
Having finished my evening's sewing I will fulfil my promise of writing to you & you will excuse it if I do not extend my letter very much tonight, will you not? I am sorry you were disappointed in not receiving your promised letter for Monday eve. Your last letter reached Danvers the same day in which you mailed it.
I wish you were here & I would talk faster than I am inclined to write. The fire is nice & comfortable & we would take good care of it.
In a letter from Cousin Martha she says our pastor, Mr. Southgate has resigned, his resignation to take effect in April next. What changes are continually going on?
Julia still enjoys her kitty & tends her & rocks her as she would a little child. I think she was quite frightened by being confined so long in the basket & is just recovering from it.
I would like to give you patterns of those dresses & will try to remember to enclose them in this letter. I hope your sister will like them. I am pleased to hear that she is better. Give my love to her & ask her to hasten her recovery as much as possible. I noticed in this evening's journal the marriage of some West Acton people, probably those to whom you refer. Tell the people to have a little patience & we will gratify them when we are ready. I wish I could come in & make the bed for you, for I think you are too weary when night comes to do it yourself. Sometime I will, you will not have it to do many times more.
Have you arranged business matters to your mind? & are you all ready for 1867? I thought of you while employed on Tuesday.
We shall be happy to see your sister Lizzie & family & I hope they will be able to be here.