Letter from Rebecca, dated 1862-10-12

that some of the money so liberally spent for the last two years to prosecute so wicked a war could not be devoted to a better purpose; that of educating those who are so desirous to study, & promoting the good of society every way.

Charlie had only been with us a few days when he rec'd an offer from Caleb Paine of Pawtucket to take a vacancy in his Store, which he accepted - altho' he would have prefered Providence, to any other place & a more extensive wholesale establishment, still Caleb is a very nice friend, & is doing a good business, he will be preparing himself for any other more lucrutive situation whenever times are more prosperous. & it is very pleasant to his mother to think he is with a [underline]good friend[/underline] & only a day's sail from her - - it did seem too bad he had to go so soon - as he had but just got home, but Caleb wanted him at once, of course there was no alternative. - I had a very pleasant call to Mary Williams the other day, & how can it be otherwise in such a lovely family, they had a few boarders some were expecting to leave in a few days, & others were coming . [Loire?] & her little family spent the month of August there. Josiah Chase & family are enjoying usual health, Hannah spent one night with us last month, they would send their love if they knew I was writing. I am doubtful if thou wilt consider this letter sufficiently interesting to warrant a continuance of correspondence, but I can assure thee, I shall look forward with no little desire for thy reply, & will trust that the impartial eye of a friend will over look & excuse all errors & accept this from thy truly sincere

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friend Rebecca sister Mary sends her love affect'ly to thee

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Newport 10th Mo 12th '/62.

Dear Friend

I hope this delay in fulfilling my promise to thee will not induce thee to entertain an unfavorable impression respecting the punctuality of thy old pupil of by-gone days, for to the want of that, I assure thee I will not plead guilty, altho' circumstances often deter me from performing all my engagements promptly. The fatiguing duties of Y M'g left me spirit less & little inclined to active employment for some time & during summer, other & various demands engrossed much of my care & attention - besides I was indebted to a number of my correspondants to whom I devoted my leisure moments, & when I assure thee, that during all this time, thou wert often remembered, thou can but be willing to forgive me. We had a good Quartly Meet'g in 8th month, tho' much smaller than any

previous year that I can recollect. M.H. Beede & wife came on 4th day, & returned on 6th day, he was looking better than when here at Y Meet'y, still he is feeble.

Our Summer has been very delightful, the last of 7th Mo & first of 8th for several days we had intensely hot weather, & a pleasant sea breeze from the South, which generally rose as the day declined, was as refreshing to us, as a brook by the wayside in the desert can be to the thirsty traveller. The Autumn so far has been very fine the mornings & evenings truly lovely, many of the latter rendered still more so by the mild sylvery beams of the gentle moon, that shed her mellow light on this lower world.

Yet there are times when the whistling winds, & the fall of "the sere & yellow leaf," remind one of the rapid approach of the winter I so much dread - true there are many fireside comforts, & pleasant home associations to beguile the long winter mo'ths - but aside from all these, it is cheerful too now & then to be able to don our Cloaks & furs & spend a

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social evening with our friends, a pleasure which my health has rarely permitted me to enjoy.

The Summer [blurry] last mo'th. & Charlie [blurry] amination was [blurry] previous years, [blurry] the latter days [blurry] friend who was [blurry] admirbly, & called forth many commendations from the Committee & those sho were present.

I may tell thee this, well knowing thy feeling of interest for the "old" & time-honored institution, & the improvement & advancement of its pupils. Could Charlie have gone one year more, he too would have graduated, but much as his Parents regretted it, they felt that at the present time they could not consistantly do it, & he did not wish them to, altho' to him it was a sacrifice, so much so, he did not know as he could wish to visit the School, see the boys take their accustomed seats & not be one with them - it does seem a pity

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If thou dear friend will send me thy card besitte I would be [underline]so glad[/underline], it would remind me so [underline]pleasantly[/underline] of [underline]old[/underline] times. I have just rec'd a letter from Moses Jewell.