Susan B. Anthony Papers, 1815-1961. Correspondence. With family, also cousin and niece, 1847-1848. 19 ALS, 1 fragment.. A-143, folder 13. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

Canajoharie Jan 25, 1841

Dear Parents, Brothers & Sister.

It is now Monday evening, my time, this Term has been occupied more than ever with school matters. Mr. Hagar has 50 pupils in his departments and I about 30 in mine, making in all 80 which is a greater number than there has been for a long time.

The girl has gone to get a dress cut, Margaret to prayer meeting & I am officiating as care taker of Mary and Albert, Theodore has been over the river for about a week.

I am enjoying myself very highly, that is I do not find time to repine at my fate. I was very much edified while perusing D. R.'s lengthy and well executed letter. It affords me much pleasure to see so great an improvement in the art of detailing passing events. I think nothing looses the tongue and causes the words to run off the point of the pen, like being separated from friends and far away from the loved spot. I regret that mother is so afflicted with the Phthisic this winter. If that bedroom is damp as it was last winter, move down a French bedsted into the back parlor. I expect to come home in the spring and I do not wish to see my mother all drawed over, and face full of wrinkles, for want of wholesome air. I hardly dare think of the joy of again meeting you all, and chatting as in other

days. A year has almost sped its course since I left you. To have thought of absenting myself for so long a time, would have added to the regrets of that parting hour. the months have and are rapidly rolling away and we taking no note of their [poss.?] save now & then for a moment casting one longing lingering look behind. I have not heard from Washington County since I left there on the first day of the present month. I wrote them last week for the first. Mary write and tell me what information you received from William concerning school matters &c. &c. the getting the Domines &c. I can imagine.

Jo. Spraker seems to be the fellow since the Donation party. Aunt Mary says she has never exactly liked the idea of Domine - this last idea is just the one, quite likely it is, but the probability is that it will never advance beyond an idea. Aunt Ellen [?] had a letter from Cheshire, the written by Mrs. Brown, a sister of Aunt Cynthia Reeds. She said she saw Aunt Avis Dunnells but a short time since at an evening meeting, that she seemed smart and was well. What a time of affliction our Deerfield friend have passed through. May our family be exempted from like calamities, & such troubles be afar off, but they must and will come sooner or later, let us then be prepared to meet such days with becoming fortitude and resignation.

You must not accuse me of having ceased to be mindful of you, though you should not hear from me so often as formerly. My school duties are

many & require not a few of my evening hours to accomplish the whole. D.R. wished to hear about the Battenville folks. I am not able to give him the desired information. H. K's salary I do not know. he is an OddFellow yet, but Aaron is a thorough going one. [Gula?] feels very bad that her dear a should know any thing which he refuses to confide in her, sh though will I think become accustomed to it after a while.

Uncle & Aunt will hardly succeed in getting to Deerfield this winter. It is now but little over two months to vacation. Tuesday morning. Mary all the girls are going on about as usual. Kate Winne had a letter written for you but Mr. Davis did not call for it. I will write D.R. as soon as I can. Mother you had bet write to Aunt Avis. Write as soon as you can. The bell is singing and I must close. I have not written one interesting word I know, but this will serve to show that you are all remembered & often thought of by your Daughter & Sister Susan B.

It something new for me to send a sheet not filled, but want of time I plead, write soon After Easton quarterly meeting I expect to hear from H. all Adams news &c.

Well good bye be as happy as may be & forget that we are not all together, remembering to be thankful for the blessings you are privileged to enjoy, I must [sun?] [to?] [fare?] you well. S.B.A.

SBA Jan 25th

Mrs. Daniel Anthony Rochester Monroe Co. N.Y.

Sunday eve the snow is now falling, Margaret has a set of new teeth very handsome, natural. She looks a hundred dollars better.

S. B. A. Canajoshorie Feb. 7. 1847.

Dear Mother. Feb 7th.

Who can believe it. Seven short days more and your Daughter Susan will have numbered 27 years. How the time flies, and what changes. I can see in the mirror that I grow older, but in feelings I know no change, unless it be a greater flow of spirits, and a more ardent desire to become posessed of knowledge. [--So--] and to be enabled to impart it ^to those under my charge. You letter and Mary's [never?] ^received the next days often being mailed. You speak of looking forward to the days, when you shall be permitted to hold verbal converse with your absent daughters. May they not be far distant. But for the present let us be happy in the privilege of exchanging our thoughts by [?] of the few, that boon, so precious is the heart of one, separated from the friends most deeply loved, a blessing second only to that of meeting face to face and drinking in the large draughts of the very souls senti ments. My Brother speaks of saging winds, bare earth [i.e?], Alto winds, if Rochester can produce any [--that--] thing to surpass the Canajoshorie West wind I am sorry. I have sometimes thought the house must tumble down, & one night, something fell with a great noise, I woke very much alarmed, thought the plastering was dragging on the floor, jumped out of bed & sought over cast corner of the room, where I for some minutes stood, until reason told me, it was a mere freak of the imagination, there has been no good sleighing this Winter. To day is the first pleasant day we

Mother's letter to grandfather I forwarded the next day had one after I received it, Had a letter from B. Hawe, they are all in usual health, write after S.B.