ENPages
(seq. 57)
Battenville NY Aug 28th 1839
Dear Susan
I believe your folks at Center Falls are not going to write any more to you. And I that part of your folks at Batten ville. Will drop a line just to keep you from going clean off with the blues I was at your house yesterday after noon (the fact is I go there quite often lately). And Gula talked of writing to you to send in mail tomorrow morning. But it is now night I have recd no word from there and when the mail comes in the morning I shall have no time to write. I will therefore write a little and if G-- has any thing to offer send that too. Your folks are all well. And in --refference to other things I would beg [?ean?] respectfully to inform you that though Batten ville Fair is to held on Wednesday next. And further, that the Center Falls, or Hardscrabble, affair is to come off on the Thursday the 11th of Sept unless something should transpire to cause a change of the time. In relation to route which the "Bride" & "Groom" will take after that, the probabilaty is it will be to the westward. The fact of your being at New York is an inducement for going that way and the only inducement. And there are a great many objections, more than I can innumerate. I hinted at one in a former letter. I don't know what day Nancy has fixed upon for her Exit. Either the 17th or 24th. The affair at the Point is to be on the 17th but all this is strictly Confidention of course.
[Left margin] The mail has come but no letter from you or any body else
(seq. 58)
[Left side of document]
I presume "Gula" will give you the particulars more in detail and probably some advice from Head Quarters as to what course you had better take in view of all these things. So I will say no more about it. The ladies at Mr Carters today making active preparations for the fair They have prized and marked their articles and they amount to $180. They have marked them at a very low rate too. The fact is they have a most splendid assortment and what could not be bought at any fancy store in New York for less than $300. I shall have a minutes time to write in the morning when I shall endaevor to make some additions if any thing else should occur. I may yet see a letter from your folks for you.
Thursday morning. The only thing of importance since last evening is the arrival Queen Victoria. She stops at Elijah Hyatts. A President also arrived in town on Sunday evening last. he puts up at [Lew?] Greens the above is the only important news of the day etcetera On Monday next is going to be [training?] as Whites also at [?] and I have heard it Anthonys "Center Falls House" Maria is in Argyle yet intends a week or two longer. I have Recieved no letter from you since week last Saturday. Are you rendering Evil for Evil that you don't write. or what is the matter, you ought to write you know . Whether we do or not. I presume I shall recieve one this morning. Nothing more to day Thine truly. AMM Lean
[Right side of document]
Batten ville NY August 29th
Free A.M.M. Lean P.M
Miss Susan B Anthony New Rochelle N.Y.
(seq. 59)
New Rochelle, 8 mo 28 1839 Fourth day morning
Esteemed Aaron, Your letter of the 22nd was received yesterday morning. Yes, Aaron I had begun to feel quite uneasy about not receiving a letter. You spoke of your preference to a northern tour. & I think were I going to accompany you I should much, very much, such an excursion, as the scenery will be new and interesting; while if you come to New York, it is all the same old thing that you have seen over and over. And as respects my being in Rochelle do not let that influence you in the least, for my seeing you will be but a momentary gratification and the pain of parting with you greater than the pleasure of enjoying your society for so short a time. And another consideration is, that the time for my returning home is now so near that I do not think best for you to deny yourselves the many pleasures which you can nt help enjoying in an excursion to Champlain & Canada. Therefore you see I should address your travelling north still, I leave you to decide for yourselves, with a request that you inform me of your conclusions, and if you should determine to go north, that you write to me often and give me a description of the most interesting parts of your journey. I think G. will conclude to abide by your judgement, when she thinks back to Philadelphia, and again feels the pain of parting with Father and with you. Another proposition I would make, that is, that you come to New York and accompany home about the middle of Oct. by way of Curtisville and Adams, if you feel so disposed at that time, as I think if Grandmother A. should live until that time I should feel best to go and see her.
(seq. 60)
Now I wish to give you folks a caution about exposing the contents of my letters, as several things that I have written have been reported in Easton and so returned to Rochelle. One case was E's sickness, but that I did not wonder at. Another was the case of that little affray about my reproving a scholar (and as it now goes) in the absence of Eunice which is a perfect falsehood, for it was done when E was at home and she was knowing to the whole affair and approved of it. Now I wish to know who told this thing, and to whom and how it got to Eastons, for I cannot believe it has ever been told by any of our family, to any body except some of Christopher Kenyon's family, if so then they have done that they should not and that, that has grieved me very much. The news came back by S. Bowne's wife who visited Kenyons, and I have no doubt it was there she heard the news. I think it is the most mortifying thing I ever met with. I have not yet seen E. Bowne and almost feel as if I did not wish to, for she must think me as well our (the way the story is now going) to help nothing more nor left than tattlers. Well to make the best of this I want to know the truth about the source of the story and for the future I will endeavor to be more guarded about what I write. I have now a little something I would like exceedingly to tell you of but having heard what I have fearing this might cause the same feelings among so many persons, I dare not hardly say it. I wrote it in my last showed it to E but she requested me not to write it therefore scratched it out, not knowing at the time the season she wished me not to say it, but now I can comprehend the whole. I would not send this until I receive anOther letter from you were it not for getting an answer to the above before G. P. leaves home. I shall be anxious to hear the answer as soon as possible. After school, sometimes, I almost feel as if I must be at home and see sister once more before she leaves us, and think I would, could I be profitably employed, but I will cheerfully give up the idea and remain in Rochelle until the time arrives for my once more returning home. And as cheerfully give her up, to be the companion of another, who I hope & trust is more worthy of her society as a partner than this unworthy heart who now writes as a sister. Often have I felt as if I were hardly worthy of a sister, such an ungrateful being am I that I do not merit such a helping. Yes, now in my absence from home and friends, do I fully realize the worth of those dear confidential inmates of Centre Galts house.
I hope all that I have said and done amiss will be overlooked and forgotten.
I am too low spirits to think of any thing to say and as it is now about time to send this and the post office will close, but do not think by my [ ] spirits that I am homesick, so though I would gladly be there if circumstances would admit yet I feel best as things now are to remain where I am.
My love to all our folds, yourself included.
SBA
A.M. McLean