Susan B. Anthony Papers, 1815-1961. Correspondence. With family; also one letter from uncle Albert F. Dickinson and an exchange of 14 letters between Susan B. Anthony and her sister Guelmar's future husband, Aaron M. McLean, 1839. 23 ALS.. A-143, folder

New Rochelle 6 mo 29. 1839.

7 day morning 5 oclock

Esteemed Friend:

Your letter mailed 25, I re ceived on the 28 as a welcome messenge. [8/?] I now [?] endeavour write a few lines in answer to it.

I sympathize with you, for your [hurt] heart [edness], as much as you regret the tender state of my feelings.

I will company with Eunice & Caroline Barker a girl from Troy, visited at S. titus, where they remained all night, so I have had the pleasure of presiding as mistress. Eunice thinks of starting for home next 3rd day, when I shall again be left for a longer time, as head of the family. What thinks you of my drinking tea (or water) with these niggers as you are pleased to call them. I have this week too. I am pleased to hear that H is teaching school but oh, she is where she can [got?] home frequently, while I must spend, two holidays in every week without visiting you. I have partially unproved my 7 days by atten ding to algebra, in which I have proceeded nearly through simple equations. expect I shall ere long send you some problems to perform for me. I feel a little curiosity to hear the result of M. Wilsons party if my Wing is only there it will answer just as wll as if I were there after Breakfast have just presided at table poured the Coffe did not suffer myself to partake which required a great deal of Self Denial, for notwithstanding it is now 4 weeks since I left it

Tell M. Wilson send me some of her cakes and [sirvet?] meals so that I may know how she treated her company. I suppose GP has all her [verce?] things from [?] by this time Please tell her to send me the piece of her dress.

the last time, my appetite for it, remains as good as ever I do not suffer myself to taste of tea nor coffee

I believe I must excuse my writing on papers a little. I did not know that Father was no longer Postmaster, therefore wrote on them to serve the troulle of writing a letter. Im rejoiced to hear that the sawmill is in operation hope soon to hear that the gristmill is, also. I expect I shall hardly know the place when I return which will probably be in 10 months next. When your letter arrived I had really despaired of hearring from you, it's having heen one day more than two weeks since the reception of the last.

I suppose G.P. feels quite happy getting the dinners and [hseakfusto?] for the Gentlemen & receiving all from [Rufas?] Job and amongst them. More responsibility than I anticipated, rests upon my shoulders. This is horrid writing [hart da?] excuse as I have had to write very fast on account of the maids leaving at 7.

My love to our folks & yourself a [Share?]

Your Friend

S. B. Anthony

P. S. Please tell G. P. I wish that [mull?] for a dress sent & if they have any dark calico they may send me a dress if they can spare it, if not I can get along without it

Excuse this wretched [?] All the goodys you can muster amongst your will be [moll?] acceptadly received, as for instance a half a raisins or so I have been very economical since I left home having bought but two lemons too gratify the taste saving this money.

I have been almost homesick the last because you did write therefore I hope you will save me these feelings by writing often, even, though there be no news do write often I do not care how it is sheller.

NEW-ROCHELLE JUN 29 N-Y 1839 FREE Aaron M. Mc Loeauf P. m. Batterville Wash. C ^[b?]y N.Y.

Reed July 20 [?]

Read July 2

Batten bille July 6th 1839

Dr. [Susant?]

I expected that yourfolks would have written in answer to two Letters [?] on Tuesday the 2d last. But as I have not heard from them I will endeaver to write a line just to last you until you recieve a more acceptable one. I shall not argue this "Black question" with you any more tho I must be permitted to say that I should think you would make rather a dignified appearance sipping tea & holding a tete a tete. seated between two [Bouncing?] sat, benches. I should think the scent would not seem much like roses.. There was quite an array came off at Center Falls House on the Evening of the 3d I met Theodo having been at Union Village and taken quite too freely of the [Critter?], returned to the Falls about 11 oclock in the evening and after [cutting?] as drive other [?] drove up to your house your father was sitting on the stoop and Theodore commenced a dispute and threatened to flog him. After some talk Theo got out of the masson and [snitched?] on your father and commenced a most furious scratching & stricking ye. Your father did not suspect such an attack and was quite unprepared so that Theodore made out to scratch his face a little yc yc but did him no serious injury. Your father entered a complaint at the police and Theodore was arrested on a peace warranty and yesterday the trial commenced and adjourned until to day at 9 oclock. The inhabitants unanimously are very decidedly opposed to Theodore and the only expressions of opinion I have heard in that he ought to be sincerely punished Even the old judge & Ira are of the same opinion You will doubtley hear the particulars from home

It is nearly time for the mail to arrive & I dont know how much more I shall be able to wait I hope it will arrive very soon 'Cause' my ideas are nearly exhausted I did not rise till 6 oclock this morning. In relation to the 4th of Indepdendence, I can only say what I have heard. I celebrated the day at Batten ville we had prime 'doms' Clark Startutt. Elijah Wyatt. Sam Lewis. David Stewart. Charly Boudicl. Dock Colling Will Shiv. Alen Churck. Myself &c &c fired Red crackle all day long. Only in the PM I called at the Center Falls House &c &c. Every Body almost went to 'Celebration' There was a regular celebration at Salem & a ladies fair. A cele bration at Schuylerville, Saratoga things &c &c &c At all of which places there were great gatherings of loafing and things. And much more rum drank than done any good It is now 11 oclock and it has just commenced raining a thinder shower. On Saturday last the 29th [felt?] we had a the most serene Hail Storm ever experienced in this Country. It commenced about 2 oclock PM and lasted about an hour accompanied by very heavy thunder & rain. It intirely destroyed the corn plantation on [sinnal?] farms & very much injured all crops. Grass gardens & the Hail stones were very large some measured 5 inches round them. After the storm was as there might have been Masson loads of Ice gatherd up, and Sunday all day there were to be seen Large Banks of solid ice when the water had washed the Hail into heaps. In this place there was about 1000 lights of glass broken. It extended but a little ways however. It did not reach the Falls at all nor but a short distance afar Syman Monday

About the only farms injured were Paul [?] Failans Curtis Coles I. R will A.N. McLean. L Woodard Esp McLean. [Jeffth & Cottreds?]

Hannah spect the 4th at home I saw her and think she has grown very much since has been "mistress" she has about 15 scholars and likes her situation very well.

I have now written every little thing I can think of and I believe all the news worth writing. It thunders very heavy and the weather is quite cold.

I am very sorry to see from your letters that you appear to be homesick. I should suppose that any body from this miserable stormy Country located in so pleasant a place as if suppose New Rochelle to be would be [?] by [Continted?] Happy. If I was there I know I [would?] not want to ever return. You must write often [?] once a week whether you receive anews or not. I will seem some like talking with your own folks for you to write to them and I know from experience that it is quite a relief to homesick folks to have friends to write they can write often. And I also know that it was no relief to me when I was homesick to receive letters from home. It only increased my malady. I have written this is a great hurry and have been constantly interrupted by conversation in the shop & stopping to do business therefore you must overlook errors &c.. If your folks should send a letter to go in the mail to day I shall not send this if not I shall. Be sure and write often and not stand for any ceremony or formalities

Thine Truly

A. M. McLean