19th-20th Century women writers : letters, manuscripts, & correspondence

To Mrs E. Belfast May 12 '39

My Dear Lidian, I can't "make good" as [Wats?] says, the last letter - for it was written in the moment of [ruining?] your favours and with an anxiety for your situation it would have cheered your solitary humours of [illegible] with a distant voice of sympathy. But the [illegible] your safety & the birth of the little Ellen remains. Higher questions take the place of body & children and times mixed motley retinue. Where abouts are you in the ascending ladder? Our first agreement and sympathys in Mrs [Neur's?] parlour will ensure this freedom. You love to speak of this within. And how deeply I repent that I was not better acquainted with it. But from your inability to [divine], I do believe you capable of enjoying that best of all gifts above all others - communion with God. And I think that (tho' I never knew a woman so happily situated - as to love [strikethrough] what is lovely [/strikethrough] as to condition - as yourself) [strikethrough] yet that [/strikethrough] you can say there were in your lonely life hours of devotion as bright as these w'h are kindled by mere gratitude. Yes you are a wittness, I trust, that there is that power in the relation of a spirit to its God

w'h when in healthy exercise surpasses accounting for by naturalism or the understanding and independent on circumstances, do you not find however, that much speculation damps it? It's given her charm is that it a "life hidden" - it's light in action is seen & diffuses over others - but its stillest emotions are too [?previous?] to be handled and analysedit appears from those who have ?tasted? the most of the powers of the ?west to come. They have been the simple bible readers and plain prayers who have written their principles with their blood or made more lasting sacrifices by the long martyrdom of obscure suffering. Where would have been chanity - patriotism and all those virtues w'h render this earth worthy? The inspection of Angels, had all men like Goethe (who I wish had not intruded so unexpectedly when I wanted to enlarge points with my ?dear ?Lilian), surrrounded themselves with rainbows of poetry & letters, with the utmost indifference to the great questions of morals & human woe & weal? I know that the great disposer would navigate this ?state? with endless variety and happy for us there are bards & arts - but I would surer be reconciled to your love & respect for that heathen in ?subgiers' In every xian(Christian) age & ?neter? there have been enabled beacons whose light might be followed like the star of the east and had not only to the cradle but the cross and the throne of our Redeemer, where your capacity to admire & venerate might have full scope, and your talents concentrated to one grand object by

their improvement - If you pardon me - write and let me know how your time passes - how these morning hours w'h are like the wings of the bird that arise above little earth with the sun. But if you are not in good health yet I will drop my inquisition. I hear with gladness that ?Hatie is well. and the children. This day is sabbath & the anniversary of my brothers death. Could I see you I would ease my conscience by confessing some of the load w'h long retrospection gives. Is it strange that sins w'h negligence or temper or ignorance seem to cause, return year after year day after day with the same weight? That there is no oblivion till death gives us an interview with him who can absolve forever & ever However high our principles we fail - daily [insert] fail or [/insert] think something w'h disgraces them. There is matter deep enough for speculation. But I knew you have never had time or place or heart to fail as I have - so you can't sympathise. And I write in haste as the sun is going & this letter is sent by Mr F tomorrow who may go from Boston to Concord. Then you will all write & send me your husbands "essays". If [cross out] it [/cross out] this is put in the office in the City any ? packet he will take from Thomas' items ten days hence. Or Thomas can put them in a packet or boat.

The God of love who gives us to rejoice in every condition be with you both & children in the order of [exeplounary?] & bounty prays M M Emerson I have been confined with lameness, but better a little. Have written to Lisbeth at Boston.

Monday. I've opened this to say that if you all need a journey this season & have no other object but change why not come to Belfast? I will not say how much I want to see you - but I beleive there are good boarding houses. Or if you come to Portland I wd go there to meet you. I shall move from this house in 2 or 3 weeks - but have no plan but to live where there is a horse - & salt water - it may be here or ?Themaclore or at Waterford. It is so indifferent. If there is any thing like a journey in Maine on your minds write this week. ?Being little ?hope

Mrs Waldo Emerson Concord Mss.

Rev Mr ?Frottingham (circulator Postal Stamp: Boston May 16 M.S.)

Thanks for Waldo's letter a week after heard from him thro' my brother. Will you do me a [favour? & love to Dr & Mrs [Barttlet?]. Tell them I often think of their kindessses - how he would take me to rides - his tender sympaty in the last sad sad mile to Concord. And I remember with gratitude Bradford giving me a wheel barrow of wood when I first went to Mrs Woodwards and brot it himself & then carried it up stairs. If I don't ?him do you give him some token for me. Now I could right this three years !? My ?nephews sure set in ?bread when On B. sent the ?bread.

July 3 Dr Ergoon Ripley?

Yes, my dear Nephew, our roads are so diverse, that the very contract renders an intercourse maturable & the better for the one who in the deepening shadow of the vale of unvaried obscurity loves to look up and mark the ascending progress of youth unshorn of hope & friendship. My favourite mountain, illumined with the sun never looks so picturesque as when contrasted with the still water and silent shades at its feet. Yet in the "broad field of sentiment I flatter one, we can sympathise - there is a ray in me which tho' forbidden yet to thine I feel was lighted at thy Gods and mine. The straw which floats on the stream becomes at lenght to ?blend with the lilly or rise with the willow w/h adorns its banks. And pride after indeminifys itself by this involuntary voyage on the tide of life, while others are piloting with eagerness the lofty bank. Thank you for all and "the gossip" too. Very trifling truly you treat it. Ah my dear friend, Cupid has often played off his ?amours in the family of Apollo if I remember. Now those two pair of black eyes are nearly gone. Well I am glad for that L_'s are out of the way of those I

love. "Wicked eyes" to use your term long since) with a calulating spirit are the most unfortunate connections. "Possessed of very pleasing parts what does ?Clara ? wen - a heart. But tho more doubt A. might for ought I know have been one of those whom one can love "thy know not why" - the only ?night for a wife. A lofty bearing mind - of talents to console a man under all those ills which fall to the ?left of an listen is perhaps more desirable than love itself In humbler life, love is enough. And those women, we can't tell how, who are capable of weaving a web of affection where every gossamer thread binds with a surest spell the heart of her husband to hoary age, is the richest & rarest treasure on earth - if she adds to this gift of nature the virtue of duty - it becomes a means of Heaven. So my little Miss A. has ?merited - Well it is delightfull to mark the revolutions w/h the great wheel revolves for all. I s/d (should) not dwell on this trifling "gossip" with any ?ofiuists but I run of the mind that nothing is involuntarily lost to any of my friends. ?Dearie Mary a living burning ingenuous soul be the gift of Providence for you in due time Aunt Mary

I write to amuse myself - and can say nothing of Rev Waldo - till I know more. To me his correspodence is a clegerman is much - all indeed off society. His method is blest in that of others. To me dear friend I could not say to you how much I wish him well.

Tues 14 Au. Will you pardon this old letter. It interested me at the time & I wanted to in close an errand - but the dread on it's being exposed made me throw it by. Is there any ?hazard of sending characters by Mail? I know there is none among obscure correspondents on both sides. Do take care of your ?precious health. You did not send me any book or print. I was glad of it - for you must not take one step this hot weather the more for Mary & loving Aunt.

[Good enough?] if I can't [go] for the [various] speculation yesterday on health lost me what I learnt most [belittle] to [fancie].

This amiable youth is ignorant of human [?nature] he in the very pulpit shut out the better [?genius] of charity - that of giving to beggars at the door - the door where Lazarus tried. I fought to [take] of the effect to the [hearer?] I said you would as soon

erected a [gollows] in the desk as said to. Did I ??? your will? CC ought to go & will tho' he talks of time how absurd what is time but to sympathise with the publik & what is like eternity as to admire a better speaker?

Dear Waldo I grieve to hear our dear Charles cold dont give way. God restore him for the sake of Elizabeth & you & for that world w/h his principles may improve. Do send for your Mother if he don't mend im mediately Her care he needed when I was at your house his vigils & abstinence were scathing his bones.

Will the last [Friday]' Sarah [formed] a long even with me & after I had got all of her transcendable notions I told her of my abdic cation of your [fever/haven]. Like all great folks she neither pitied nor affected it - these things are like bubbles w/h form & burst beneath eternal [..mes] Truth - she did request - & what a little surprised tho I felt as