Letter from Samuel Pickard to Mary Little

Newbury, Nov 18.1821. Much respected and dear Friend, It may a little surprise you to think that I should so flagrantly disregard modern eti-quette as to write thus prematurely. - But I cannot think of waiting longer for you to break the Silence you seem inclined to preserve; [for?] permit me to assure you that it is hard, exceedingly cruel, to be long excluded from your society without being allowed to hear [from?] you. Was your journey up neither pleasant nor unpleasant? Was [your?] arrival at your destined place, are the scenes with which you are now surrounded + is the society you are now enjoying matters of so much indifference as to furnish nothing for a little epistolary conversation? It cannot be. - Did you not encour-age me to think I might soon hear from you? Under the impression that you did I have more than once resorted to the P. office fondly cherishing the hope that I should obtain intelligence of your welfare + that of your dear friends; but let me softly say, (for you it would be cruel to blame) that I have as yet come away disappointed.

If information you have not received, I would inform you that your Father + Sally started for Portland the day after you left + that they arrived there the second day in safety. Your Father's business not coming before the Court so soon as he expected he has not yet returned + probably will not for some

days. Your friends there are all very well + Sally appears to be spending her time very pleasantly. It is yet incertain wheth -er your Father goes back into the country.

The [accurences?] of this neighborhood, since you left, are generally uninteresting. Some events however have transpired worthy of recital; Among which I would mention the death of Mr March whose funeral solemnities will be attended this afternoon and like-wise the death of Captn Ephraim Toppan after a short but violent fever. - [?] Toppan again discovers some marks of derangement -his friends, I belive, are considerably apprehensive that he will again be diverted of his reason. It is to he hope [?] even that their fearful anticipations will not be realised, that the present unfavorable indications will be of but short continuance. How much, my dear friend, are we indebted to God for his preserving as well as his bestowing goodness! Yet how unmindful are we of the kind care he is [constantly?] taking of us. We seem to forget that it is "in him we live, + move, and [harm?] our being." Why is it that we so little regard the hand that confers upon us so many favors? How strange is it that we can so soon forget the chastising blows dealt by the kind hand of our Heavenly Father. Why is it so? Is it not because we wish to be ignorant of ourselves - - of our immortal interests? We are afraid of a close self-examination, because such an investigation exposes our follies + our crimes. We choose not to realise our [?], because the blackest ingratitude stares us in the face. We have every thing to make us ashamed of ourselves therefore we choose "darkness rather than light." ---With regard to your family I must tell you they are all much as when you left. Your

mother attended meeting a part of the day last Sabbath - she has within two or three days been into town + called on the [aged?] Mrs Toppan - indeed I think your mother is as well as I have seen her for several weeks. --- Your other friends much as when you left. Josiah [Hale?] is improving the gains in flesh faster than in strength. --- I think he has gained 7 1/2 lbs in two or three weeks. ---Mr [Miltimon?] is still much afflicted with the rheumatism in his arm - he has been favored with intelligence from his sons - Andrew ar-rived at B. a week since - is very well - + daily expected home. [Rousseau?] has been spoken within a very few days -- his arrival is almost hourly expected - Murray may reasonably be looked for soon. --- I received a letter from [Steven?] this morning. He is very well. When he wrote he was on a visit at Lewiston - your friends there are all well. He rem-arks that his studies are easy, + that it requires but a small part of his time to make preparation for his recitatations. He intends to spend the winter at Lewiston if he should not get a school. --- Mr [Balehe's?] family are all very well --- --- With respect to myself I have but little to say except to assure you that I am very well + that I have removed my lodging, from Mr Steven's to Mr T. Emery's, where I assure you I promise simply much pleasure from the good society that abounds in the neighborhood. - Now, my dear friend, I must [?] assuring you, if your will please to give me some signification that it will be acceptable, that I will be your constant correspondent. My regards to your Brother + Sister, to Joshua + all with whom are acquanted, and believe me to be yours with much westten Samuel Pickard.

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