Digital Exhibits

East Hampton Dec 8th 1852

Dear Aunt Mary,

You will doubtless be somewhat surprised when you look at the date of this and see where I am, you probably did not imagine when you visited E.H. that I should be here so soon attending school, but life is a scene of changes I think it has been particularly so with me thus far and probably ever will be. I received your letter the night before I left Castleton, which was a week yesterday. I need tell you but glad I was to receive it though. I am sorry to hear that your health is not good, I hope it will not be thus long for I am sure you need strength of body and mind also to prepare all your dishes. It is so long since I have written to you that I hardly know where to begin, and if I am in something of a hurry [?] for my time is quite occupied now and I am stealing these few minutes. Therefore if my [?] are rather disconnected you will excuse it I know, I felt that I must write us soon as possible after I came here.

I left the friends in Castleton well as usual and that [?] had been received [?]. Mary Perkins bought it from here when she went home in vacation (she has been here to school since August). It was of course hailed as a great treasure by all especially the Grandparents. I had no idea that away off in Oregon there could be such good pictures taken. We all thought she lacked like her Mother, which you had later receive as a compliment for I thought her beautiful, I suppose you do not, I suppose when I go to Oregon to teach that you will place her under my particular charge and I will teach her all the solid and ornamental branches, and is work also if you wish, I think you need have are fears that I shall ever be afraid to soil my fingers with anything, which shall be necessary. Though for the past five years I have been so situated that I have not been required to do very unpleasant or fatiguery work, but have done considerable of some kinds.

I commenced taking music lessons rather suddenly and without much previous dedications but I was very fond of it, and thought I would commence as I could have an excellent teacher and father was going to get a Piano and did not think of getting a very full knowledge of the [?]. However had I have known was much about it as I now do I do not know as I should have ventured to begin for I am fully satisfied that I shall never be contented without a fuller curse of instruction. I have taken lessons 3 quarters and shall take no more at present. When I came to Castleton I expected to attend school in The [?] two years and there graduate which I could very easily do but Mr. Hullocks school has lost its time and is now quite an inferior school he has been growing worse and worse for the year past and has [?] been very unfortunate in the selection of teachers for the very good season that no very good ones will have anything to do with him. The corporation were so very foolish as to let him take the school for another term of years but before the class of four years then will be no school if he is there, father concluded to send here to school and I better it from all I could hear and concluded it would be much better for me than to stay in Castleton. I have been here a little more than a week have a very pleasant boarding place, with a Mrs. Garrich who loves nearly opposite Mr. Soleman Lyman perhaps you recollect where that is, if you do not beside H probably does. Mary is my roommate and also there is another you Lady from Fairhaven who is with us no more. I like the school much and everything about the place. Mrs. L has six young ladies and two boys boarding with her, which makes a very pleasant family, Mary and I walked out to your father Lyman Wednesday, it is a beautiful walk we went about there in the afternoon and reached home about dark, had a very pleasant call though your father and mother were neither of them, at home I saw your brother’s wife, her little boy who has been so sick is much better so he is able to walk a very little as plays around [?]. They have a new Church just completed or will be in two weeks, it is a very handsome one just south of the Seminary. I had a letter from Emma the other day and she wrote that Mr. Arkinson was in Castleton and might come here, I want to see him very much.

I shall feel very much disappointed if I do not for it will be the next thing to seeing you. Emma wouldn’t very much to come here with me but could this time so I suppose she side feel rather lonely this winter for we have been together a great deal since I came to C-. Do you ever hear from Pearl I shall hardly venture to tell the news then lest it shall be no news but slate.

We had I first sate visit from Mr. [Becksin?] in Oct he came to Albany to attend the [reading] of Cong. Convention and came up and spent four days with us so he told us all about the [?] of others, and in fact that is the last I have heard for they never write to me at least none of my relatives Aunt C-S-G- were both good correspondents for awhile but they have neither of them written for a long time. I suppose you have heard that [Elm?] has sold his place there and is boarding and Uncle has exchanged houses with Mr. & Mrs. Nair there have been so many changes there that I should hardly know the place in the short time which has elapsed since I left so it must be an entirely new place to you they have applied for a city charter and will probably obtain it.

Sent is a little signature that I have always followed so closely upon your steps, I mean in going to the same places where you have been only a shout before.

I do not know but I shall be doomed to follow you in Oregon, but if I ever go there I hope and trust it will not be under Gov Slades patronage or the [?] for I should greatly prefer to go independently.

I do however expect to teach in about a year at least I expect to be fitted to do so, and shall if I can obtain a situation but I do not promise to go to Oregon.

Dec 18th I do not like a letter conformed for any length of time especially to you for I would like to write much oftener than I do, but have a great many letters to write and now I am in school have not so much time as usual. I received a letter from Mr. Perkins this eve he writes that Mother has been sick or implies the same by saying that she is now better. I feared she would be quite sick after we came away for Monday Gridley and his family came up from Washington and remained there till Wed. when we all came away and after having so large a family for a few days and then so sudden a reaction I expected with her weak nerves that she would be quite down.

I think however she is better able to enduse fatigue thus she was last winter. Mr. Perkins has been in College the past term but is home now for vacation and I think it will be pleasant for Mother that he is there.

I hardly expect to receive a letter from Mother for it is next to impossible for her to get a moment time to write, I suppose you can fully sympathize with her but you give me rather a hard news to say that I expect so much, true I like to hear from you exceedingly but I can very readily imagine that you have many things to hinder you from writing.

I received a letter from Charles Past a short time since he wrote that they expected to get this new house painted this winter though the workers have progressed slowly. Charles is going to attend school in Oliver this winter, he is a very fine fellow and improves constantly he is a real good correspondent. Henry and Anna are still in Holland and [Henry?] writes that they probably always will be.

I have heard that Robert is in Grand Haven and also keep posted up in [?] other particulars probably I think it is too bad to get stale news when it takes so long for it to read you but I think you will be very likely to from me for I write a little about this one and a little about that without mind connections believe anything.

My roommates both wish to be remembered to you though Mrs. [Ramney?] does not know either you or your husband but she saw you married and her parents are acquainted with Uncle [?]. I presume he remembers them. Mr. Hubbard also one of the teachers here was a class mate of Uncle H. and made many enquiries of me about you, a few evening ago. Mr. Hubbard is son in law of the lady with whom I board. And now good night I wish I have written you a more entertaining letter but I will endeavor to write again before great while and more to the point, please remember me affectionately to Uncle Lyman and a kiss for your little girl and write as soon as possible.

[Side of first page]: They say there is now a man here whose name is one either Lyman or [Clipp?] but oneand his name is Lyman [Clipp?]

Yours very affectionately, Lucy A. Guernsey