Darby 11th [month] 14th 

My dear daughter 

Thee will think no doubt we 
are writing to thee to day, as we 
are all together and of course talking 
about you down at Aiken, Samuel's came 
out last evening and brought the letter 
they got yesterday We are very glad to hear 
that you are pleasantly fix'd in your Southern 
home and likely to make an agreeable family 
but don't [Underlined: thee] take too much of the responsibility 
or thy strength will give way - Aunt E. 
and I had a very pleasant visit at uncle 
Paxsons tho Aunt Jane had a very bad 
cold which is rather unfortunate in the 
beginning of Winter -- 4th day we went to 
Swarthmore to the Inauguration it was 
a great success must have been 1000nd 
people saw the children organized 
at the table, then we waited for the special 
train to come with the New Yorkers then 
all went out to see the [Underlined: Oak Trees] planted 
James & Lucretia brought the [Underlined: acorns] from 
Swarthmore place England had them 

[Left margin] 
as ever affectionately thy loving sister Sallie J. Ash - 


planted in their garden, and now transplanted 
here, dear Lucretia was there 
and she and Dr. Truman held 
them in place while being 
planted [Underlined: he] made the speech which 
was touching, at 3 oclock we went to the 
lecture room and saw the Chairman 
of the Building [Committee] Hugh McIlvain who 
was highly complemented he told us it had 
been 3 years & 6 months that day since the 
Corner Stone was laid that the building 
was fireproof and heated by steam the 
boiler being in a house separate from 
the main building - he also delivered a 
large bundle of receipts saying all was 
[Underlined: paid for], then an address was read by 
the President, E. Parrish, speeches by W. 
Dorsey, Lucretia, Samuel Willets etc. 
It is a splendid establishment equal 
perhaps to any in the country and I 
hope will prove a blessing to the youth of 
our society and many others - 


I went on to town with Samuel, Sallie 
and the rest, next morning came 
home and it seems nice to be at 
home again, in the PM went to see 
cousin Mary as I thought I might 
not get there again this winter. Tom 
Ivins is to come down tomorrow and 
take the horse and [Underlined: Father] up 3rd day 
to stay a few days - I wrote thee last 
1st day and as there are several I will 
leave the rest [?] Mother 
4, [?] 
Well dear Sister, we have just 
had an old-fashion'd Pine Grove 
feast of apples & shell-banks, (the 
latter Sallie brought out yesterday) 
so now I take up the pen to talk 
awhile with thee. It has been cloudy 
all day snowing at times, and so 
damp. I wonder how you have 
been passing the day, if you made 
your appearance at Church, 
I am going to leave the other page for 
Sallie as she just finds she has so 
much to say & I have no news.

[Left margin] 
excepting Mary Rawlston has a young daughter. A 
nice letter from Allis she inquired after thee & sends 
love, wasn't it funny our letter just passed again 
& we wrote the same day. How is Jenny & how 
does she like it yet. We think & talk a great 
deal about you much love to her & thy own 
dear self from 
Sis E. H. S. 


prettily finished - so many nice pretty little things 
about - hanging baskets - ferneries - and vines - which 
adds much to the effect she seemed real glad to 
see us and wanted us [?] the day - although 
she was going to have an invited dinner party - we 
staid on hour, had a little chat with Ernest - (he was 
out most of the time) Nellie took us all around and 
showed us all her [Underlined: baby clothes] which are very beautiful 
and a great deal of work on them - all done by herself 
and Mother - one dress worth 50 [dollars] (so Aunt Rachel [?] 
[Underlined: 12 [yards]) of real lace on it - all over seamed on inserting 
inlaid - and so on - [Underlined: very extravagant] we thought - 
to think the time consumed in making them - she has 
curtains (mull) to all her windows - and is really 
fixed very nicely - we were real glad we went - I 
go into the detail, thinking thee and Jennie would both like 
to know - Aunt Rachel expects to go out next month 
and spend with her - (she expects she sick then)- 
We came out here yesterday - and [?] [?] a pleasant 
visit - miss thee dear Mart - and have wondered many 
times how you are spending the day - How does Jennie 
think she will like teaching? - or cant she tell yet - 
I hope you will have a real nice winter together; of 
course thee will miss thy dear Mary - and Sadie will 
often want to see thee I know I was not at meeting 
this morn and did not get to see her - Mother says she 
talked of going in with Chalk yesterday and coming to see 
me - but she did not come - I want to see her 
right soon - How provoking thee had to pay for those 
trunks - it will not come out of thy pockets or her's 
I hope - Henry McAllister is here talking - Lyd and 
Lide both writing - Lide just asked if we had any 
[Underlined: cotton any where] about - but she has picked up an [Underlined: ink cork] 
and stopped her ear (next to him) up - Samuel, Father & Mother 
are his Auditors - we his [Underlined: non-listeners), if such a thing 
is possible in presence of such a cannon [?] - here is the 

[Right margin] 
end of my sheet and I will stop with such dear love to thee and to Jennie - 


[Envelope] 

Miss Martha Schofield 
Aiken 
South Carolina