Eliza H. Schofield and Mary H. Child letters to Martha Schofield

[January] 8, 1874

My Dear Sister,

I must commence
my letter to thee this morning. - Wonder
if thee has received the one begun in
Washington, & not finished for want
of time. Just think of my having been
to [Washington] - went on an [Underlined: hour & a half's
notice] too. Ann did just as well
as two weeks. My only regret was
that I had to come away so soon
when there was so much to keep
me there, but I did see a great
deal. Senator Pratt said more
than he had in [Underlined: four years] - Every
things seemed favorable for us.
The weather splendid (not cold
but just lovely) then we had
the nicest of Boarding houses,
such agreeable people. Besides

[Left and top margin]
safely at 526 about [half] past 12. 5th day Eve was our
Sociable
I went
& had
a very
nice only
determined
I would
not dance
or aunt
of knew
but after
[?]
8 or 9 -
Nate B
made
me dance
Polka
waltz
with him
& then our
[?] [?] [?]
I [?] week


In our house there was a gentleman
from every department, so they
could tell us what to see, [?]
generally went with us when in
their own. The Capital is magnificent.
I think I should never tire of looking
at its pictures. [?] walls
& floors, every detail is so perfect
& so beautiful. Then the Treasury
is wonderful, &, Samuel having
carte-blanch to go through it all
we got to see what very few others
do. - Every [department] was of interest to
me, & thee knows how I would
enjoy the [Underlined: mechanical] Back of
it. Our First Day, we went to
Church, sat two pews from [President Grant's].
The Hutchinsons were there and
sang & we had a grand
sermon from Mr. Tiffany, Methodist.
All very much pleased with it
even Samuel - He spoke of

[Top margin]
[?]
so
often
it
is
so
hard
not
to
enjoy
it
& I
[?]
not
to
Much
love
to
[affectionate]
[sister]
E


of the [?] reflex
Principle being the great life giving
[principle] in every thing - It was the
[Underlined: Out-going] that always produced the
good. - If we thought or even acted
evil it came back, blackening & scaring
our own souls & in the [Underlined: effort] to do
good we had our reward. - Quoted
passages to from this & then said so
prettily, "& a wiser than Bacon &
a greater than Shakespeare hath
said It is more blessed to [Underlined: give] than
to receive." Then spoke of the outgoings
from [Underlined: their] church, & that 100 years
ago last year, there was in this county
[Underlined: 1] Methodist Minister, who had a
congregation of [Underlined: 10] in a little room.
Now there were 34,000 churches
& (I think) over, 1,000,000 members.
He spoke very liberally of all
the other churches. We thought
it very good. - Oh such a grand

[Left and top margin]
[?] eyes are [?] sight
seeing
but
I
was
busy.
[?]
[?]
[?].


time as I had, and they are
the most people I think I ever
saw, cant do enough for you,
so willing to show and explain
everything. Dear me, I'm going to
keep my eyes open now for a
[Underlined: rising man] for I'd like to
live in Washington in winter &
constant think of being les than
a [Underlined: Senators] wife. - Tho' I saw lots
of [Underlined: them I wouldn't have! The
women are all so smart too, real
politicians. - I left there 2nd day
out at 5 [half] oclock. was the only lady
on [Underlined: train from [Washington]] but had
very kind attention. When some distance
this side of [Baltimore] I raised up to ask
(I thought) conductor if we went on
to Broad & Prince [Streets] -. he said"Yes
why isn't this Lide Schhofield?" It
was Ben Bartram. - From Chester
up had very [Underlined: good company] & around


Darby, 1st [Month] 18th [1874]

My dear Mart -
I am tired of Winter.
We have had a cold week, ground covered
with snow, and last 5th day night was
cruel, killed all of our beautiful Flowers
scarcely any thing left except the 3 baskets
in the sitting room, altho we put them
down, covered all with paper and a hot
stone all night, the two [?] in the
dinning room with large very flourishing
geraniumum buds on, all gone down
cellar and the windows look so bare
which R. V. said was the admiration
of Darby - well I am glad they are not
human, for many a poor creature has
suffered I know --. There come Sam
Sallie & Howard - Evening again I
begin but not to write much for my
eyes are too wea, I have been quite


poorly all last week, my eyes and
head affected and indeed all over so
sore, could hardly move, feel rather better
now, but guess I shall hardly go to [Monthly Meeting]
tomorrow, I want to try to get well
enough to go to West Chester 6th day PM
so as to go out with the children to uncle
Paxsons, and Jane wants to see me so much
and I thought I would pay my visit there first
as [Quarterly Meeting] begins the next 2nd day, but dont know
how it will be - Eliza is writing one
principle letter to night, so thee must
excuse me, I hope we will be able to get
the [?] off before many weeks more -
[?] and Marietta were here an hour
this PM she has had her time of nursing
(in her condition too) pretty hard, yet she
looks very well & asked after thee cousin Mary
about as usual, but seems very old, love to all
your household very [affectionately] Mother


[Envelope]

Miss Martha Schofield
Aiken
South Carolina