Sarah F. Corlies letter to Martha Schofield

Germantown 4 4 1874

My dear Martha

As I have been very busy
writing up my minutes, and attending to
neglected Freedmens businiss generally, I
thought I would finish up the morning,
by indulging myself with a chat with
thee once more from the Bower, where it seems
just as natural as though I had never
been across the "big pond" to be enriched with
hosts of pleasant memories & sights, so
indelibly fixed on the mind as to be a
continual feast for a life time - and among
the happiest of all these, was the lovely
[Underlined: welcome home], to house and loving hearts
more precious than words can express, or an
humble individual realize; as not intended
for 'another' - Well the whole 'trip' was a
success from beginning to end - with its
flitting shadows of course, the remembrance
of which fades rapidly, leaving only the
sunshine brightness - and an increasingly sense
of gratitude to the good Father, who in this

[Left and top margin]
all have in being together, I scarcely know which to congratulate most, you are [Underlined: all so] nice
Sarah talks a little of going to New York 2nd day for the Easter holidays if she does not go to Baltimore. Lizzie is
improving, & is down
stairs every day, but
does not go out. Sarah
just brought in a
spray of artbutus!
in bloom, only the 2nd
I have seen, fascinating
little flower I suppose
it is not so rare with
you - Sallie Bowman has
been to Rome & returned
to Genoa. May stay
abroad a year as companion
for Mrs Butter
but this is only a
[Underlined: rumor], so dont [Underlined: say
anything] about it, until
thee hears farther - she
is much better.
How is Nelly Chapman &
Mrs. ? Kind remembrances
to them - Does thee [?]
[?] Aunt Amy from being
a bride? My love to her

[Right margin]
I am safe & sound at home again (without getting married) as [Underlined: she] suggested I might


as in the other affairs of life over-rules
all with His blessing - for daily I am
impressed, with how much better is His
loving care over us - than we could have
planned for ourselves, if we only could
learn to [Underlined: trust] it implicitly - Even while
we follow blindly, walking in the dark,
but as thee is so much more efficient &
faithful, perhaps thee dwells always on
the Mountain tops, & constantly discerns
the light, without having to wander and
grope along in the dark - or 'sit on the fence'
as some of thy less favored sister do - feeling
humiliated with a sense of how little they
accomplish - I find myself anticipating
the time of thy coming north with much
pleasure, for I do want to see thee so much,
it seems such a long time, since those
nice chats yearly Meeting week, last year
and only think of how far I have wandered &
how much I have seen since then, and
what a lot of good lessons thee has taught, -
methinks thy record will stand the highest
in the long account, but each has done


"what she could", and I felt in my place
Only think of what a joyous surprise at
the dear old Bower, I had not the faintest
suspicion of the addition, and [Underlined: it] looks like
fairy work to see this [Crossed out: addition] [Inserted: "Conservatory" [Cousin] [William] calls it] all finished
and the fire burning brightly - in what was
the [Underlined: alley way] - Oh! it was delightful, and
I would like to do it all over again - especially
those charming Christmas letters [Inserted: loving remembrance [Underlined: so far] away] I never
shall be over thanking thee for thine, so
full of thy own brave, cheerful, loving, and
lovely spirit! I wish I could make thee
understand how precious it is to me, and
the exquisite pleasure & appreciation I feel
whenever I think of it - I had to be
generous & share it with my traveling
companions too, & I am sure Mr Gillingham
will ever hold it in grateful remembrance,
as he said that was his kind of religion, &
expressed his ideal exactly - so thee may
know he is a 'Prince of a Man', & I think
it is a great privilige to have found such
lovely new friends, they are so kind and
generous - [Underlined: though] blessed with abundance!


am so glad your school is so flourishing
& that you have had such generous contributions
in books & money, it is all the reward of
faith - We did not hold our Meeting until
yesterday when we had [Underlined: five] present quite
a [Underlined: full] attendance. We hold our last & our
Annual Meeting [Underlined: May 22nd] so if thee has
anything to help make an [Underlined: Annual Report]
do forward for my benefit [Inserted: & I [Underlined: do] have something] Miss Fisher says
her contributors will pay as long as she
asks them, because she asks so we are
good so long as [Underlined: her] interest is insured, which
is not flagging - Does Lizzie receive her salary
from the state? or is she more than human
working for nothing & finding herself [?]
if it is and impertinent question, I am privililged
from the Cause & no idle curiosity. My love
to the dear girl & thanks for her lovely
note which I appreciated highly and
so glad she met our dear friends the Baileys
I am sure she must have enjoyed them
as they did her, they told me when they wrote
I hope we may meet & talk it all over sometime
and lots of love to those dear precious Cousins
Margaret & Sarah from me, what a treat you

[Left margin]
Cousin William went to Washington 4th day & saw the President about the Indians - Lovingly
Sallie F. Corlies

[Top margin]
My
niece
Sallie
F. Corlies
is to
be married
on
the 30th
of this
[month]
think
of my
having a
[Underlined: Nephew].
The 1st
Wasn't
my dear
old [?]
last
trip
[Loss of text]

[Right margin]
good Captains sad fate, what a favor it was not our trip!


[Envelope]

Miss Martha Schofield
[Crossed out: Aiken]
[Crossed out: [South Carolina]]

Darby
Delaware [County]
[Pennsylvania]