Elizabeth Yarnall letter to Martha Schofield

Willistown, 1st [month] 9. 1871.

My Dearest Martha;
The time has
come at long last when the pressure
of housekeeping & visitors & weddings
allow me sufficient time and
strength to say [Underlined: how] de to my ever
own beloved friend. How I have
longed to hear from thee and
write thee. I might and ought
to have sent a note of thanks
for that valuable present, Thy
of Health, had I not known thee
could hear my breathing spirit
whisper it to thee down there
among the sweetly sighing
pines. Yes my dear we have often
been near, even nearer than aware
of, though separated by mountain
and valley, flowing stream and
grassy plain & even the pen did
not unite us, nought [?] but the
spirit of love emanating from


from its [Underlined: Source] was our Carrier
Pigeon bearing to us a precious freight.
We done up our pigs into sausage
and scrapple for Market which
lasted [Underlined: 8] weeks, then our own [Underlined: beeves].
E. was in market for the last time
yesterday. He has rented his
stall and will not go to market
next summer & do with less hiring
another year. I have had a good
deal of company, 3 weddings to attend
to besides. Cousins Mary Miles,
John Bartram & Phebe; hers was
a month ago, E. was 4th Grooms man.
About 30 at the 1st, 70 at 2nd &
70 at the 3rd. A very pleasant
time at all of them. Lydia [?]
was at Phebe's and spoke beautifully.
I invited the 3 pairs and a few
others here last 5th day P.M. to tea
Had a very pleasant time but
it made me very tired. don't think
I have vim enough left to make


parties. Dont expect any when thee
gets married. In regard to that
book, does thee understand or believe
all he says? there does seem
so much truth and reason in it
but my brains will not hold, or
perhaps wont comprehend it. I
had been trying to eat Graham
bread & still am at it; know
that it suits me very well &
for what reason I must leave
but my brain is much stronger
than since I broke down
after Sallie's death. I am able
to read much longer and even
aloud now for quite a length of time. My
heart if any thing is better, that is
the intervals of being comfortable last longer &
the violent spells shorter: but my
right shoulder & side have taken
upon themselves their turn, sinse
commensing this a violent pain in
my side drove me from it and also


from my dinner. I never used
much sugar but thought it was
a good summer food as well as
good butter. Our pot butter is so
very rancid this winter, I did not
send thee any. I have not been to
Darby and seldom hear from there
am looking forward to paying it
a visit. Want to go to West Chester
also: expect my Lizzie to go on a visit
and cousin Lizzie Levis to make
me a visit. I have thought so
much about thee for several weeks
before thee wrote me and sinse
then the cold weather has been intense
here, how did thee get along
there without any house. Our weather
would bring Mr. Curly Head
from the top of your "wood pile" I
bet: there at Zero in some places.
I had my window full of beautiful
plants, over a dozen got frozen, my
five hanging baskets having higher &


5 -

warmer quarters escaped with a
few pinches on their outer garments
Have you much that is green &
pretty around you? About thy
house, do try and get it built this
winter or as far as thee can with
the money so that thee can have
thy eye on it. Mart what does thee
intend it for? Will thee sell it
when thee gets tired of going
there to teach? How truthfully
Dr. Bellows speaks of southren food
and [southern] Housekeeping. How I
want to come and help to
teach those girls and women
what to eat and how
to cook it. Better learn thyself
thee says, O don't let on that
I am ignorant, I will learn
too.

I am very much
obliged for Jennie's letters, glad

[Top margin]
Let me
have a
little note
now and
then, not
a long letter
that is too
much. I
want to know
how thee
keeps.


6

she is so much better but
see that [Underlined: Jennie] as used to be is
not all there, hope that life in
that beautiful love she realizes
will bring her all right in due
time, she has youth and tolerable
health on her side. Only to think
Mr. Merritt has a baby, when
will wonders cease. Why dont
[Underlined: Summer manage in the same
way]. Nellie has not written
to me lately, thee is not able
to write her long letters, just a
sweet little note ought to satisfy
her. I have a drawing in to thy
sister Sallie's next week but dont
suppose the weather will admit
of such a thing, do want
to see them much am thinking
about that [Underlined: baby] in particular
and other in general.
There are several peeping about
this winter. Cousin Lyd Evans


7

and 2 or 3 Yarnalls about or in expectation.
I have nothing but a
kitten to nurse, which just now
is bothering me, poking its nose in
the way of pen, on my lap, table,
now walking over my flower pots
in the window biting off the leaves.
It is bound to be nursed once a day
has been outdoors until now (4 P.M.) come
crying at the door. It has been snowing
all the day long, but not much
accumulation. We have a very dry
winter, warm and pleasant all
fall, with but little rain. In Montgomery
[County] I hear of the wells being
dry, and unless [New York] and New
England get supplied soon it
will begin to be alarming, the [Underlined: Croton]
is low as well as its sources.

What is the matter with
your North & [South] [Underlined: Carolinians] you
cant get [Underlined: Governmentized? if [General]
Grant comes down there


8

at you he will make you
squeal. How is [General] Scott & Staff?
Mart, Mr. Tomlinson got that
letter I wrote him or it would
have come back to me. I bet it
made his fat cheeks burn. If thee
ever sees him look him right
in the face and ask him if he
remembers me. Does thee know
where the Chases are. Do I understand
that Mary Stone is teaching?

Give my love to all at Sallie's
Home, & Lide's too as I may not
get down this cold weather.

I am so glad you are comfortably
fixed and are [Crossed out: enjoying] congenial
this winter. I know I
was not my better self half the
time when with thee my heart
was too much at home but the
past is in the past. Now with
very much love to thy companions
and twice as much to thee I am as
ever thy loving friend . E. S. Yarnall.

[Cross-hatched script]
I delivered thy message
to M. Bartram
he said he had been
wanting to write to
thee. They are all
well there.


[Envelope]

Miss Martha Schofield
Aiken, South Carolina