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Darby 1st [month] 29th, 1871
My dear daughter
Winter Winter!! the snow was too
deep for me to walk to Meeting and as [?]
sleigh did not come I am here writing
to thee. I do wonder if thee will write
thy letter out-of-doors to day it seems at
most incredible but must be delightful.
Yesterday we had Said and her Mother &
Thomas & Elizabeth here to tea it was
too stormy for Betsy to turn out & Chalk
had to stay with her as they dont like to leave
her alone brought them in the sleigh & came
[?] them they did enjoy the elegant
oysters & coffee I admire Mary Brower's
neice in company with her before of course
we talked of you showed them your
[Left margin]
I have 6 [dollars] and better of thy interest and will add enough to the 85 [dollars] I have in money
to make it 100 [dollars]. I also have J.E. Thompsons check for 100 [dollars] & E. Randolft's 50 [dollars].
Samuel has the rest and will send it when thee wants it -
[Top margin]
Glad you have
rented your room
is the tentant house
rented? I think thee
ought to have sent the
Germantown friends
word just what the repairs
cost - as they have not
been raising any for
the house and house
but the one teacher
I know they are very
good & I do hope [Government]
will refund it - I
hardly know who to ask
to lend money will thee
give a mortgage or the
house there? - I think
there will be plenty of
sleighing this AM. the
sun has come out & it is
lovely out. So dont think
we shall freeze up here we
live so comfortable I have
[Right margin]
not felt it so very cold this winter tho Chalk said he like to have frozen
at the barn I must close now [affectionately] Mother M.H. Child.
Photographs we all think they are
the best that have been taken of you, seems
almost as tho it were really you just going
to speak to us, much obliged - Father has
just come says Thomas & Chalk walked as [?]
was out and wanted the Sleigh. John Sellers
was there told him he was down at [Wilmington] yesterday
at [Underlined: Thomas Garrett's funeral] a very large congregation
of people; was carried by color'd people
into the [Meeting] house and to the grave, this he
promis'd them some time since, Lucretia
Mott, A.M. Powell, a Colored Minister and
others spoke, house filled to overflowing
tell your people about it, 27 hundred
he had sent from slavery!! wont there be
many to rise up and call him blessed
in that home where justice and mercy
prevail? Frances Jones, William's wife
was buried last 6th day - did thee see in one
of the papers we sent, the death of one of John
Newports children? the other Sallie writes
is very ill in town with Diphtheria and his
wife at the point of death in Baltimore - how
much trouble they have -
Lydia did not come out as Sallie has
no girl yet, it is too bad they cant get one
this cold weather. Margaret is so undecided
I wish they could get a good one not depend
on her - have they told thee of Sam's co-partnership
it is no secret now he has
gone in partnership with Amos Hillborn
intend to double their business it is
not likely the revenue stamp business
will continue much longer and we
are all glad he has made sure of something
[Underlined: Sallie talks now] of sending [Underlined: the boys] down
[Underlined: to our store], and think she would have been
willing for him to have gone in with any
one else tomorrow if it is fit [?] Bunting
is to take us up to the Cars to go to West Chester
[Quarterly Meeting]. I want Father to go as he enjoys the company
of his friends so much - we shall go to [Philadelphia],
and hear whether they are going to Indian Country
or not - perhaps I wrote it too soon - [?] Green
and his bride came to the [?] home 2nd day,
after [Monthly Meeting] I came from [Buckingham] that A.M. and
were detained by the snow they are a nice looking
couple & I think they were introduced to
most all there, went to T. Garrigues to dine we
were invited to come over but it was too stormy
to go. M. Green & wife J. Powell & wife were there
Joseph's acknowledgment was received that
day - and Margaret reappointed also Clerk
Abner Hoopes child better - Mart thee must
have laugh'd when thee read my enquiry about
the estimates. I found out before thee read it
that it was only for the building of the house
but as the other [?] was for all I though
at first that was what I meant. I will send thee
the list of subscribers. I make out brot 1021.00 [dollars]
but did thee not take about 70 [dollars] with thee of those
subscribed, I believe all have paid except EW Clark and
JW Child I think as they have been left so
long perhaps they may add more to it. there are
several more I hope to get something from & when thee
gives me liberty I will take my book to uncle M. I
intended going to town last week but the weather was not fit.
First day P.M. [January] 29, [1871]
My Dear Sister
Thee will have to blame thy
own [Underlined: [?]] for only receiving [one half] sheet from me
Mother generally has something extra to put in
and then [Underlined: would] have us write on thick paper
so I am reduced to [half] a sheet. It has amused
itself this last week trying how much it could
been at it every day but 6th when it was lonely
I guess you have had a touch of cold by this
time It is splendid sleighing now.
Mother says she did tell thee I was in town so
I will own up. Well I only thought thee would think
I was there most of the time, but [?] to
S to go this time to get rid of [Underlined: your humbug]!
The lamp Mother made such a spread
about, give out, got broken out of joint etc. etc.
so I just packed it up & put off to town
with it. The chap refunded the money very
willingly although was anxious to have me try
another as he said that ours never ought to
have gone away, but I had my mind [?]
on a Student lamp, so I took the
money. I want something that dont [?]
your hands every time you touch it, and
that is pretty. But they laughed at me so
because instead of getting another lamp, I
spent all the [Underlined: money] & came home without
any. Mother says jostled her out of any
lamp. But I thought we did not really
need it, & words wait until Samuels tried
theirs. - Elmira Chandler called at Sallies
while I was there to tell us about Mary, oh I
[?] Major must be [?] I wonder if he
has grown any on the strength of it!
Dear M I wish Sallie was safely through
[Left margin]
according to any [?] [?]. - I do not know who E. Way married
[Top margin]
did not see
it myself
as I could
never [?]
paper but
Chalk told
me & he could
not remember.
Well say half
is full but
in not
[Underlined: empty].
With dear
love I am
as ever
thy [affectionate]
sister
E. H. S.
with her dispensation from dear sister I
pray she may recover, she seems cheerful &
so happy but of course she must have some
misgivings, as ever other woman has.
She is a darling good sister and deserves all
the happiness she can have, and the best
of husbands which she has.
Have you rented a photo gallery to which you
go & amuse yourselves by striking attitudes?
This last one is very good, most every one thinks
the best they ever saw of thee, but I like the
last one at Phillips best altho' this is excellent.
Ask Jean if that bracelet has grown fast to her
arm! She is [Underlined: very] striking, quite queenly etc.
Do send Nerland one! I think it would finish him.
The bridal party at Samuel Child's comes off
next 5th day eve, the invitations are out the
early part of last week. I hope it will be
pleasant. I want to wear my white. Oh! Mart
did thee carry off my white kid gloves. I cannot
find them anywhere, could not for Aby's wedding.
will have to get a new pair & it is provoking for
they were so good. I wish Marsic could be there
to enjoy it and to help Lizzie fix. - Tom Jones
was here all night 5th day. What a handsome fellow
he grows to be. I'm quite [?] of very handsome
nephews. - Mart what new [?] has thee
got out, to make this kind of and "I." No that's
too good looking. I hear that's it. I have
practiced it so much lately & I don't like
thine, so just [Underlined: drop it] .- By-the-by I met
the [committee] the other day & they raised my salary
(Joe B. says so much for her [Committee]). Mart D. spoke
very highly of my School & how much the children improve
& what interest they took etc. Hanna B. then spoke to the
same effect & John was following him when Dr. L.
said that was entirely [Underlined: [?] to the subject], which
was entirely a matter of [dollars] & [cents]. I answered him that
perhaps it was a [satisfaction] to a teacher to know
the [committee] were satisfied & Sara B. said of course &
she supposed I thought I ought to be paid
Dear Mart. Another cloudy Morn,
Parents got off, looked quite fine
going down street in a nice little
Sleigh with the [Underlined: immaculate] Louis
standing up driving - It was
so [?] - like thy letter did not
get off. The snow about a foot
deep. - & looks so though [?] [?]
have [?] soon. I have got to put
off to School through it now.
Hope you have got the barrel
safely. Mart it is too bad we
did not send thy little brush
does thee need it much.
[?] how I hardly knew
the barrel was going of
course heard of it [?] but was
at School & did not think
of all the things.
[Envelope]
Miss Martha Schofield
Aiken
South Carolina
Mary H. Child letter to Martha Schofield; Eliza H. Schofield letter to Martha Schofield
Mary H. Child and Eliza Schofield were Martha Schofield's mother and sister, respectively. They both discuss recent events and news concerning family/friends. Child describes the funeral of abolitionist Thomas Garrett, who helped over two thousand people escape slavery on the Underground Railroad and whose funeral orators included Lucretia Mott. She also discusses the costs of the repair work on Schofield's school in Aiken. Eliza talks about her work and salary as a teacher.
Child, Mary H. (Mary Hough), 1803-1874
Schofield, E. H. (Eliza Hough), 1840-1913
1871-01-29
9 pages
reformatted digital
Martha Schofield Papers, SFHL-RG5-134
Martha Schofield Papers, SFHL-RG5-134 --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/5134scho
A00182960