Graceanna Lewis letter to Rebecca Lewis Fussell

Foster School, Clifton Springs, Ontario Co, New - York
Nov. 7th. 1883.

My Dear Sister,
Last night I wakened with no sense
that Valeria’s waiting was over, and that she
had a little boy. I wonder if that is true, or
whether it was only the effects of thinking
about it, after receiving thy letter. At any
rate I hope is is true and that all will
be well with her. I was very glad to hear
of Emily’s safe arrival. In these times of
storms and wrecks and loss of life, it is a
great comfort to know she at least is secure.
I felt a good deal provoked at Miss
[Schnelling?] for asking Annie to do her [work?]. I
thought it downright insolence. Such a person
ought to have Abby woolman to deal with
or Mrs. Jones, either. As to thy charge being
too high, Abby Woolman charges to transient
[binders?] 25 [cents] on meals and 25 [cents] for lodging

Making one dollar a day. That is understood
to be a house which does not pay for itself
but is sustained by Friends. I think Mrs.
[Stuber?] would charge that much for transient
boarders who should occupy my room where
the rent is paid for. I told her if any
of my friends should want to use it for
a stopping place when in the city, to allow
them to do so, making her my charges for
her humble of keeping the room in order,
washing the sheets &c. &c. If I remember
rightly that was what she thought of
charging. If you take the schnelling back
again, if I were [Nannie?], I would see to it
that [Miss Sn?] kept her own room in order
or else paid somebody for doing it. I think
it extraordinarily mean to object to proper
charges, and insulting to ask Annie to
wait on her without. She is able to
pay for it handsomely. Miss Watkins,

who knows how to take care of her
own interests admirably, quoted a
sentence to me which I thought with
remembering – she said “The self-sustained
are the sustainers.” Possibly she did not
mean me to remember it, but I do, and
think it useful as all in coming
in contact with selfish people.

How nice it is for Charlie and
[Linnae?] to be able to take the children
out walking. I have no doubt it will be
as much pleasure to them as it is to dear little
Nellie and Mollie's lovely little one.

I had a lovely letter yesterday from
cousin Susan. She said she had something
to write for some friends in Chicago
relative to the [ranking?] of their schools
but that it seemed no tasks to her
to do that, because she did not like
to write on that subject, preferring
people to come and see themselves;

And that before she undertook it, she
intended to gratify herself by writing to
Joshua, Ben and me. She succeeded
gratifying me at any rate. Cousin Adie
is there – has been for two weeks, and is, she
thinks well again. She is occupying a
cottage of five nice rooms which they have
rented and furnished as a Kindergarten.
It is about two squares off and, Adie goes
to cousin Sue’s house for meals and lodging,
so that she must be able to walk without
crutches. After a time, when they have
a companion for her. Adie will lodge at
her own cottage. Cousin S. tells of the
success and beauty of her plants, roses,
verbenas and heliotropes – the latter of
which had only the night before being killed
down into parts. Here, many thing tender
has been housed for quite a while: We
had our first snow a few days ago, but

After the beginning of November. It soon melted
and the weather is almost uncomfortably
warm for winter clothing and well warmed
houses. I have to keep my window open
day and night. This is good for the
plants I have in my room and they thrive
wonderfully. I try to get them watered
every morning before breakfast. In addition
to what she had sent before, Mrs. Foster
sent her gardener once with a large and
beautiful fern, a lemon verbena and
several other plants including two geraniums
just coming into blooms. She really is a
most remarkable woman in thinking how
to give pleasure to others – that seems to
be her business in life. She has discovered
that I like flowers so she sends me these,
but she is just as thoughtful of others in
ways in which she can give pleasure to
them – for instance, Miss Nesmith whose
room is next to mine has charge of the
department of literature, and to her

[left page]

Mrs. Foster sends for her to look once,
the most exquisitely illustrated books,
such as would be entirely beyond the
means of the school library to possess.
Of there, I get the benefit, as Miss
Nesmith does of my plants. Indeed
all the school enjoy my flowers, borrowing
them for occasions, so that I feel a double
pleasure in them.

The past week has been a very
hard one. It was a six-week examination
I gave 12 questions in each [?]
making 36 in all, and then have [read?] to
read and correct all the answers. Two
of my classes, about 34 girls and all had
there questions to answer so that it made
over a hundred papers to read and
connect. These papers go before the
Board of Council that they may
understand something of the progress of
he School. As it has taken all of my


[right page]

spare time for several days, I am very
sure the Council will have to judge of
the whole by a specimen from the
heap – they simply cannot examine
them. If they did, the probability is that
not more than one or three would know
whether they were correct or not. [Mrs. MacMiller?]
is one of the Board. I am very sure she
would not know anything about it. [Dr.
Lewis?] and Mrs. Foster would, and, possibly,
there are others of the same stamps. I am
very much gratified with the spirit in
which the girls themselves have responded. On
the whole, they have done their very best, and
they all seem to see that is an excellent
method of receiving their studies, and to accept
it as a measure working for their goods although
it does entail hard work on them as well as on
me. Miss Watkins does not think it a
good plan, but I know it is. She
prefers questioning without any preparation
and without any opportunity for consulting

authorities. Mine has been a real study in
which they have fastened every point clearly in
the memory, and are ready to go on for the
next six weeks, being sure of their footing. & I
have learned the capacity of each girl. By her
plan she only ascertains how much each
girl is able to remember for six weeks. I
think there will be no such clashing as she seems
willing now, to allow me to do so as I think
for the best interest of my classes. At any
rate [Dr. Lewis?] put the Department into
my hands to do so as I pleased and therefore
I feel entirely at liberty. I enjoy very
Much the companionships of the teachers,
but as the days come round for thy
letters I find myself very anxiously
awaiting them – still I intended last
time to say when thee needs rest instead
do not unite. A day longer to wait is
not much, and a letter when thee is over
tired, may be the feather two much– so I
would really feel more comfortable if thee
should sleep instead. My thoughts go back
daily and humbly to you all, of all the


[crosshatched text along left side of page]

families. I am going to write to cousin S. to day too. Have nothing else to do to day
but to take a walk out in the bright warm sunshine. Love very dearly to you all & [dear?]
kisses to
Mollie's
children
and dear
little
Nellie.
Ever thy
loving sister
Gracie.