Graceanna Lewis letter to Rebecca Lewis Fussell

My dear sister,

I returned from my Chester
County trip last evening, safe and well, has
met on seventh today morning last by Elijah
Jr. and taken to their home where a very
cordial welcome awaited me, Hannah and
her daughters coming out to the gate in the
old-fashioned country style, always so pleasant
to me. Elijah FSr. had not been well for a
month or more – was suffering from neuralgia
and malaria, and was so weak that I felt
quite shocked, fearing it was advancing age
and that he would never be any better –
but after a while his voice which had seemed
very much changed, grew firm again, and
he talked and seemed much like his
old self. Hannah told me he had not
seemed so bright for a long time. She said
he was so much attached to his old
anti-slavery friends that a visit did him

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Hoping to hear you are all well, I will close this. I bought a saucer in the cup
meant for [?]’s birthday. If Charlie should be in another business, can he not

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All for it, so as to give it
to Edith before the 2nd of
September. Please write some.
Loving yours,
Gracie.

As I have heard
nothing about the
lecture I offered to
give for the benefit
of The Institution. I suppose
nothing was done in the
matter. I could not
give it now as I went
to attend the coming
meetings of the Scientific
Association. The time
I mentioned was the letter
fourth of August, but I
heard nothing. I did not
stay at home for it. I presume
it was forgotten.

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great good. He wanted to go with me
up to the old Graveyard, but Elijah
Jr. set his foot upon it, and the father
yielded, looking so disappointed that
I was sick it could not be good for
him. Sallie saw what I did and
said “we will send word to the Dr. to
know whether it will hurt him or not.”

Soon the messenger came back with word
that it would not hurt him at all, but
would do him good – so accompanied by
Hannah and myself he went. We found
the yard enclosed by a gate and the
bush had been cut away and burned.

Morris is leasing the ground to a man
for five years to dig up the rocks, stones
and stumps, and get into grass sod. He
intends to plant a row of trees all around
It – has made an engagement for the trees
to plant it with, and has $90 left for a
new fence and other improvements.

Elijah and Hannah took me on to Sunnyside
and left me there, returning at once so as not
to be out too late in the evening. Since then I
have not heard from them.
Mrs. Walker sent her son with me to

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cousin Ms. after tea. Leaving me time
enough to look over the yard and
Orchard and to see the beautiful
views once more – as beautiful as ever.

The next morning Morris took me
down to the graveyard again, and we
decided about the fence and where
it was to run. It is to be a fine
[?] kind, Telegraph Wire Fence – both Elijah
and Morris thinking that would be the
best. It can easily be covered with
growing vines so as to look well, but if it
is only safe, I do not so much care for
the appearance although cousin Sallie does
not like the looks of a wire fence for
such a purpose. I did not object at all,
being only too glad to have a fence of any
kind.

From Morris I came down to Chester
Springs on third day afternoon – could do
Nothing that day on account of the absence
of Mr. Smith with the Key, but put every
thing in order the next morning. Packed
away many things – burned much and
mouse-eaten articles and left chests

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I have just received a letter from Detroit asking me to reserve two weeks in January
for lectures there.

boxes & where they are along with the sofa
and other articles of furniture. The two best
chairs are in Morris parlor. They like to have
them there and will keep them until I am
ready to take them away. There are these
old claw-footed ones of Grandfather Lewis’
which Addie had done up for me. I want
to get them and the sofa down for
another year but did not think it best
to do it now although I want them very
much so as to have all my best things here in
one place. I put away the Box containing
Emma's Bonds in one of my chest without destroying
anything also a box containing at bonnet which is
first Mothers and afterwards Grand mother's. It, (the
bonnet is rocked in a silk shirts with also
belong to them both I found my pamphlets
a memorial of Grandfather which I brought along and
put in Mother's drawer. Tthe latter is and always has
been reserved for her things. It has never been emptied
since she left it but I have put in a few things like
this for safekeeping.

When I come back last evening I found here a
long letter from Essie, mostly descriptive of the British
Museum's. If you had ever visited the Academy of
Natural Sciences in Philadelphia she would have
seen many things to which she alludes with surprise
and pleasure there. I am sure she will care to visit
it now. Few know what a real treasure trove it is
and I am always sorry not to have it been known

Mrs. [?] expected to be back at noon yesterday
she engaged a woman to wash today who came, but Mrs.
L is not here. I fear some of the children are sick.