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West Vincent 6th [month] 26th [1842]
My dear daughter
We have been anxiously looking for
a letter from thee these 10 days past at least, why has thee
not answered Joseph's? [struck through: letter?] or written one to us; last
fourth day I heard by Gertrude that all were well and
that thee was coming home in the 8th [month] which was pleasing
news indeed. I would have written much sooner but was
waiting for an answer to Joseph's but have now concluded
to wait no longer.
Thee has heard of E. Dunkin's disaster, poor thing she has
suffered much, but little in comparison to what she would
have done had not thy uncle W. invented a sett of rollers
worked by a Windlass to raise and lower her at pleasure.
It will be three weeks tomorrow since the occurrence took place
by only falling on the floor. It was monthly meeting day
and at the heads of the three families were from home
except mother and no one to assist the [Doctor] but E. D. & Joseph & Marianne & Elizabeth
he said they performed their part very well. Aunt Jane staid
with them the first night, and ED one night some time
after and Libby all the rest of the time, till Aunt Rebecca was
sent for to J. Harding's, 10 or 12 days after since which they take
turns every other night. I pity them both very much but E. D.
more, thee knows what a task it would be to attend to all
their concerns and wait on them and sleep with G. in
another bed placed with its head to the East window between that
and the kitchen door, but by a plentiful use of Alcohol and
Corrosive Sublimate it will not be as uncomfortable as it otherwise
would be It is a lesson of instruction to be there some
times to hear E. telling how much better off she is than many
others. She had, she said a kind mother, and has found kind
friends ever since that it was very comfortable to have several
conveniences already provided, so that she was prepared
for such a time as this, and thought she had been very
fortunate through life this far, as she had never had
a bone broken before, except a collar bone. -
The [Doctor] thinks her limbs in a very favorable way, it was an
oblique break above the ancle. I expect we shall have
to attend on her till she is, or will be able to be removed.
We had quite a treat week before last by the arrival of cousins
Elizabeth Pawling and Anna Hobbs they came on 2nd
day morning and staid amongst us all till 7th day
Aunt Sarah was here on 4th day last and took Mariann
home with her to help her sew.
27th When I commenced writing yesterday morning I determined
in my own mind that no common occurrence
should prevent me from finishing my letter so as to
send to the Office this morning. Well I wrote on till
near meeting time when word came that notwithstanding
the unprovable appearance of the weather the little
company that had been engaged to go to the Falls of French
Creek were just on the eve of starting and Joseph had come for
Libby. Mariann being already at Uncle Ts. They had been disappointed
a week before by the unfitness of weather and as
preparation had been made the second time in the cake
and pastry way, EA. J. & M with thy sister E. went to uncle Ts
where M with C & L and a young man of that neighbourhood
joined them and this morning E. has returned home and
says they had a most delightful time the day proved very
fine etc. but perhaps she will tell thee herself if I leave her a
little room -
I suppose thee wondered why their going need interfere
with my writing. It did not, but I had been informed
that by some mishap James Edwards had the thumb of his
right hand so cut as to separate the leaders and prevent him
from using his hand at least for some considerable time
18 months and poor Anne far gone in consumption as
is supposed - - . After meeting we found William was going
home with a dearborn so Aunt Jane and I concluded to go so
we went, and when arrived found Betsy West and one of their
sons and Susan Kimber with her returning Prodigal. I did
not say repenting Prodigal son but we all met together and
some others were there beside. We staid an hour or two and
brought the company home with us, who wanted to see ED
some took support with A. Maris and some with us, so ended the
day. Martha Kimber has not returned home yet. She has
gone to Arwickshung to see M.B.H. Abby read a long interesting
letter to me after meeting from James L. Gibbons to his sister Palmer
on the subject of his disownment. We are to have it on 4th
day. He imagines he is on the summit of the mountain
of Emancipation looking down on the enslaved members
members of Society and pitying those whom he
considers bound in chains!!!
Thine and my papers both come on sometimes. [illegible] uncle
J. has neglected to stop them, and my file is broken. I
sent thee last week's paper *[Inserted: on 7th day last], with the five preceding, but
I am in hopes thee sees some of the neighbours, if not
say so in thy next, and I will forward.
On the 22nd [instant] a letter from E & R. to their father was
received, containing the pleasing intelligence that all were
well and giving an account of a two weeks journey by Edwin
to the North of [Indiana], and South of Michigan in company
with LW.T as far as JJLs, and M&T. the remainder of the way.
The object a new place of residence. The determination is
to leave Pendleton but when or to where is yet undecided.
Their Office had been the object of a stroke of lightning, which
set it on fire and did much damage to their glass ware and
medicines, also to their stock of shoes, the latter an entire loss
the former ensured. the loss appraised to between 120 [dollars] and
130 [dollars], I do not recollect the exact sum: to be received
on the [first] of [first month 1843]. The fire was extinguished in a few
minutes!
Esse, in her last letter, dropped a gentle hint that a "rolling
stone gathers no [underlined] moss [/underlined]." but Ed. says [underlined] moss [/underlined] is not the object.
I have refrained from giving any advice, this saving my
credit and time. I wrote a long letter to thy uncle S. last week
requesting him to let my children read it as perhaps it might
put them in mind of writing to us. I have not received a line
since early last Spring, but I must draw to a close or E will
have little room left but she and aunt R. have been much
engaged at E.D.s to day, so that she will have but little time to
write. Love to all from all.
Thy affectionate Mother
P.S. Thy grandmother is also at
Ed’s she spends much of her time
there, when others are absent particularly.
My very dear Sister,
Well as Mother has left a little room I may as well
fill it up thought I had intended to write a letter myself long before
this; I see mother has alluded to our trip to the French Creek
rocks but thee will have no objections to hearing a little
more )! I wish I could begin to describe it but I know I would
not do it justice neither would it be necessary as thee
has been there: I had no idea from what I had heard that the
place was half so romantic, I believe we were higher
up the stream than you were or at least some of you
we had our supper on a large flat rock surrounded
by water, a beautiful fall a little piece above and a very
swift current pressing on one side of the rock with
another waterfall just below the roaring of which made
much pleasure. I wish thee could be here before the first
of August for I know thee will be anxious to attend our
Anti Slavery [Society] Meeting which is to be held on that day in
the woods by Charlestown Meeting house I do not know yet
whether there has been any lecturers engaged or not
but have no doubt there will be for my part I would
be very well satisfied with the same ones we had last
year. Dear little Benny is as lively and interesting
as ever and does not forget "cousin Gracy" nor "Sissy Becca" nor
any of the rest of his brothers and sisters he has Joe says a pretty
large bump of "self esteem" and when he wants any particular favor
shown him he will say I am Benjamin Lundy Fussell Maris.
[Left margin]
I hope dear little Rebecca has not forgotten
us. tell her we would like to see her sometime
Esse Jane often speaks of her with
affection Please give her and Susan each a kiss
from me. Grand Mother requests her love
to all and says she would like Uncle
to write. Well as my paper is almost full I
will conclude by requesting thee to write soon
to us farewell dear Sister says thy affectionate Libby
[Center]
Graceanna Lewis
York
[Pennsylvania]
[Bottom]
so much noise as almost to prevent us from hearing each
other when speaking. O! how L. M. C. would be delighted
with such a ramble and then such a description
as she would give of it would be worth reading.
What would thee think if the was to see a company
of young folks pop in on you some day Ess
[?] and I have been talking something of coming but
harvest is come on and I do not expect they can leave
home and since E. Ds disaster the work comes pretty much on us
particularly at nights. I could not either for that length of
time but we would like very to come before thee returns
to which time we look forward in anticipation of
Esther Fussell Lewis and Elizabeth Lewis letter to Graceanna Lewis
Discusses Elizabeth Dunkin's recovery from an injury she recently sustained. Briefly discusses a letter from James Sloan Gibbons giving his views on being disowned by the Society of Friends for his abolitionist views. Mentions a recent lightning strike that set fire to the office of Dr. Edwin Fussell. Describes a trip to French Creek. Says their young relative Benjamin Lundy has "a pretty large bump of 'self-esteem,'" perhaps a phrenological reference.
Lewis, Esther, 1782-1848
Lewis, Elizabeth R., 1824-1863
1842-06-26
4 pages
reformatted digital
Lewis-Fussell Family Papers, SFHL-RG5-087
Lewis-Fussell Family Papers, SFHL-RG5-087 --http://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/5087lefu
A00185609