|
Cohasset Mary 27, 1800
My dear brother,
I hope you will excuse my not writing to you before when I tell you I have had
nothing heretofore, hat could in the least interest you. I have been very lately
unsettled in my plans for the summer, and consequently had nothing very pleasant
to myself to write. About three weeks ago, I had three in view. One at Hingham,
one at Scituate, and one in Cohasset, in the academy; where they wished me to
teach chiefly, painting and needlework. I was for some time at a loss which to
take. But, at length determined in favor of the one at Cohasset, as I should
have that a year, and the others six months only. Last Monday, I commenced
keeping. I except thirty schollars. The committee contemplate having a preceptor
soon, who I expect will hear part or all of them read. My wages are one hundred
and twenty-two dollars a year. I board at Mr. Sam Brown's. Mrs. Brown is a
charming woman, and I expect to spend my hours out of school very pleasantly
with her. Well, I believe I have said enough of schools.
When you wrote last, you requested me to let you know whether Mr. Lincoln had
sold our place or not. I am sorry to inform you, (if it will be any disadvantage
to you) that he has not. He said it must be advertised for sale nintey days, on
uncle Luke's account; and then, the season for improving it would be so far
advanced, it would be best not to sell it until next spring. I was not a little
rejoiced to hear that Mr. Harden was willing to bound for you. I thought it
pretty evident proof of good behaviour in you. I hope you will continue to
conduct so as that he will have no occasion to repent doing it.
You are not ignorant how much your future wellfare depends on your present good
behavior; and trust you will act so as to able to look back on a life well
spent. I have been to Boston since I saw you and made a short visit. Elisha,
poor child, complained terribly of the headache, and seemed quite low spirited.
Rachel is very well and is now in Jerusalem on a visit. Joanna says you cracked
her heart in a thousand pieces, saying good bye to her when you went away. I
hope I shall not have the same effect on your's by subwriting myself your
sincere friend and affectionate sister,
P.L. Stephenson
Hingham, May 9, 1803.
My dear brother,
You will surprised at my writing from Hingham, but not when I tell you that I
have taken a school here for six months. O, what an undertaking. Now methinks I
can hear you say, it is just nothing, a mere play. But I can tell you, you have
formed an erronious opinion of the matter. It is an employment which ought
interest every one who is concerned in it. I have about thirty schollars, many
of them small consequently they require more attention. The school is to be
visited once in three months by twelve trustees, all sensible men, to hear the
schollars read and spell, and to view their writings. Is this not enough to fill
a thinking mind with anxiety. I believe you will acknowledge it is. But I will
have done with my school and hasten upon a more pleasing subect, such as the
reception of your letter, for which I sincerely thank you. How did my heart
rejoice to hear of your safe arrival at the destined port and that you found
employment to your mind so soon after it. Yes, believe me, my brother, when I
tell you I feel so deeply interested in your welfare as I do in my own and
should anything operate to your disadvantage, it would as deeply wound me. But
this we must leave to that Being who governs the universe, and who is acquainted
with all our concerns. "Act well our past, there all honor lies." I
would advise you to be temperate in your pleasure. You tell me there is but very
little good company on the island. I hope you are able to distinguish between
the good and the bad, and will have an inclination to love the one and
resolution to avoid the other. Remember, my dear, your character will soon be
formed, whatever stamp it now takes, it will be likely to retain. I would not
have you wholly exclude society on the contrary, I would have you partake of
every rational amusement in a reasonable degree, but I would have you avoid the
quicksands on which thousands have fatally grounded, your own good sense, with
nature consideration will point them out to you. Elisha came to see me last
Saturday. He said he saw Rachel that morning well. I believe he is very much
determined to learn a coopers trade. I cannot write any more for it is school
time. I shall send this by Mr. Barnes, who is going to Passamaquoddy in a
Hingham Packet. You must write by him if you possibly can, if not, the first
opportunity. May every blessing attend thee, my dear brother.
P.L.Stephenson
Cohasset July 4, 1805
My dear brother--
It is so long since I wrote you, I am apprehensive your friends in Eastport will
again try to prevail on you to believe your friends in Cohasset have all
forgotten you and by this means endeavor to engross you wholly to themselves.
This may have been the case already which has been the cause of your long
silence. How to apologize for mine I am at a loss. If I plead want of time as an
excuse it will be but a paltry one. Therefore, I believe I had better not
endeavor to offer any but get upon something more interesting and I know of
nothing that will interest you more than to hear I am well and again seated in a
school. I have partly engaged for nine months but not absolutely for more than
six (for I had rather not keep through the winter season) for three dollars a
week. I board at Capt. Stephenson's. Capt. Stephenson arrived to Boston from
Lisbon last Monday, came down to Cohasset Tuesday and yesterday took his wife to
Boston with him to keep Independance. There is to be Great and Mighty things
seen and heard, I suppose. There is a man to fly perpendicularly in the air in
the form of a Peacock, (fifty to three hundred feet). Only think of the
imposition. In the evening there is to be an exhibition of the handsomest
fireworks that ever were presented in this country. But I imagine that you and I
shall neither be wiser nor better for them.
I suppose you have heard of the sale of our little patrimony, but perhaps you
have not heard the amount thereof which was one thousand and seven hundred
eighty-six dollars, fifty-one cents. Deacon Lincoln wishes you to write me when
you think it probable you shall come up to receive your part, and he will
endeavor to get the money ready for you. Do come this summer if possible or
before bad storms come on in the Fall. In your last you mentioned having a house
and getting a housekeeper. I should like to know for what length of time you
hired her, whether for a month a year or for life. I should advise you by all
means, provided you can find a virtuous woman who will be willing to engage for
the term, to procure one for life. A housekeeper who does not feel it her duty
to take care of your interest I am fearful will not for another more weighty
reason, I would advise against such a place Your character, my dear, you must be
sensible will be very liable to censure in such a situation. I presume you will
give these things a due consideration and will act with propriety. If you
conclude to take a wife, perhaps I shall consent to Elisha's coming to live with
you. He, poor child, complains bitterly because I will not let him leave Mr.
Burr now and go immediately East, but I think he had better stay this summer if
he possibly can and go to school next winter. By next Spring you will get more
established in business and then I think I would consent to his coming provided
he could go into a store with you. I am feeling persuaded he will never be able
to work at his trade, and excepting tending a store, I know of no business he
could do. Since I wrote the above, Elisha has made a short visit to Cohasset. He
is so unwell, he has been obliged to leave Mr. Burr entirely. He has gone to
Boston today to prepare to make you a visit at the first opportunity. I think a
tour on the water may be of some service to him. Do assist him all in your
power. It is school time and I must go. My respects to all your good friends.
Yours & Peggy L. Stephenson. Monday morning.
Cohasset December 9, 1806.
My ever dear brother-
And in sorrow, doubly dear. I would inform you that I received your letter of
the 18th of November, yesterday. I was not a little hurt on reading it, at your
complaints of me and your readiness to relinquish the affections of now your
only sister. In what I wrote you last, (which probably you had not received when
you wrote) I informed you of the state of Rachel's health. But alas! how little
did we think I should so soon be called to give you an account of her death. O!
how brittle the thread which connects us with time. This gives melencholly
testamony of our insecurity and of perhaps the most unexpected we are called in
the bitterness of our souls, to part with the dearest of our connexions. This,
my dear, has been our case, for though I was apprehensive of Rachel's never
being well again, yet I thought she might get better and perhaps live many
years. But she was very singularly affected and nothing the physician prescribed
during her illness gave her the least relief. After I wrote you, she remained
without any material alteration until Thursday, November 22, at which time I was
sent for about noon with the news that she was much worse. When I arrived to Mr.
Lothrop's she had just come out of a fit; but was in such dreadful distress, it
was enough to break one's heart to see her!! When I went in I asked if she knew
me, she said "yes" I asked her if she was glad to see me, she said
"yes", but she took no notice of me and appeared insensible to
everything. She continued having her fits as often as once an hour, all the
afternoon. The doctor said her fits were "histeric" and he did not
think her dangerous-- She might live three days in the same condition and
recover her health again. About five o'clock he bled her after which she lay
longer between fits; once she had a respite of three hours and a half. She lay
in a stupid kind of a frame and it was with difficulty we could rouse her
sufficient to get anything into her. The doctor staid until eight o'clock the
next morning. He said then he could do nothing different from what he had
directed me. He would go home but would return again in the afternoon Very soon
after he went her fits returned upon her as frquent as ever and more distressing
if possible than they were the day before. She remained in that situation until
four o'clock when she had her last fit. The doctor came again about dark. The
moment he saw her he pronounced her much worse, he found her very much altered
and very different from what he expected. Her fits then seemed apoplectic. He
bled her again, after which her circulations were better. He then said there was
an equal chance for her to get well again. But he was very much deceived. She
remained in that death-like sleep, fetching every with a groan, until she died,
which was about six o'clock Saturday morning. it would be impossible for me to
describe to you my feelings at that time. I sent directly to Boston for Elisha.
If it had been so that you could have been at the funeral it would have been
great satisfaction to us both, but this could not be and we must learn to think
whatever is, is right and submit ourselves in all things to the direction of
God; knowing he never willingly afficts any of his children-- but they may be
benefitted thereby. Let us, my dear, strive to make a suitable improvement of
the repeated trouble He sees fit to inflict upon us.
I spent Thanksgiving Day Eve at aunt James. Such a gloomy one as I never spent
before. Elisha was there or I would have sunk. I beg you not to be so
ceremonious about writing but write every opportunity, for we know not how soon
by some unforseen accident we shall be deprived of the power of writing.
Yours &
Peggy L. Stephenson.
Wiscasset, August 29, 1809
My dear brother--
How excessively you pained me by a relation of Elisha's very ill health. I had
flattered myself before the receipt of your very great favor, that he had
recovered entirely, but how deceived was I. I still hope and fear that I may
still be deceived. I am beyond measure anxious about him. I can only see him as
you described him after the loss of so much blood, pale, emaciated and unable to
turn himself in bed. But I pray God that my fears may be imaginary. Do
everything you can, I beseech you, to restore him and not want for anything that
can make him comfortable. I now, more than ever, regret that I cannot be with
you to asist in alleviating his pains. I cannot express half the anxiety I feel
on his account.
It is dark and I am very much plagued with preparing an exhibition at the
academy and I can only request you to write the moment you receive this, and I
doubly pray that it may be something favorable as it respects Elisha. Give my
best love to him, and you wife and child. Do not forget me.
M.L.Stephenson
Wiscasset October 16, 1809.
My dear brother--
How gratified I was to hear of Elisha's convalesant health. I am glad he left
this hostile climate for a more temperate one. I sincerely hope through the
blessing of God it will have a lending to restore him to good health, though I
very much fear that the boisterous element which he has to traverse, will prove
too powerful for his weak health and delicate lungs, and promote bleeding at the
nose again; but I pray God that it may not.
It delights me to hear that he has made so many friends at Eastport, who seem
willing to assist him. He has been peculiarly fortunate in this respect; and I
think him (without partiality) admirably calculated to gain the esteem and
friendship of those he assosiates with. It gives me great pleasure to think you
have been so attentive to him. Mr. Delesdernier informed me that you had done
everything for him that a brother could do. I hope you will continue your
kindness to him. I am sorry I have it not in my power to loan you the money
which you borrowed for him; but I find it difficult to get as much as I want for
present use, the times have been such. I hope, however, that you will meet with
no inconvenience about it. If you get any news of my brother earlier than you
think I can, I wish you to forward it to me as soon as possible. I sincerely
hope you will yet prosper in your business and be able to obtain a competing for
yourself and family. I feel deeply interested for you and them. Give my best
love to your wife, I am afraid I shall never have the pleasure of seeing her. I
intended to have sent the little Margaret something by your friend; but I was o
anxious about Elisha, and was so engaged in making his things all the time he
was here, that I did not think of it when he went.
My best wished attend you and yours.
Margaret L. Stephenson
Since I wrote the above, I have received a letter from Elisha. he writes in good
spirits. The physicians he says speak encouragingly. He was not very minute,
however. He had just arrived, and observed that his head was not yet quite
divested of the Eastport fogs. He speaks in the highest terms of his Eastport
friends.
Margaret.
Wiscasset January 24, 1810.
My dear Brother--
With a heart pained and grieved I write. Our dear Elisha is evidently declining.
Every day makes new ravages upon him, to see him thus rapidly verging at such an
early and interesting period of life to the grave. he seems calculated to live
and to please-- to be both useful and ornamental to society, and why he must be
thus early snatched from hence, God alone knows. The ways are indeed mysterious
and past finding out, but we must think always wisely ordered. Perhaps He is
taking him from the evil to come. His life has been such that I must but believe
He is calling him to happiness and glory. The ?world ( ) has not
hitherto held out many ( ) for him, nor does he seem to be strongly
attached to it. Though I have never said anything to him respecting his leaving
it. His spirits are very low and he needs to be cheered and encouraged as much
as possible. When he first came here he seemed to be getting better, but he has
failed very fast lately. I shall omit nothing to make him comfortable while he
lives. he had a very kind letter from a Mr. ? Cheny who offered to furnish him
with money were he in need. he wishes to write Mr. cheny for his offer but is
too unwell today. You and I can supply him I am sure. Fifteen dollars of the
money you sent him will not pass. he will send it to you again I believe. You
may possibly pass it to the person you took it of. He mentioned last night htat
he hoped you would collect some that was due on the firm and send him. Elisha
does not know that I am writing as I write from school and when you write to
him, do not let him know of having received it nor mention anything of his not
being so well, but write to me separately soon. I have written in such a hurry
that I fear you cannot read it.
Yours ever
Margaret L. Stephenson.
Wiscasset, March 6, 1810.
My dear Brother--
I am commisioned again to write for Elisha, he being too feeble to use the pen
much. You very warmly pressed him in your last to return to Eastport, but he is
too unwell at present to go either by land or water. He seems well contented
here, and it is my wish to make him comfortable. He seems well satisfied with
what is done for him, and I would not consent to his leaving here for Eastport
in his present weak state, even if he thought himself able and wished to go.
Respecting the business between N.B. and S. Bucknam and yourself, Elisha wishes
to know why the deposition must be taken before two justices, one of the
quorum and the other not, and he will get taken and send it to you, and you must
get it recorded at Machias. He wishes you to write him before he gets the
deposition taken.
I am happy to hear of the health of your family and the birth of your little
daughter, and I hope and believe you will not neglect to "train up your
children in the way they should go," sensible that great care and
responsibility devolves upon you when you are a husband and father. Elisha feels
very much complemented by your sending to him for a name, and he thinks of none
which he prefers to CAROLINE. I hope Mrs. Stephenson will be pleased with it for
his sake.
Elisha is much obliged by your offering to procure anything he may want. he will
thank you to send him more money as soon as you can. He bids me say likewise
that he will write Bucknam the first day he feels himself able. He desires his
love to you and your family-- mine you always have. Do write soon, I beseech
you.
Margaret L. Stephenson.
Wiscasset, May 28, 1810.
My dear and now I must say only brother--
I cannot upbraid you, but it is unaccountable to me that you have not written to
me in this season of affliction. I greatly fear that you are sick or that
something melancholy has happened to you, but I pray heaven my fears may be
groundless. it seems that my heart would break if any evil were to befall you,
but God only knows what we can bear and is only able to "temper the wind to
the shorn lamb" Hitherto He has been my support and carried me through
scenes which in prospect seemed unsupportable. You have undoubtly received the
letter from Mr. Packard, bearing the doleful tidings of our dear brother's
death. I have ever since been expecting a letter from you and have delayed
writing until the acceptance of it, but I cannot wait longer. O my brother!
never did I experience such a winter as the past. To be a constant witness of
our sweet brother's sufferings, and to know it was entirely out of my power to
relieve him, was distress beyond anything I ever before felt. His sufferings
were the last three weeks of his life, beyond description--yet he did not open
his mouth by the way of complaint. He may truly be said to have been a pattern
of patience. he seemed perfectly sensible of his situation and was anxious for
the hour to come which he believed would end his sufferings. He saw Mr. Packard,
often conversed with him and with me. At first he had some fears and doubts on
his mind; but by degrees they subsided, and he died hoping and believing that
God would have mercy on him, and receive him into His heavenly home through His
Son, Jesus Christ, and I think we may have every reason to think that his hope
was well grounded, for when we take a retrospect of his life and view him
passing that period of it which is most thickly beset with snares and
temptation, wholly uncorrupted as he appeared to be, we are ready to ask, who
can be saved if such an one is cast off. Although when in health, he was
uniformly gay and cheerful yet he was always innocently so. Indeed we have lost
a truly pleasant brother-- amiable in his disposition, agreeable in his manners,
moral in his habits, religious in his principles and kindly affectionate toward
all his friends and acquaintances. How often it is that those who are the most
fit to live in this world are the earliest called from it. We know not why these
things are, but we have every reaosn to think they are for some good purpose and
that they are taken from the evil to come. "The Lord gave and the Lord hath
taken away" and we ought reconcile our minds to the event so far as to be
able to say "Blessed is the Name of the Lord"
The deposition you mentioned was never taken. Elisha grew sick so fast after you
mentioned it, his lungs so excessively weak, and his voice so gone that it
seemed an exertion he was not adequate to. He did not speak a loud word for many
weeks before his death and many times it was with difficulty we could hear him
speak by getting the ear close to him. You will pardon him, I know, and not
think hard of him for the sweet sufferer had enough to think of and enough to
bear. You can have no idea of it-- Almost his last words to me were" Do
write to Jesse and remember me kindly to him. Tell him it is my dying request
that he will keep himself "unspotted from the world" that he will shun
vice of every description for it is an awful thing to die and to appear before
our Maker who knows all our thoughts works and actions and will judge us
accordingly to what they have been. Warn him to flee form the wrath to come by
living the life of the righteous. Do, my dear brother, regard his last
injunction, for we, too, must soon be summoned to that bourne whence no
traveller returns! I am fully persuaded that health is the time to prepare for
death. A whole life is not too long to prepare for that awful period. God grant
that we, my dear brother, may be found ready whenever it arrives. it was
Elisha's request to be buried under Masonic Rites. The Masons immediately came
forward and took over the direction and expence of the funeral upon themselves.
Of course, it will not be necessary for you to send any money. About other
expenses we were at on his account I shall gladly pay, and continuously say that
I devise my greatest consolation from the idea that I have tended him, watched
over him and done for him all in my power. Do write soon, I beseech you.
M.L.Stephenson
Wiscasset April 10, 1812
My dear Brother--
I have but a few moments to write as Mr. Piper, who will take this is just about
leaving here for Eastport-- I cannot deny myself the pleasure of writing however
if it be little. I have intended writing you a long letter in answer to the one
you sent me the first part of the winter. But I was at Cohasset at that time
preparing to be married and you must suppose I had not a little to do since my
return to Wiscasset. I have been at board and so much interrupted by company
that I could not conveniently write. My husband will write you soon and would by
this opportunity were he not very much engaged.
I left our friends well at Cohasset and desirous to see you. I was glad to hear
of the birth of your son and pleased that you had named him Elisha. I hope it
will live and be a blessing to it's parents and that you will all enjoy
abundantly the smiles of Heaven. I can write no more at present only to advise
you not enter into any business with Mr. Piper. He is thought here not to be
altogether sane at times and has lost much of his respectability. Intimate
nothing of the kind to him but treat him civilly.
Margaret L. Stearns.
|
