Letter 1
Sarah is 18 and Ellen 16
From Sarah A. B. L and Ellen L. to her Mother, Mrs. Laura Lincoln, Petersham, MA. “By the politeness of Mr. Wilson”.
Westminster, Sept. 4, 1844
Dear Mother,
Having an opportunity to send a line to you, I hasten to improve it. We are well, contented, and happy, and I don’t know what we could wish for more. Our school number about 75 scholars, and more are expected. We shall have quite a goodly number bye and bye I imagine. My studies are Olmstead’s Nat. Philosophy, Chemistry, Grammar and Arithmetic and think some of taking Geography of the Heavens. Ellen’s are the same with the exception of Phylosophy. We have this afternoon been listening to declamations and compositions. Some of the pieces were quite interesting. this evening there is a Lyceum. The question to be discussed is, “ Do the heathen of our own country deserve more of our sympathy than the heathen of other countries”. I suppose you have heard from us by Mr. Cummings. He called at Mr. Merriam's on Monday and spent the evening. I should have written by him, but he thought it would be uncertain about his passing through Petersham.
We met him on Tuesday morning, and he said then he thought he should, but, it was too late to write. I have become acquainted with nearly all the young ladies in school. They are very sociable and tractable, and I think there is prospect of enjoying ourselves finely this fall. I like our boarding place very much. There are five other boarders, three gentlemen and two ladies. Two of the gentlemen do not attend school however. There are two other young ladies for Petersham, Miss Mary Brown and Miss Maria Spooner.
Tell Lucius I am learning to play the organ. I have got so that I can play Granville pretty well. I expect I shall be able to teach music by the time that I get home. I wish Lucius would come the last part of the term. If you have an opportunity I should like to have you send me “The Granite State”. I am very anxious to know what Mr. Wheeler’s decision is about the school. If he concludes to let me have it, I want you should intercede with him not to have it commence until after this closes, for I should be very much disappointed to leave before the examinations.
What do people say now that I am gone? I suppose of course they will have to make some ill natured remarks. You must bid Elizabeth good bye for me, as I suppose I shall not see her before she leaves. Also give my love to Cousin Emily ( and tell her that I should have been very happy to have seen her), an dot all others who may inquire. Ellen wishes to be remembered to you all. I hope you will write soon. Please excuse this for I have written in a great hurry, as I have a very short time to write in I must bring this to a close.
From you aff. Daughters S. and E.
Letter 2
Additional Information
Westminster, Oct. 12, 1844
Dear Mother,
Thinking I may have an opportunity to send a line to you by Miss Brown (if she goes home today) I take my pen to write a few lines. Ellen is well, but I have a very bad cold, which seems to have settled on my lungs, and I cough a considerable.
We arrived here safely just at noon, on Monday.
I have not yet obtained a school. The young gentlemen, whom I spoke about, is going home today and will see about it. But I don’t think I shall obtain one, at least I fear I shall not. There is a school in Athol that I can have, of about 12 scholars. It will keep seven weeks at 1.00 dollar per week. I wish to know what you think about my taking it, provided I can not get one anywhere else. It is so small and they give so little for it that I don’t know what to think about it. I will abide by your judgment however. I want to teach this winter very much. I must let them know the first of next week. I want you should write, and send by Miss Brown, and tell me what you think about it. It will commence the first of December, soon after the school closes here.
Ellen is very anxious for some money and says she can not do without it. If you can make it convenient we should like to have you send us some.
You will be kind enough to let me know by Monday what you think about that school, as I must return a decided answer next week. Though I shall not wish to take it if I can get one anywhere else. But rather than not teach at all I don’t know but I would take it as far as my own feelings are concerned.
Give my love to all. Tell the Dr. and Olivia I shall expect them over here next week or week after. You and Lucius must come as soon as you can. I have no more time to write and must close. Be sure and write, won’t you?
Yours, Sarah A.
PS. You can leave your letter at the Dr’s. and Miss Brown will call there for it.
Letter 3
More about Petersham people
Sarah A. B. L. to her sister Ellen M. Lincoln, Leicester, Mass.
Petersham, Sept. 22, 1845
Dear Sister,
Thinking we may have an opportunity to send tomorrow I have taken my pen to write a few lines, and a very few they will be indeed, for I don’t know of anything to write that will be interesting. Petersham is a very remarkable place for slander and tell-tales &c., but no remarkable events have transpired since you left, and you see I am entirely destitute of news. We are all well at present, but have all been sick more or less since you went away. I am very lonesome indeed. It seems as though there is no one for me to speak to or to speak to me.
Maria called Saturday night, and tomorrow I am going over to Mr. Gates with her to eat peaches and grapes. Emeline Porter has gone to Troy to spend a few weeks. Lucy Ann has returned from Springfield. I don’t know how long she expects to stay in town. Lucius went to Westminster to muster last Wednesday. I was not at home or I should have gone with him. I was much disappointed. He took dinner at Mr. Woods, saw Mr. Nourse and Mr. L. L. Whitman but does not know how many of the old scholars are there. There are over a hundred in school. Mr. Merriam has no assistance except from scholars. Rufus saw Mr. Lowe, but did not speak to him. We have not been to Boston yet, and I don’t know when we shall go, though probably this week if the Dr. can leave. We should have gone last, if he could have left Mr. Howes. Sumner Parmenter is very sick, and I do not know but he is considered dangerous. Jannette said they had a note requesting the prayers of the church yesterday. I said there was no news, but I had forgotten. Mr. William Rogers ‘ barn was burned during the shower Thursday night. I never saw such a tremendous shower, it hailed like fun a while.
Paper is very scarce, so we thought we would send you but half a sheet. Mother wants you should write how you like your school. I think it is a real pretty one. We have got 40 hats done. I am discouraged.
A fly lit on my hand while I was writing, and in my haste to get him off, I blotted the paper very badly, therefore please excuse.
I want you should write me a long letter telling me all about your school whether you are not allowed to speak to gentlemen at all, how your time is spent &c, &c. Tell Mary Browne I wish I was there to school with her for I am so lonesome here. Give my love to her and to Southern (or Luthern) and others who inquire. Have you written any compositions yet? I want you should be very careful in spelling, and not write a word until you are sure you can spell it right.
I have not much more time and as Mother has a few lines to write I will close. If I go to Boston I will write you a long letter all about it, and a better looking one than this, too, for I hope I shan’t be in such a hurry. Write when Mr. Wilson returns if you can. Sister Saran Ann.
Beloved,
The pleasure which has pervaded my heart in the repeated opportunities of hearing from my E. since leaving her, has not been small, although indisposition of body has fallen to my lot most of the time since; two days unable to sit up but little, the rest of the time have kept at work, not because I felt able. It gives me great satisfaction to hear you are so pleasantly, contentedly and happily situated; and now dear E. suffer the repetition, improve all the blessings, privileges and advantages with which you are favor’d to your own best temporal and spiritual good; remember they are golden moments for you, ah yes, and with what rapidity do they pass never to return, be entreated then, improve them as it were for your life, they will soon be gone. That health with all its attendant blessings may be your happy portion, that in due time you may return having made all suitable and possible improvement, is the most sincere desire of your Mother, L.
TO: 1845-46
