(Page 1)
11th mo 9th 1826
Dear Brother & Sister
I have been so unaccustomed to
writing lately that I feel at a loss how to begin, during
this summer we have heard very little from you in the
letter way which is to me rather more pleasant than
verbal information, (however it ^is^ agreeable to have both)
My health has been very much this summer ^and^ fall as it
was when you lived on Long Island but sister P has
had a very trying time of confinement with Catharine
on the account of her soar [sic] eyes they have been much
better but are now quite ^bad^ again I believe P thinks occasione^d^
by taking cold, Father goes crimping about with corns
on the bottoms of his feet Mother appears to be as well
as usuall, [sic] I have rejoyced [sic] for a few weeks past that
fathers and mothers’ ideas respecting Dear Elias Hicks
are much more favourable than when I wrote last
and I thought yesterday increasingly so He spok [sic] as
[we]ll as I ever heard him at the funeral of Margaret
[To?]wnsend & Mary Hicks, but ^when^ Daniel Titus was buried Sam
uel [Gossons?] began in a [sic] about five minute [sic] after the
meeting gathered to innumerate [sic] the [merriting?] of the
deceased and every one that I ^have heard^ express any thing about it
was extreemly [sic] weary with it except aunt Sarah
Fathers [sic] extremely exalted opinion of D T induces him to believe
it was very different from what the deceased would haved [sic]
desired Some have been ready to believe that he designed
his testimony should take the whole time in order to
prevent Elias speaking, he bore it all with a very patient
and composed countenance and soon gave his hand
after S G ended his communication from accounts
he maid [sic] a peaceful end, I can scarcely make you
scenceable [sic] if you have not felt someting [sic] of the same on
hearing of cousin Annas [sic] death how every feeling and
circumstance respecting her disolution [sic] seemed to corob
orate [sic] with what was publicly expressed, Be ye also
ready have your lamps filled trimmed and burning
(Page 2)
as her’s [sic] was found to be by those who visitted [sic] and attend [sic]
her during her short sickness I think by what I have
seen and heard cousin Amos is remarkably supported
Charles and Willet have been sevral [sic] weeks on the Island
they are now about fiscing [finishing?] off now time will not admit
of much more, pleas [sic] give my love to John Searing &
family and tell cousin Hannah if you think it best
that I wish she could persuad [sic] her Jerich[o] friends to give
up their strange notions which causes them to feel
bound to declare that they have not unity with some
of the wisest and best of friend [sic] if they continue to persist I
believe the most searious [sic] time ^is^ approaching that ever we
had any knowledg [sic] of among friends the select Quarterly
Meeting held eight hours from ten to six o clock
From your Sister who fells [sic] a deeper interest than I am
cappable [sic] of expressing in your wellfare [sic] Lydia Rushmore
To Isaac and Hannah Post
(Page 3)
[Address in center of page, running upward]
Isaac Post
Ledyard
(Page 4 blank)
[M. B. 2/15/2018]
fth [sic] mo 2nd 1823
Dear Brother
When I concluded my last expected to have attended an
other sitting of the Yearly Meeting after which to reurn [sic] home but father
said it would be fatigeuing [sic] I rather think I should have been
prevailed on to have stayed had it not been on sister Phebe and aunt
Rachels account thought I would go home and visit them which
I have since done sister P wrote me the day I got in Town that she
had not seen or heard one word directly from thee since you left
New York this occasioned me to feel more hast [sic] about going and seeing
her and to carry thy letter I happened to be at fathers [sic] when he receiv [sic]
thy communication from Albany it was one day after thine was
dated which was wrote from Scipio directed to me it was at that
time very warm wether [sic] here for several days
The great horse race began and ended the same days Yearly Mtg
did the day Isaac and I went up was said to be the most extraordina^ry^
day counted in about five miles ten hundred foot men which we met
we thought at a moderat [sic] calculation by what we saw there must
have been thirty thousand have since heard there was supposed to
have been fifty thousand A mournful sight indeed awful reflections
arose that man dignified with the powers and faculties of a man
should degrade himself to this degree it seems enough to make
me tremble to reflect ^on the^ subject ^whether^ will not a good
and a gracious
Care Taker who willeth not the death of one soul have to bring
on some awful calamity to ^caus [sic]^ poor degenerate mankind to see
them selves as they really are. I went to see aunt
Rachel fourth day after meeting had a very agreeable visit
with her read thy letter to her in which she felt an interest
also read her one from Stephen and Elizabeth [Twining?] fifth
day it rained sixth day more early in the morning set out
about half after four ^for Henry Willis^ a very satisfactory and agreeable visit of
about 10 hours carried thy letter which Phebe was very glad
to see her little Edmund appears some better his appetite
is better his eyes are soar [sic] but better I think if they could keep
him in the house out of the Sun they would soon get
better mother attended the Yearly M greatly to our satisfaction
as she has had not fit. She had to wear a new very decent look
ing gown made a few days previous to her going a sample
of which we got three yards and a quarter for thy pantaloons
I felt grieved that thou should go away with such poor ones
Only, I intened [sic] to have cut them by Joseph and made them
But finally mother and Joseph ^said^ Hannah could cut them by
(Page 2)
a pair of thine which might suit, better than his I thought
it would have been a pleasure to me to have done as much for
a brother that I love so dearly I thouht [sic] I knew sister Hannahs
worth and loved her dearly when here but her virtues appear
magnified now I can not see her may I endeavour more and
more to imitate, her patienly [sic] & quietly submiting [sic] to every thing just
as it occurred [sic] is brought to my remembrance I often have to
reflect on ^her^ treating us all with so much respect mother in
particular is what I have reference too, [sic] I think from what
appears brother Edmund is likely to be the first of our fam-
ily to visit you he said he was almost sorry he did not go
when you did but we all think it better for him to pay
you ^a^ visit some other time than to have gone then Joseph
says father he thinks father will not let him go so soon
as next fall I believe he thinks we had better all wait
longer before we visit you I think it is a matter of great
uncertainty which way the scale will turn with brother
Edmund and myself Do my dear brother permit me
once more to entreat thee not to make a practice of going to meet-
ing either tired or sleepy make it thy rule to lay down and take a
nap in long days before meeting this is the way to go with the
mind lively and active there is a possibility I doubt not but thou
can set thy seal to this after loss of much sleep and with the
body very much worn of going to meeting and feeling the mind
very lively and active but we need not suppose that such mi-
racles will be wrought for us every meeting day when it is in
our power to rest and refresh ourselves I believe when I have
lain down and taken a good rest in the morning in the morni
ng I have scarce ever felt sleepy or dull yet I am aware that
some people have an idea that this dreadful enemy must
be driven out by prayer and fasting only Rachel Hicks just
told me last first day she was very much tryed [sic] with heaviness
in the summer season insomuch that she was ^at times^ almost ready
to give up the struggle I told her I thought it was because nights
were so short that nature needed more rest she had better try
to take a nap before meeting she replyed [sic] she did not expect
it would do any good if she did, but I have no doubt but this would
releave [sic] her, Father said he thought very strange of thee for
not requesting him to ask for a certificate for thee you but I
thought seeing he did not forget it it would have been
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much better for him to have mentioned it to thee I so much expected
it would have been your choice to have one soon from what I
had heard the [sic] say, as it fell to my lot to read the adjournmin^t^ [sic]
it was with great reluctance that I read it beleving [sic] as I did
that you would feel disappointed I concluded that some friend
had it in charge and had forgotten it or that ^they^ forgot to charge any
one with it I was almost tempted to speak of it myself, brother Joseph
has for several of the last times I have seen him appeared very
agreeably affectionate and comfortable. I never felt my heart to
glow with such strong affection and attachment to and for him
before as since being seperated [sic] from thee I think I can
say I gradually feel a little more reconciled to thee seppe=
ration [sic] my feelings were such while you were in New York
had I have known that I could have seen you once more
I would gladly have gone to New York and stayed till you left
for after feeling so much as we did like returning from your
funeral it would have done me a great deal of good to have
seen you I believe sister P would have taken quite as much
pains to have seen you for she told me of some thing that
she wanted ^to^ say to thee very much and she said it so
seemed so much as it did after Uncle Isaac was gone she
wanted to tell him so many things but could not
Joseph told me as I ^had^ wrote he though[t?] I had better not
write till the next opportunity for he thought you
would recieve [sic] so many letters I suppose mine will
appear very inciped [sic] among the others thee may therefore
just look it over by thy self and not expose it unless
thou thinks best I should ^be^ willing to hear wether [sic] thee
received [sic] my other written in New York I believe I made
a mistake in dating it of one day it should have been 27th of
the month when I go to my ----s I often think of the little
caution thou gave me about keeping them bitter that one
which thou spoke of then was the worst and is now reg-
ulated I hope soon to have them all so that I shall not
be ashamed my friends should see them yet it is uncer-
tain wither [sic] they keep so long. pleas [sic] remember it will
ever be a balm to your Long Island friends to hear from you
(Page 4)
be very careful that thou dost get [to? so?] much interested about
cuting [sic] down trees and and [sic] clearing land remember it is the
prospect of thy living ^easier^ that reconciles us to parting; if thou find
that thou can not live easier their [sic] than [sic] thou must
return and we will recieve [sic] you with open arms and joy
ful hearts, pleas [sic] ^present^ my love very affectionately to sister Hannah
little Mary Amy Kirby Elijah and Caty. I feel so much as if
conversing with thee that I can scarcely bid adieu tho my paper
is most full fare well with desires ^for^ your preservation and comfort
comfort every way Lydia Rushmore we have a fire [pond?] yet
[Address in center, running downward]
Isaac Post
Scipio
[M. Becket 11/15/2017]