Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Post, Mary Robbins

Contributor

Post, Isaac, 1798-1872

Date

1860-07-22

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary Robbins Post to Isaac Post, n.d. Mary tells of a visit by her mother and father and gives news, especially health-related, of various family members and acquaintances.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

204

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Text in top margin around date line, written upside down]
write when you can for we are more glad
to recive [sic] than to give and I doubt not you
would get the blessing promised to those who
give

[Text normal]
                         Westbury 7 mo 22

Dearly Beloved   Thy ever welcome token
was duly received and its sentiments met
a responsive throb in my heart especially
that portion in reference to the occupancy
of our time so fully in the cares and pursu^its^
of the things of thise present state as almost
to make us neglect our absent friends I
have ever looked forward to a time when
leisure would take the place of much of
the active labor which has been generally
a pleasure but which I would now willingly
lessen but as I have got my hand in I find
it somewhat difficult to lay them aside I am
feeling real lonely this afternoon in the little
leisure of the hour for more than two weeks I
have been engaged in waiting on Father & mot^her^
one week there then we brought them home with
us but getting a new girl for them and father
was having lightning rods put up made him
anxious to go home else they would have
remained longer he was a little smarter than
he had been but looks pale mother was better

(Page 2)

some said she thought it had done her good
and I have no doubt of it to look at some new
objects must do good to sit week after week in
the same place the same round of thought and
care is enough to weary any one and so entirel^y^
dependant [sic] on others for every thing it seems to
me that life must be burdensome but she
keeps the patience remarkably they are an
hinfirm couple to try to keep house Matthew
has a felon ^it has broke^ Did I ever tell you the remedy for
felon’s they are so frequent here that I want every
body to know it and apply it for I think it
is certainly the best thing I ever knew Take
rock salt wrap it in a cabbage leaf and roast
it in the ashes 20 minutes then pulverize the
salt and mix it with common yellow soap
making a kind of salve adding a few drops
of spirits turpentine it will either scatter
or make it break very quick we have used
it very many times and always with the
most favorable results it is severe but the
end crowns all It was M M yesterday
and also the funeral of Phebe Cromwell wh
made our meeting large she has been very
poorly all summer inflamation [sic] of the lungs and

(Page 3)

her cancer increased too a happy release
Rachel got liberty to attend Ohio & Indiana
Y M apt some and visit the families of White
Water M M Stimoson also to attend Purchace [sic]
& Nine Partners Q M and the meetings and apt some
and Cornwall Edmund goes with him he
told the meeting he had a prospect of going
with I and they have him a miracle too Luc
retia fashion he did not ask liberty
This morning our girls went to N Y to see
the great Eastern Willet Robbins was going
with them it looked very cloudy and they
hesitated about going but it resulted in
a very little shower and is now very warm
& dry we are suffering on act of drought our
beautiful little lake presents a large margi^n^
and our gardens are suffering greatly
a little distance from us in several direc
-tions there has been rain a heavy rain on
second day night at N Willis’s very light hue
but through all the buds have almost out done
themselves in their constant song apparenty [sic]
unceasing I think I never enjoyed it more
what a beautiful arrangement when one ^blessing^

(Page 4)

is withdrawn or lessened we appreciate what
remains Our men folks have got through
hay and are now in their oats a fine
time to get hay so dry and not so
dreadful hot as sometimes nights and
mornings quite cool so that frequently
it is pleasant to close all windows & doors
Our colored friends are expecting to
hold a meeting on the first day of august
in the woods dear Spragues they have en
gaged a speaker but I do not know who
whether they will make out to raise money
enough on the ground I dont know think
it rather doubtful Phebe Searman Elijahs
widow was burned last week Thomas Mott
two weeks ago had the Eresipelas [sic] in his head
Cousins Sam^l and Katy will miss him very
much as they are now needing a caretaker
Cousin I was up to meeting yesterday and
pretty smart We called at S J Underhills
lately and they are fixed up with all the
nice things as tho they might be counting
on “long years of pleasure here” and they
feel that they are rich or I am mistaken
I believe it is very well I am at the bottom
of my sheet as I am really not in the
spirit of writing as this too plainly testifies
with love to all branches of our dear circle
        of relatives I am as ever your Mary

Tags

Abolitionism; Domestic Servants; Family; Medicine; Quakers

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Post, Mary Robbins, “Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2505.

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