Post, Matilda. Letter to Tilly.

Title

Post, Matilda. Letter to Tilly.

Creator

Post, Matilda

Contributor

Tilly

Description

Handwritten letter from Matilda Post to Tilly, n.d.

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

263

Location

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

Transcription

*since he & Hannah were both in Racine he was lecturing some she
expected to return soon to Ill, he had heard the Hall was sold & said
he should go to chopping wood in a few days & relinquish the idea of
doctoring again unless I or some one would hire him, in Phebe's
letter to me she says she wishes he would come near N Y or she could
spend the summer with him, or a part of it, now, cant you enter
into some arrangement with him some way, she was very anxious
to know what news from you, but did not get thy letter till
after I answered his, I think he has learned lessons enough since
being out of business, to be willing to very different from what he
was once willing to, how the man is going to earn enough to even
clothe them decently unless some one assists him to open a house
again for patients, I dont [sic] know, I do wish thee would write to him
though I dont know as he remains at Racine yet or not
I think any assistance you could give him to again get
in business wuld [sic] be gratefully recd. (Who was it
that he snaped an apple seed at?) Oh! how may times I
have scolded him for cutting such a caper, he said he did
not care anything about it on his own account, but was
sorry on thine and Phebes he says in his letter he dont
snap apple seeds out there No! but talks about
the change in his views. I have occasionally

to battle some for thee too (as well as much
for him) in regard to the unpleasantness between thee
& Hannah, why did thee not tell Aunt Amy freely as
thee did me how Hannah talked about thee & Phebe
I intend to see her before long & correct some wrong impression,
I have allready [sic] said some things in order that it might
not fall on the rong [sic] ones the reply was "my 'Matilda
did not tell me that [H?] talked so to her & they thought
it quite a small affair to have such hardness about
some berrys [sic] or cherrys [sic], I think now my word is almost
doubted as they have been told that the Dr had
Psychologized me & would make me believe almost anything
now if thee has occasion to say anything, talk plain
will thee I do not believe he has blinded me at all I can
see his faults as plain as any one & I think I can also see
traits noble traits in him not to be found in every man
& for them I will speak out even if as thee said ("a
"A Martyrs recompense be [none?]" & how glad Dear [Lilly? Tilly?]
I am to find thee still clinging faithfully to ^the^ noble, the
pure, & I feel to cheer thee on, be faithful though trials
& enemies meet thee & the reward will be peace. Thee
may think by my saying on the other sheet that I scarcly [sic] dare trust
any body that I am affraid [sic] of thee, not so! if I only could see
thee I would dare trust things, that I dare not on paper, but
do not let what I have written trouble thee no! I expect the
way I have been persecuted is Just what I needed to give
me that independence that I never before was in possession
of, the Dr & some others of my friends have told me that not withstan
-ding it was grievous to be borne it would yet prove my salvation
I think so too, my eyes are opened to many many things that before
I was blind to or saw but dimly. Does thee keep my letters for
thy own special reading & no one else? I want thee to remember they
are confidential, or at least the confidential part is & that thee very
well knows which is, burn then up after reading, please, I have
listened two nights to Rev Theodore Parker on Antislavery very interesting
indeed he is so plain & firm Libby [Burtis?] married the 13th of
last mo, gone to Oberlin to live I like her husband very much. Mrs
Butterfield has gone west with that Mr [Soule?] to be clarvoyant [sic] for him
oh I am so sorry she was such a sweet little creature & he so coarse
Thy acquaintance well as far as I know. I think of visiting Edmund & Sarah
soon wish thee was here to go with me, I have not been there since I called
with thee. - Why dont thee tell me not to write such long letters?
can thee find them out. - -In love, as ever affectionately thine
Matilda

Text

(Page 1)

Dear children 4m 29
I did not think Josephs [sic] very acceptable letter would
remain so long unanswerd [sic] when we receiv'd it but hope my inattention
will make him think its his duty to use his pen more - when its
in his power to gratify us so much by writing - I know its long since
I address'd you yet there has not been an hour since Wm and Hannah
return'd but ^I^ could have fill'd a sheet - but I fear'd I should say too
much and therefore said nothing - now I find the same subject that
caused me silently to suffer - has been by him - reflected on And I hope
profitably - since there is nothing of more importance than family unity -
let us all endeavour w all "our might" to promote it - feeling assured
the fault is ours if we do not at all times strive to "quench the kindleing [sic]
coals" others falling short is no excuse for us - we may think we have
just cause to censure - but the more we indulge the disposition the
fact is clear we are guilty of increasing our own troubles and departing
widely from that love that our neighbour - must deserve - and must -
have if we seek our own peace now with a hope that Joseph has written
and feels satisfied I will leave the subject. after desireing [sic] if he has not that
he will imediately [sic] and let me know its [sic] done and well done
the account of your steping [sic] along in your domestic line is as ever pleasant
becaus [sic] I beleive [sic] you are desirous to improve your moments to the best
purpose - which you well know - is not by acquireing [sic] much - but in the
right application of your time - then with little or much - content is
secured which is great gain" we find Joseph has taken a jobb [sic] that will
prevent your makeing [sic] us a visit David has contemplated with interest promote-
=ing [sic] it but now think he shall be disappointed - but perhaps some way
will open for you to meet at yearly meeting time - altho I dare not draw
many pleasant pictures, home seems to be my place and I know I ought
rejoice and be thankful for my many favours - yet it is sometimes dis=
=courageing [sic] to be so confined from the enjoyment of the society of my
freinds [sic] - it is right or it would not be so, and I do try to be patien [sic]
but often come short - thy father is pleased to have the rochester [sic] paper but I had rather
know the expence [sic] was used in writeing [sic] paper and the time spent in reading them
devoted to teaching Edmin [Edwin?] his letters and ^to know^ his mother must be minded as much
as his father - what can it do for us to know the humane [sic] family are constantly
endeavouring to hurt instead of helping each other to attend to the Law of
nature

(Page 2)

I never ask'd thee to exchange thy coat if I had I hope I should have been
alive to propriety and reminded thee of remembering prudence _those coats
call'd plain coats have always been far short of what prudence dictates --
but I think thou wast rather imprudent to leave thy overcoat at home
and hope thou wilt take better care next time thy father was pleased
to find thee alive to the spirit of cultivating ^thy farm^ - would be delighted to help
thee - I think thou wilt have to tie thy son's hands or he will help thee
more than will be profitable - I want to see the children very much how will
discretion ^dictate^ for David and Sarah to come to Rochester and take R and them
to farmington [sic] and after meeting to Scipio - there seems no probability of
thy being at liberty - we should enjoy the visit very much if one of the good
sisters would take care of thee - I hope thou wilt go soon to I Post’s they must
think of thee as I dont [sic] wish them to - I am pleased with thy account of Sarah Ann
I love Edwin no less for being so mischievous but am glad his sister is more
like her mother - Dorcas has returnd [sic] from [S? L?] Marriotts - and has taken a
family school in No street at $1 pr [sic] week and her board Thomas Alsop
invites Elisabeth to board with at his house and go to school to Dorcas
beleive [sic] its pretty much fixed to accept the offer - we are prepareing [sic] some
single yarn to knitt [sic] for Joseph and the children - I mention it that my
noble son may not buy yarn for I know Rosana has no time to knitt [sic]
and as its [sic] all I can do you must indulge me - now dear children I have
scribbled on and express'd my feelings and feel better satisfied than to be
silent yet regrett [sic] the expence [sic] - know its[sic] not worth money - but what can
we do there seems no other way for us to communicate - but I am not
willing Joseph should pay both ways - I made a mistake - took this sheet
that I had made this extract on and did not perceive it untill [sic] I had
got on my second page - doubtless it will be interesting to you - have I
desired you to tell your father - there is a son of Richard Mitchels of middle
-town [sic] R I - and his wife Peleg Mitchels daughter of Nantucket - come into
our neighbourhood - they are a very interesting couple - also Benjamene [sic]
Barneys wife Sarah sent a certificate to our mo meeting and resides at
Port Byron she was granddaughter to James Mitchel of middletown [sic] and we
indulge a hope that our dear connections at rochester [sic] will be induced to visit
Scipio _ by there [sic] cousins dwelling among us - R Mitchel says he feels rather
a preference to the Othodox [sic] but if they receive his certificate it must be on
the ground of his feeling toward all alike he cannot feel any difference
he has taken a large farm on shares of B Gould - Lydia Mitchel has a
sister Hannah Macy who is member of freinds [sic] mo meeting on nantucket [sic]
Anna cannot write) with love to all your connections your affectionate mother
A G

(Page 3)

[Text in center of page, written upward]

Poplar Ridge 70
May 1

Joseph Greene

Rochester

(Page 4)

A circumstance extracted from WW_s Journal
At duck [sic] Creek meeting in the state of Delaware. After I had sat ^a while^ in solemn
silence, the life of truth arose in my heart, and with it the subject of war
open'd in my mind, at which all that was in me bowed before him, who
is the god of peace, and feeling my insufficiency to undertake so important
a subject, I, through weekness [sic] did plead with my Master to excuse me from
the task, and that he would be pleased to lead me in a more easy path
fearing the cause might suffer by my inability to do it justice.
but the Lord showed me that that was what he had for me to do in that
meeting; so I resign'd myself into his hands and became calm, then
stood up and speak spoke on the subject, for nearly two hour [sic], to the
releif [sic] comfort and satisfaction of my mind, and the meeting concluded. I then
return'd to my lodgeing [sic], and was siting [sic] on a seat at the door fronting the
street, where many were passing along from meeting: and amongest [sic] the
rest, a plain, good looking black man, who when he came near stopped
as if he had a mind to come in. the freind [sic] of the house asked him if
he would come in, he said he did not stop to come in _ then he stepped to
[obliterated] [a]nd said "I stopped to speak a word to thee, which is this: the Master
[obliterated] a great work of thee, to day, and thou shrank from it for a while,
thinking, that the great men of our state were present, and thou begged to
be excused, but master held thee to it, and when thou didst put thy
trust in him, he carried thee through without a jar or a flaw.
Now I think this is ^enough to give^ encouragement - always to trust Master - this much
I thought I had for thee. always trust Master. Farewell__” I knew that this
man must have been favour'd with the spirit of revelation, for there was
nothing seen or heard with the outward eye or ear that could have given
him this knowledge, for I sat very still while my mind was under the
exercise; and when I stood up, I said nothing concerning it, but went
on into the subject

Tags

Abolitionism; Medicine; Personal; Spiritualism

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Post, Matilda, “Post, Matilda. Letter to Tilly.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2564.

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