Seaman, Mary. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Seaman, Mary. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Seaman, Mary

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

182-?

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary Seaman to Amy Kirby Post, 182-?

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

379

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

                                                       Jericho 3^rd day morning

                                                      Pardon me my dear girl, for not
sooner answering thy truly acceptable letter; had inclination
but consulted, I should have e’er thise made the effort
but I have been so engrossed in reading lately, that it
has caused me but little leisure, to participate in
other pursuits ; I have been engaged in reading Cowper,
his life and letters, which I find to be quite interesting
but in the mean time, I have been reading Cecelia,
in giving my opinion concerning it, I cannot say
it is the most interesting novel I ever read, but, still,
it is entertaining to my weak mind _ _ _ _ _ _ _
                Thou observed in thine “that thou had frequently
thought of giving me an invitation to correspond
with thee”; it would, I can assure, be very pleasing to
me, for in my opinion it is a medium through
which we can greatly improve ourselves ; and I can
not help but entertain the idea , that even corresponding
with me , thou could improve thyself )(not that I think
I could improve ^thee^ no the reverse; I look up to thee for
improvement, but by experiencing an of ideas,
it will have a tendency to ripin [sic] our understanding;
mature our judgement; and improve our minds in
the pursuit of knowledge and research _ _ _ _ _
                                        I often look back on days that
are past; my memory often retraces pleasures that are
forever gone; I look back on the days that I was
once a school mate of thine; in that yard where we
have ^so often^ have rambled together; but I suppose I have
not reason to remember or at least think on it
for ^as often an thou^ it has been my fate, to be snatch from a parents

(Page 2)

care, and receive the ^little^ education that ^I^ assess in other
land – — — — — — — Father and mother have
not yet returned, and we do not have reason to look
for them, now till after Quarterly Meeting; I begin
to want to see them very much, but we are more used
to a sepparation [sic], than many parents and children
are – — — — — — — – I received a letter from
my friend and thine Phebe Willets ^a few days since^ but I do not
recollect that she told me any think [sic] new; I have
of pleasant several correspondents, which is very agree
=able to me, I am very fond of writing as well as
thee, thought I will know I have not a talent for
letter writing; I often wish I had one or two talent
for letter writing, but then again I think if I knew
more, there would be more required of me, and
therefore feel content with the little that I
possess ; but in writing letters to any person I never
study much, I write generaly [sic] what comes first,
and, especially so to thee my play-mate and my friend
I think ease in the beauty of letter writing,
I am much obligd [sic] to thee for that [piece?]
thou wast so kind us to send me, I have not
had time to enjoy it, but I entend it send and
I ^will^ immediately send the original back to thee,
accompanied with my sincere tahks [sic] for the
favor confer’d ____________________ I
think Edwin Post is quite a [part?], I should
like to have some of his, but I conclude I shall
never be a possessor of it, for I do not consider my
self much acquainted with the youth, and if I
was I should ^not^ like to ask him, to make my for
me; I dare not use the freedom with him that
some girls have since he has been on the Island
   I do not wish thee to think I mean Amy

(Page 3)

Kirby for I have never heard any thing about
her, but I have of one or two others. __ _ ___
I have not time to write on other word; dinner
calls and I must bid thee adieu; excuse my
writing and imperfections. ___ ___ ____
                                                  Thine truly
P.S. an answer to this will be gratefuly [sic] recievd [sic] by Mary S

Another P.S. excuse my [obliterated]
                                          ________________________________

(Page 4)

[Text in center left margin, written downward]
years will advance with silent pace
and not that form of every grace

[Test in center of page, written upward]
                                     Amy Kirby
                                                  Locust Grove
Amazed at such a strange attack
I changed my course and hurried back
but such a fatal arrow met
Its pierced me deep, and pains me yet

Tags

Family

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Seaman, Mary, “Seaman, Mary. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2678.

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