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Willis, Sarah L Kirby Hallowell. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.
Title
Willis, Sarah L Kirby Hallowell. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.
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Date
1852-12-11
Description
Handwritten letter from Sarah L Kirby Hallowell Willis to Amy Kirby Post, December 11, 1852.
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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
958
Location
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Text
[Dec. 11, 1852]
Locust Grove December 11th 52
Dear Sister &c
I have delayed writing a little because I have been quite busy some of the time making mother a double gown and we have expected every day to hear from you untill I feel really anxious and some alarm about you. have not received a line except brother Isaacs half sheet written immediately after I left home. I fear some you are sick and you defer writing because you do not like to trouble us It seems to me that thee would write before this if thee was well enough. It is too stormy for me to go to Jericho tonight but I shall ask William to go. I am not sure that I answered brother Isaac,s questions about the money. It was safe in the letter. Willet and Matilda are now grieving that they did not send the turnips after I came the weather has been so warm that we think perhaps the boats have continued to run. In my last I forgot to say to WIlliam that sister Mary said he ought to take some tea to purify his blood to stop those styes, frost weed she thinks as good as any -tho birdock root is very good. she says tell Mary to make it as palatable as she can with milk and sugar and put it on the table for him every meal. he should also take one or two doces of cathartic medicine a week, Hygean Pills she reccommends of course I hope William will feel like following her advice for a while
When I came here all seemed so well satisfied with mothers taking pills and as she was improving a little I did not feel like saying a word against it. She has continued to take them at first about every other day and sometimes a couple of No 1 at night when her cough was very troublesome. she has not taken any in several days now and said tonight she hoped to get along without them, her cough has almost left her sprits very little phlegm I do not see but she may get about as usual after a while, she sits up more than half the day I think and has several times walked alone from one room to the other tho her side is very weakand easily gets tired, yesterday she was unfortunate enough to fall while attempting to shut the door after going in the other room and hurt her some but not badly did not fall on the floor but sat down on the little chair father said she could not get up alone. I was absent making my first visit. Went with Matthew and Hannah to William Robius mother seemed quite willing that I should accept their invitation I enjoyed the ride and visit very much. They spoke of thy visit. William said he had been to Ropers since and heard the rapping Ann Ropers daughter in law the medium, he was satisfied that she made the raps, he thinks with her knees. We have not seen or heard from sister Elizabeth since she went from here the day I arrived, it did not seem quite right to go so near and not see them but I did not feel like accepting Matthews kind offer to come back that way as I knew they wished to get home early and it was so near dark
Hannah and I are planning to spend a day there before long if mother continues to improve. Brother Willet expects to kill hogs seconday and I shall not try to go untill that is all over - I am hoping to see James and E tomorrow to it is stormy yet. It is growing colder which suits the people here it has been so very warm the did not like to kill the hogs. Henry Willis we hear lost some "his pork by killing last seventh day and keeping till seconday we have had several rainy days but each time it clears off warm. I have before me a beautiful boquet of stockjillies, renuncalis (I think) and burnet from aunt Esther's garden, Marigolds and artimitid from Matildas. Fifth day aunt Esther gave me a pot of fine stock fille just from her garden, they look well have not drooped at all.
Seconday morning
Cloudy and cold enough for the pond to be frozen over. Our men folks are busy with the hogs. James and Elizabeth came yesterday afternoon, she expects to stay several days while the walls are drying, has been sick ever since she went home, the first week not able to leave her room took cold in the damp open house and had a chill every night. James said he kept well but Elizabeth and the children were having colds all the time and E was fairly frightened away, he returned last evening. Wallace is at his grandfather Motts and Cornell at Lotts. Sister E has just been showing me a roll of needle book which she thought was from me but I have no recollection of it - suppose thee sent it, she thinks the needles are very good better than they get here. I think Matildas hoarseness is better tho she has not said any thing like it she is trying a wet bandage at night talks about taking pills. Thee and I thought that she would be troubled about mothers having a doctor, but she tells me it was her who sent for him having first found that father and mother were willing. she has been very pleasant and kind since I came, says she was sick herself while mother was the worst. I expect brother W trouble her as well as our sisters. she thinks he does better but I fear there is no improvement from what I see and she tells me. Sister Mary told me she had written something something about troubles here or I should not have named it now. Brother Willet expects to go to Wisconsin this winter to buy a farm tho he does not talk like leaving this while father lives. is going to Richland City depending upon William Ketcham for advice in buying. It seems to me that I will be as well for them to keep their money at interest untill they are ready to go on it, beside I do not like their going so far from us all should like them to be near Rochester but I fear it would not be well for him. They have government land in view -
I want very much to hear from you hope I shall find a letter today, the mail arrives and leaves verry near the same time. Is Sarah Thayer with you yet. What do you hear from the girls? has William C Nell arrived: I fancy if you are well that you have had busy times changing about things things in the house. Hope Eunice has got well and that Sarah Birney keeps well. Mary Ann seemed so stout I hope she will miss her usual cough and pain. Does Willie sleep alone yet, tell him I hope he will learn to spell cat and dog and a great many words before I get back. Mother looks very smart in her new double gown and has been asking for her work basket wants to take a few stitches in fathers vest. Cousin William is now here says E in improving. Mother thinks she gains very slow but I think she improves a little every day tho' it is not perceptable each day suppose you very must be off for Boston about this time Affectionately Sarah
Locust Grove December 11th 52
Dear Sister &c
I have delayed writing a little because I have been quite busy some of the time making mother a double gown and we have expected every day to hear from you untill I feel really anxious and some alarm about you. have not received a line except brother Isaacs half sheet written immediately after I left home. I fear some you are sick and you defer writing because you do not like to trouble us It seems to me that thee would write before this if thee was well enough. It is too stormy for me to go to Jericho tonight but I shall ask William to go. I am not sure that I answered brother Isaac,s questions about the money. It was safe in the letter. Willet and Matilda are now grieving that they did not send the turnips after I came the weather has been so warm that we think perhaps the boats have continued to run. In my last I forgot to say to WIlliam that sister Mary said he ought to take some tea to purify his blood to stop those styes, frost weed she thinks as good as any -tho birdock root is very good. she says tell Mary to make it as palatable as she can with milk and sugar and put it on the table for him every meal. he should also take one or two doces of cathartic medicine a week, Hygean Pills she reccommends of course I hope William will feel like following her advice for a while
When I came here all seemed so well satisfied with mothers taking pills and as she was improving a little I did not feel like saying a word against it. She has continued to take them at first about every other day and sometimes a couple of No 1 at night when her cough was very troublesome. she has not taken any in several days now and said tonight she hoped to get along without them, her cough has almost left her sprits very little phlegm I do not see but she may get about as usual after a while, she sits up more than half the day I think and has several times walked alone from one room to the other tho her side is very weakand easily gets tired, yesterday she was unfortunate enough to fall while attempting to shut the door after going in the other room and hurt her some but not badly did not fall on the floor but sat down on the little chair father said she could not get up alone. I was absent making my first visit. Went with Matthew and Hannah to William Robius mother seemed quite willing that I should accept their invitation I enjoyed the ride and visit very much. They spoke of thy visit. William said he had been to Ropers since and heard the rapping Ann Ropers daughter in law the medium, he was satisfied that she made the raps, he thinks with her knees. We have not seen or heard from sister Elizabeth since she went from here the day I arrived, it did not seem quite right to go so near and not see them but I did not feel like accepting Matthews kind offer to come back that way as I knew they wished to get home early and it was so near dark
Hannah and I are planning to spend a day there before long if mother continues to improve. Brother Willet expects to kill hogs seconday and I shall not try to go untill that is all over - I am hoping to see James and E tomorrow to it is stormy yet. It is growing colder which suits the people here it has been so very warm the did not like to kill the hogs. Henry Willis we hear lost some "his pork by killing last seventh day and keeping till seconday we have had several rainy days but each time it clears off warm. I have before me a beautiful boquet of stockjillies, renuncalis (I think) and burnet from aunt Esther's garden, Marigolds and artimitid from Matildas. Fifth day aunt Esther gave me a pot of fine stock fille just from her garden, they look well have not drooped at all.
Seconday morning
Cloudy and cold enough for the pond to be frozen over. Our men folks are busy with the hogs. James and Elizabeth came yesterday afternoon, she expects to stay several days while the walls are drying, has been sick ever since she went home, the first week not able to leave her room took cold in the damp open house and had a chill every night. James said he kept well but Elizabeth and the children were having colds all the time and E was fairly frightened away, he returned last evening. Wallace is at his grandfather Motts and Cornell at Lotts. Sister E has just been showing me a roll of needle book which she thought was from me but I have no recollection of it - suppose thee sent it, she thinks the needles are very good better than they get here. I think Matildas hoarseness is better tho she has not said any thing like it she is trying a wet bandage at night talks about taking pills. Thee and I thought that she would be troubled about mothers having a doctor, but she tells me it was her who sent for him having first found that father and mother were willing. she has been very pleasant and kind since I came, says she was sick herself while mother was the worst. I expect brother W trouble her as well as our sisters. she thinks he does better but I fear there is no improvement from what I see and she tells me. Sister Mary told me she had written something something about troubles here or I should not have named it now. Brother Willet expects to go to Wisconsin this winter to buy a farm tho he does not talk like leaving this while father lives. is going to Richland City depending upon William Ketcham for advice in buying. It seems to me that I will be as well for them to keep their money at interest untill they are ready to go on it, beside I do not like their going so far from us all should like them to be near Rochester but I fear it would not be well for him. They have government land in view -
I want very much to hear from you hope I shall find a letter today, the mail arrives and leaves verry near the same time. Is Sarah Thayer with you yet. What do you hear from the girls? has William C Nell arrived: I fancy if you are well that you have had busy times changing about things things in the house. Hope Eunice has got well and that Sarah Birney keeps well. Mary Ann seemed so stout I hope she will miss her usual cough and pain. Does Willie sleep alone yet, tell him I hope he will learn to spell cat and dog and a great many words before I get back. Mother looks very smart in her new double gown and has been asking for her work basket wants to take a few stitches in fathers vest. Cousin William is now here says E in improving. Mother thinks she gains very slow but I think she improves a little every day tho' it is not perceptable each day suppose you very must be off for Boston about this time Affectionately Sarah
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Citation
Willis, Sarah L Kirby Hallowell, “Willis, Sarah L Kirby Hallowell. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed March 13, 2025, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3248.