Hopkinton
February 17 1839

My much loved, long neglected, tho' [sic] not forgotten sister M, may pofsibly [sic] think my affection for her has become cold and languid. Very far from it- I will not, now, fill my letter with apologies, but in a short space of paper say- I have had occasional opportunities of hearing from you by sister L, and Mother's family, and know that your sister Cath. exchanged letters frequently, through the summer past. (although I was not permitted ever to read one through) "Still at the same time," we have been able to hear from each other in that way, and you have probably heard the news as they have transpired. I have thought much of you to day [sic], wish you could have gone to Church with us. We lock the doors, and all go to the same house together. This is very gratifying to me, for Husband used to go to some other meeting you know. My children are all at the Sabbath school now, [?] the youngest, gets quite a lefson [sic]. She will be 6 yrs old the 1st of March. I have not any help this winter, except Martha stays with me. Her health is very poor. She now indulges a hope in Christ and is a constant attendant at the Episcopal Church and bible clafs [sic], which meets every Tuesday Eve. Last week it met here, upwards of 30 members- Parents with their children, 3 of mine are scholars. They are very profitable meetings. There has been great attention to religion in all the societies. In our church, Doct. Tyler, Mr. Gilmore, Mr little & wife, L Alanted, Elizabeth Chase, Martha, George Currier, Hannah Brooks &c exprefs [sic] a hope. In the congregational, Mr Chase Chandler (a very intemperate man you know) Emma Chandler &c &c and some in the Baptist Choir both of the other societies, Doct. Cole the B. Minister is about asking a dismifsion [sic] now, owing to difficulty in the church, resulting from a series of meetings, held 4 weeks in the fall by a Mr Grant it is said one of Bird's followers. Friday, we had new funnel and our stoves put into the attic and pipes extend through the Church- so that we have been very comfortable today- I still keep my old place at the head of the singers, and Mr F. plays the viol. Our children are all singers, they have attended signing school for several months past. Mr. Isaac Story, teacher. Margarette is nearly as tall as her brother; She had a large party the day she entered her teens. The Juvenile Missionary sewing a circle met here, (of which Charlotte Chase is President) took tea; and visited in the eve, we invited all the girls who did not belong to it or other young ladies, for Margarette is about the youngest of her clafs [sic]. I think of sending her to Concord one term to Mifs [sic] Kirkwood, and take Louisa Jane here in return- M. is very capable with the needle, & Mifs [sic] M's school is chiefly for needlework of all kinds- It is not taught in our Academy. Margarette and Timothy have been 5 terms- This winter I kept M. at home to learn to work, for I was with her, not having a hired girl- She is quite a cook- Aunt Margarette shall have a taste next summer- The other three have been to George Curries, who keeps the district school, [?] studies Arithmetic- Mrs. Hiram Blanchard has a son, 2 weeks old- named Darwin, she gets along nicely- was sewing yesterday- I run in the back way often. She sends her best love to you. Charlotte was married Christmas- moved to Weare- have not seen her since. We pafsed [sic] a pleasant Christmas, all went to Church, Expected Louisa up, but had no company at all except poor Mrs Knowles come in at dinner time. Pleasant I say, because I enjoyed it in a spiritual sense- I felt that it was a delightful commemoration of our Saviours birth- The year before, my mind was filled with worldly cares- having much company- "I was careful and troubled about many things." Widow Sally Brown's only child, Joseph, lies at the point of death with a chronic inflammation of the head and spine. He has been sick all winter- United with the baptist Church in the fall, and bid fair to be a promising young man. Mrs B. is very much afflicted. He is her all- "her only Son, and she a widow." Dear B's family the same as usual- Judge Green has moved to Concord, and Herman gone to house keeping in the three storey house- Ellen is well as ever. Samuel Chase has moved his wife and child to his father's while his Mother had gone to Philadelphia, to spend the winter with Benjamin- Doct. Gregg has gone to Georgia on businefs [sic]- will probably be gone 2 more months. Edward has studied with him some- this I guefs [sic] but a little. He is almost at a stand what to do. whether to take another course of lectures, go into a Drug shop or what. I dont [sic] think he will ever make the man his Father was- too fond of drefs [sic], does not study Economy, as sister Mary does. I am afraid he will spend all he is worth, before a wet day- and that he lacks stability- My fears, however, may be groundlefs [sic]- At any rate, I have reason to fear they are all too lavish with their portion- If I could see you I could talk months- I will ask one or two questions, How come brother C. by so much cloth, smuggled by himself and Tea, Parkers son of Hamilton? Is it all plain black & white or is there a little deception some way, How came his trunk broken open on his return from Canada, and so many valuable articles taken besides money? Perhaps, you know all about it, He told me last night, for the first time, that he received a Certificate from Dr. McQ. and a letter from you in December. Sister L. came up here last Monday staid till Tuesday Eve. We visit Mother with Minister Chase and many others, the next day I had Mother & Aunt Chadwick here. Mr. F. is going to Concord this week. I expect to go with him, Louisa Jane spent two weeks with us- Now [?] Catharine is making her visit- Margarette has spent some time with them in Concord, Daniel did not find it very profitable selling W.J. Goods, on Credit, as he calculated to pay Cash in Boston, and customers wanted to barter- or long credit. Therefore he quit and has gone to the old trade again- He thinks he can make double, you shall have your boxes when you come after them- Now, I am coming right to the point. Are you coming to see us next summer? We are all expecting you, and shall be sadly disappointed, if we do not realize our anticipations. 2ndly, When are you coming, and when shall we begin to look for you? These are anxious questions with us, I afsure [sic] you- Mother and her children want to see you as much as I do and M. with theirs. For we all want to greet you, much as we hoping our Epistolary conversation dwindles into nothing at the thought! Do decide in your next, what are your calculations &c &c. Martha Jane says, "Tell Aunt Margarette to bring her baby down when she comes" Tell my little nephew? cousin Tim, will haul him in the little red wagon Uncle Flanders made, and he may have a feather in his little cap, besides many other things, if he will come and see his cousins, I cannot exprefs [sic] how much we want to see you, and shall take nothing short of all summer for a visit, Providence permitting- I could fill the whole sheet, but as Louisa left on the sheet to fill only one page I must close, I have encroached however on the second page, the reason of its being written so backhanded- but L. can interline with blue ink. Mrs. Philips took tea with me last week. We hear that Charlotte Towne (alias Mrs. Hilliard) has one child, Mrs. Stanwood had a daughter born Christmas day- Do tell us something how Mr. Berry's folks get along, I have made Louisa many long visits since she moved to Concord, have Martha to keep house for me. We always talk of you- and sometimes of "Mifs Wifrant" [sic] . I hope we can talk with you, ere many more moons. Give much love to your Husband, We expect to see him before strawberries are ripe, Alice Chase has spent some time with me, says Doct. Skinner is coming on for her, soon as the spring opens- It has been open pretty much all winter, for we have had but very little snow, I could write all night were I not interfering with L's letter- I wish you would step in tomorrow and eat some of our good Homing and milk for dinner. We have plenty of it, and are pretty near over run with pumpkin pies- do not pretend to he out of the article; you recollect Mrs Caul had a daughter about Timothy's age, She had a second one 2 yrs [sic] since, but within a month has been called to part with it- I hope it may have a salutary effect of their minds. He in particular for I believe he is a deist- I expect her here every day- She is now visiting at the West part of the town. You probably knew they moved to Lowell a year since- and Dr. Savory who married Mary Stark his succefsor [sic]- I mention about Dr. Skinner thinking it is a good chance for you to come, if your husband cannot come till fall. Horace was married a few weeks since to Abigail Carr and moved to Maine He is an Eastern speculator of the fortunate kind. Rhoda is staying with Pluma this winter. It is very healthy here- I should not think there was businefs [sic] enough to half maintain one Physician- yours in much love-
Mary Eliza F. [Flanders]

[There is a small piece missing of the cover, on which an additional note is written]

Still I would not go back for the while term- judge it is turned morning light has found him there & some kind companion has there had [??] same as ever. Mr. Page very poorindeed have almost offered for [??] is of life- Dr. & Mrs. Wayt dined with me in Dec. I was rich with herds & [??]- a party that eve- I did not enjoy the visit as I should on some other day- [??] pleasant party, but was sick vomiting, no girl, but an old woman to help me, next time you will be here & lend me your help- I have attended several parties this winter very kind people, very attentive to strangers & a pious village- Mr. Banton lost his wife two weeks since, left an infant a few weeks old- she died of consumption- the babe is not expected to live- his first wife left an infant- 2 hours have now pafs'd [sic] with receiving calls quite an interruption to receive 5 calls, one at a time, when you are busy, it keeps the bell jingling- one was Mrs. Dumbee ([?] lady that was-) We have had a very cold [?] the three past days, many are sick with influenza, Alfred has been quite ill does not leave the room. Tell Dr. we have some of old Sandhorton people for neighbours in the stone building. Haven Swans Bill Kennison & Kennels- put in prison for stealing- Mr Terry Tiltons little Sophia (that was) has married a fine young man here a Merchant, Mr. Lang it says.