| Title: | O'Brien, Maria Wright to O'Brien, Joseph Sinton, 1841 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6085 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/110(2) |
| Year | 1841 |
| Sender | O'Brien, Maria Wright |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Lake Erie, NY, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien, Joseph Sinton |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 971 |
| Genre | studies, health advice, family, writing |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dear Brother, Although I have written so long a letter to Father I think I can find plenty to say Co thee, I am very glad m hear that thee likes reaching so well and hope that it may be the means of thee getting a good situation; and I will do ill that I a n to assist thee in getting established in a good school, if thee still continues to like it and would think of beginning something of the kind on 'thy own account. Thee mentioned something about Algebra. It is not taught hers as this is a young lady's seminary and it is a branch not considered necessary for ladies to learn. I think that if thee could go to the Sp[ring]ville Academy a Quarter the[e] could get sufficient knowledge of it to reach it if thee should conclude to - by teaching thee would make thyself perfect. I trust a good deal to that in what I am learning, for I find that it will be impossible for me to get a thorough knowledge of any branches (except perhaps of French) which I have undertaken. But Caroline Fling says that she did not know anything about several branches which she now teaches when she first began reaching, but often took lessons one day herself and taught them the next to her scholars and in that way she had established herself in an excellent way of getting along in the world. She often tells me how she had to manage at first with her school and I think it will be of advantage to me if I ever conclude to do anything of the kind. I am very sorry to hear that it is so sickly in that part of the country and hope that you will all take good care of yourselves. I will now tell thee something to tell Father which I forgot to tell him: that is for him to drink a glass of cold water every morning when he gets tip, which is said to be very good for his complaint and in some cases to have performed a cure; and for bilious complaint to rake about the size of a pea of rhubarb every night going to bed for a week. Tell Mother to try it, for I think it would be very good for her. And now to thyself, Joseph, I do wish that thee would take good care of thy teeth - if thee had heard die half or heard as much said about good teeth as I have, thee would not neglect thine the way thee used to; but I hope that thee will in future try to take care of them, and be sure and clean them everyday, with dean water and rub thy brush on a cake of shaving soap which is recommended as a very good thing for the teeth. Tell Margaretta that she must spend as much time as she can in studying, as I intend to have her for my assistant teacher in our school; and Thomas also, who I hope is making great progress this winter. Cousin James wished me to say to Father what I forgot to mention in my letter to him. He sends his love to all and wishes Father would write to him all the particulars about how much he has got done to the mill, as he says he feels a great interest in hew it will succeed and he often asks me about the forms in that vicinity, the price of land and such things. Cousin James has had 6 letters from Aunt Jane Greeves since he came home and he had a few days ago saying they were all well as usual - in it was a slip of paper giving an account by Cousin John O'Brien of Cousin Elizabeth Walpoles death, which he said took place a short time before - she had been some time delicate, he said. Uncle Thomas Greeves health was better but he had to be very careful. Cousin James says that Aunt Jane often spoke of making a visit to this country - does not doubt but she will at some future though not very distant time. Tell Thomas that he need not think that he will get off without writing to me for I think that he might and that I will be right offended if he does not write. I suppose that he will say that he never did write and he does not know what to write, but he will never have a better opportunity and if he is afraid to write to his sister I am sure that I do not see who he would like to write to. Do try to get him to write some in the next. 1 felt dissappointed to get nor so much as a message from Thomas or Daniel or Anson in the last - tell them that I am afraid that they do not think as much about me as I do about them. Oh, how often I wish I could see you all and spend one of those long winter evenings with you all, sitting around the great blazing fire as we used to do. I suppose you will mink I have so much to occupy my mind that I do not often take much time to think about home, but I assure thee that I do not often close my eyes to sleep without thinking of you and what you are probably thinking and talking about, and I often think how much we are scattered this winter - more than ever before we were. Bur I must save some room to write to Margaretta and therefore must say farewell and I remain thy truly affectionate sister Maria |
