| Title: | O'Brien, Maria Wright to O'Brien, Joseph Sinton, 1841 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6087 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/111(1) |
| 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 | 1372 |
| Genre | staying with relatives, news of family, socialising |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Philadelphia 3ld Month 29th 1841 My Dear brother, I fear thee will begin to think I have forgotten to answer thy letter, but doubt not: thee will forgive me when I tell thee the reason. To-day is the first I have been in school for about 10 days. I have been so unwell I had a physician mended me every day for nearly a week. He said my disease [is] a nervous affection occasioned by intense application to my studies. He has ordered me Co take a walk every morning before breakfast, which I find is a great benefit to me. Thee would not think I was the same person that came here a few months ago. I do not ever remember being so much altered in so short a time: but do-not feel uneasy about me for I am so much better that in a few days I am going out to aunts, which is about a mile, and I always walk. The doctor says he thinks I will be better when I get my strength than I have been in a long time. I think that the worse thing I do is painting- it always makes me feel sick when I sit any length of time at it, and I think when I finish a piese I have partly done I will not begin another. I was at Cousin Jas Greeves a few days before I was taken sick. He was not very well and has been confined to the house the most of last week. I heard however yesterday that he was better. Tell Mother that I have had a letter and a packet containing a new dress pattern and a little crape shawl and scarf from Aunt Jane Greeves. They were brought by a brother of Thomas Richardson's who is now in New York but is expected to be here soon, when I am to dine with him and his brother Thomas at Cousin James's. The dress Aunt sent me is called Polish or Orleans cloth: it is a very rich thing but will be rather to[o] heavy for a summer dress, but I have had a present of one from Cousin James. It is an elegant brown satin. I have not got it quite done yet: aunt sent me a sovereign to get it made nicely and it is a beautiful dress for going in the street. I got a ... cloak: it is almost black, as no other colour is worn here in cloaks. Aunt has made me a present of a calico dress and a printed mull, one of which I have made and the other is nearly finished. When I was last at aunts she told me she was going to send father the Encyclopedia: it will [be] a library in itself. It contains 18 large volumes. She has several other books to send besides. I was very sorry to hear of its being so sickly m that place and hope you may all keep well. Tell father that Cousin James thinks very hard of him for not writing to him: he says something about it every time I see him and I dont no what excuse to make. I am sure if father knew how anxious he is, he would write soon and often. Aunt Jane says in her letter that they were well as usual. She said I might send it co mother if I choose, but I dont think it would hardly be worth while as there is nothing that I cannot write. She says Uncle Thomas has been obliged to confine himself to the dtawing room the greater part of the winter but is now much better. Aunt Mary S. [John Greeves' widow] is also much better and was about coming to reside in Lisburn during the summer. She sends her love to all, in which grand-father and Aunt Molly unite. I saw Cousin Mary on first day evening and told her I was about writing home. She desired her love to all, as also did Aunt Greeves the last time I saw her, which is two or 3 weeks ago. I will go out there on next first day if nothing happens to hinder me. I have been so much better to day that I fee quite encouraged about myself. Thee need not be at all afraid of my forgeting any of my country friends, for to tell the truth I like old Collins with all its wild woods and log cabins, far better for a house than any places that I have visited yet, and I often fancy to myself all the family assembled around a fine blazing wood fire and one of you reading aloud and all as happy as can be. We spend our evenings in a very different manner. In the fore part of the evening, that is till about half past 7 oclock, we are engaged in learning our lessons for the next day. Then we dress to go in the parlor, and about 8 oclock company begins to call in to spend the evening (for we seldom pass an evening alone) and stay till about half past 10. So we seldom are in bed till 11.00 ... then not till 12 oclock then every 4th day wene we have what we call the "Literary and Social Circle” (of which I am a member) to attend. This society consists of about 23 gentlemen and ladies: we meet at the different houses of the ladies and spend the evening in a very improving manner. The society is regularly organized, having a president, vice president and secretary; also an editor for our manuscript Magazine, to which every one sends voluntary contributions and every week 3 members are appointed to furnish pieces to be read and two are appointed, called the readers, who read aloud for the edification of of the rest. It is my turn to read at the next meeting, which is tomorrow night. The circle consists of a very select company, all very intelligent young people, so that I think it has been a great advantage to me. 1 am quite a lion, being from Buffalo near the Niagara Falls and always introduced as a young lady from Buffalo; and many is the description I have to give of the tails, the City, the manners, dress and customs of the Indians, and I think thee could not help smiling to see me surrounded by half a doz gentlemen and ladies, far my superiors in information and intelligence, listening with intense interest; to the description of an Indian womans dress and the way she carries her papoose- or some other similar description; and I did not think I knew half as much as I do, or that my conversation could be half so interesting to such people as I meet with here, who have spent their whole lives in good society. At first thee may be sure I felt rather diffident and was very careful not to say anything at all, but I find that it is such ones that are always taken most notice of and made to talk whether they will or not almost. 31st I intended to have finished this letter last night but Cousin Mary came in to spend the evening and hindered me. I expected to have gone to our circle to night but it meets farther away than I felt able to walk, so I thought best stay at home and finish my letter: 3 of the girls have just gone and a gentleman called for me, but I declined going though he would have got a carriage if I had said so; he saves it will be very interesting this evening as they will have several excellent pieces read and there is to be a present sent to the Society. I have written this far but must say good night as Cousin Mary has sent for me to spend the evening with her, and I will finish this letter to mother; so will close by desiring thee to give my best wishes to all who may inquire after me I am thy ever affectionate sister Maria W. O'Brien |
