| Title: | O'Brien, Joseph Sinton to O'Brien (n. Kelley), Prudence, 1851 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6178 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/180 |
| Year | 1851 |
| Sender | O'Brien, Joseph Sinton |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Marshfield, North Collins, Lake Erie, NY, USA |
| Destination | Collins, Lake Erie, NY, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien (n. Kelley), Prudence |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | husband-wife |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1537 |
| Genre | news of family and friends, weather |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Marshfield , Sept 28th, 1851 Dear Prudence After leaving you in the cars, mother and I started directly for monthly meeting. We had not gone more than three fourths of a mile before we saw the cars crossing the road just before us. They were the same that you were in. Away they flew in an instant and were soon out of sight, bearing far from me the one I most loved on earth. How I did wish that I could have borne you company and how sad I felt to think that I must let you go off alone amongst strangers. But I trust that ere this those strangers are acquaintances and that you have found many kind friends. We got to monthly meeting in pretty good season by driving pretty fast. Saw a good many old acquaintances and several friends from Collins and vicinity. After meeting took dinner at Jacob Potters (had lots of good potatoes). His daughter, an old school teacher and acquaintance, has just returned from Indiana where she has been for several months past. Mother says you would like her much - she knows her better than I do. We left Mr Potters about 5 o'clock and got home at half past 8, and found our folks "all right." I went to bed at 9 feeling quite lonesome. The room looked desolate - on account of your trunk being gone and so many of your clothes. I extinguished my lamp and went to bed as soon as I could reeling quite cold - not having got warm since I got home - and imagining that possibly you too were alone and as cold and perhaps a great deal more lonesome. But being quite sleepy I was soon asleep. I awoke at 4 next morning and thought of you again. Arose at 5 precisely - washed myself- left my bed airing - ate breakfast - and went to work in pretty good spirits and felt that I had done right in sending you to the "Glen", and that the time would soon come when you would return to me again. I worked away very busily a couple of hours - I took out my watch - it was 10 o'clock and - only one day was gone of the many that we were to be separated! Since that, time has passed pretty quickly and already three days are gone. The weather has been rainy most of the time since you were gone, which has prevented us from working at preparing our wheat ground. It is rainy again today. It is now ten o'clock and there has been hardly a moments cessation. Esther [Peasley] does not make cheese to-day. She and mother have got the work done. She is just sitting down to read with her black dress on. Mother is writing a letter to Ireland. William and Anson are gone to Sunday school, and Daniel I don't know where, and your affectionate Joseph is trying to think of something to interest the one he loves best. Day before yesterday I received a letter from Edwin Mabbitt of which the following is a copy omitting date, signature etc. "Having here to fore been somewhat cognisant of thy usual punctuality in fulfilling thy duties as an epistolary correspondent, and having sent thee a letter a great while ago (so long I have forgotten when) and have got nothing in return, I am at a loss to account for it. Perhaps thou art out of paper- this is as plawsible a reason as I can guess, so I will send a sheet of fools cap and. hope thou wilt give us a long bill of particulars. I done feel disposed to write any more until I have a letter to answer." Enclosed with the foregoing was a whole sheer of white paper. How do you suppose I felt? How do you feel? This letter was mailed on the 22nd: I mailed one for him on the 19th. Immediately on reading his letter, which was just after I had done work in die evening, I sat down and took the sheet of paper and commenced writing by saying "Below thou wilt find that long list of particulars." I then commenced writing a "list" of particulars, no one of which occupied more than a line excepting the last, numbering each one as I wrote it, 1st, 2nd, 3d, etc. along down the side of the page until I got to 100. There are but few letters that contain as much news as mine did. First time that I had to write many things that were not very important, but then it would be interesting to them. Andrew Varney told me that he expected Edwin out here before long. James Varney is to be married the 15th of next month or was married the 15th of this. I could not find those things you said you left in the pocket of your dress. I hope that it may prove that you have taken them. Give my respects to Dr. Jackson and tell him that it may be the means of making a water cure doctor of me if he succeeds in cureing you. Tell him that there is no place that I would be more glad to pay a visit than the "Glen" - at present. He must think that I have a great deal of confidence in him to think that I would trust you to his care - him who is a stranger to me - and expect him to restore to you that greatest of earthly blessings - health. The hope that he may do so makes us willing to be separated for a time when nothing else would. It is now nearly 12 o'clock and it is still raining - I think that I shall not be able to get over to George King's this afternoon to attend our "spiritual meeting". Do you hear anything about the "spiritual Manifestations". I find that there are a good many who begin to think that there is "something in it." I dare say that you are writing a letter for me today - a long one I hope. But you must not write too much at a time, so much as to affect your health, until you are able to bear it. I do not think of much mote to write at present but will most likely have more to say when I get ready to send it. By that time yours will be here most likely. Till then good bye. Sunday Evening I thought when I finished the last page that I would not write any more today - but I am at it again. About 12 o'clock it cleared off for an hour or two and the boys and I concluded to go to the spiritual meeting. Before we got there it commenced raining again and rained nearly all the afternoon. As we expected we found nobody there but Mr King's people. Mr King said that Philiman [Philemon] Waldron was very sick, which prevented them from being there. He said also that he saw your mother two or three days ago at his brothers, Arnold King's, and that she said that they had hired Arnold Kings horse and were going to start on their journey the next day. When William returned from Sunday school today he told that there was a funeral at the meeting house. Warren Tyner's wife (Elisha Washburns sister) was hurled to day. She was a middle aged woman and has left three or four young children. I found the key of your trunk in my pocket this afternoon!! I suppose you have found a way to get into your trunk before this time. I must have put it into my pocket after locking your trunk at the depot. I will send it to you by mail if you want it. Enclosed is a copy of Miss Bradley's poem which she read before the Stare Teachers Association that mother brought home with her. Is it not good? But I must leave a little room to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, provided I get one. I shall expect a letter every mail. Keep up good courage. Remember that a few weeks is not a whole life-time - and that they will have an end. Think of me often - as I do of you - and accept a hundred kisses from your affectionate Joseph Tuesday at the Post office I received your letter. Was glad to hear you were in good spirits, thats right: Keep up courage. It makes me feel proud of you to know that you are so courageous. I feel well but rather lonesome. I am with you every night in spirit at 7 o'clock and every morning at 5 - and a good many times during the day. In haste Joseph Dont be afraid to pay out money when it is needed. Mother and Esther send their love. Jane says tell Aunt Prudence to come back. I have got another boil and the prospect of two more. Ask the Doctor if any thing ought to be done for them. |
