Metadata
Title
Ruth P. Morse to Sarah Josepha Hale
Date
1829-08-18
August 18, 1829
Subject
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-192
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Salem
Tuesday Eve, August 18th 1829 -
Mrs Hale,
My dear Madam, Do not think that your acceptable
note has not laid on my table since yesterday noon without an
answer because I was too indolent to answer it, or because the promise
it gave was not a most delightful one to me, but know & believe
that this is the first minute that my attention has not been completely
engrossed since its reception. When it came to hand I was just dressed
to attend the centennial lecture at the "first church in this town, I went
with you in my mind & I could but regret that you were not present
to enjoy the intellectual treat that day offered us. When anything striking
way presented to us in the early history of this "first church planted in America"
illustrative of the simplicity of manners, firmness of faith & ardour of zeal
of our worthy ancestors, I could but think how such a mind as yours
would catch at the traits of character drawn forth by the peculiar circumstances.
I presume that Mr Upham's lecture will be printed & that you will
read it, but, if it strikes you favourably as an interesting production, it is
impossible that you should feel that enthusiasm that you would have
done to have been on the very spot were the little flock two hundred years
before me [finance?] their church 2 offered up their prayers & praises. A short biography of several of the first Pastors was given in a concise, clear & interesting
manner. The two of most interest to me were Roger Williams & Hugh Peters, Should
have named the latter, first, as he was prior to Williams. Indeed Mrs Hale
I wish not for fictitious tales of magnanimity, heroism or suffering for virtue's
sake to awaken my sympathies when I can read or hear passages in the lives of such men -
You will perceive my admiration of Mr Upham's eloquence & excuse (I hope) my prosing
to you about it -
It will be impossible my dear Madam that I can visit you in Boston
as my recent long vacation must prevent my leaving town again soon, but
you will be pleased to accept my thanks for your polite invitation.
And now, will you not come to Salem unceremoniously! My sister & self
will receive you most cordially - ss to time I hardly dare name that; as I
know not what may be your engagements, yet this or next week week we shall
depend upon seeing you. Perhaps it might be pleasant to you to spend a Sunday
here - Would that I could promise you more of my attention than merely between
school hours, but I will do my best. You must visit our museum & that will
take one long half day, & if the weather is favourable you must see all our town
& its delightful environs - I wish you were here tomorrow, for Wednesday afternoon
is my holiday. In addition to my school of thirty two young Ladies I am myself
a Spanish scholar, my teacher comes down from Boston & spends every Saturday &
my class recite in the afternoon of that day -
I will postpone naming my intelligence of Mrs Smith, as also my apology
for not calling on you when I returned from [?], until I see you &
hoping that that may be quite soon permit me to day I am your friend
Ruth P. Morse -
P.S. I find on looking over my note that in my haste in
writing, I have left out half my words. I have broken the seal [?]
give you our address, tell the stageman to leave Mrs Bowditch's
Munroe Street -
P.S. Seconde. Circumstances over which I could have no control
prevented my mailing this until this morning, and now I conclude
you are all inter[?] in commencement at Cambridge; however,
Sister bids me give her love to you & say that she shall depend
on seeing you on friday afternoon of this week, do not dsappoint
us, if the weather [etc.] permits, we shall invite an arriving
party to meet you - truly your friend
R.P. Morse
Monday Morn. Aug 24th
Tuesday Eve, August 18th 1829 -
Mrs Hale,
My dear Madam, Do not think that your acceptable
note has not laid on my table since yesterday noon without an
answer because I was too indolent to answer it, or because the promise
it gave was not a most delightful one to me, but know & believe
that this is the first minute that my attention has not been completely
engrossed since its reception. When it came to hand I was just dressed
to attend the centennial lecture at the "first church in this town, I went
with you in my mind & I could but regret that you were not present
to enjoy the intellectual treat that day offered us. When anything striking
way presented to us in the early history of this "first church planted in America"
illustrative of the simplicity of manners, firmness of faith & ardour of zeal
of our worthy ancestors, I could but think how such a mind as yours
would catch at the traits of character drawn forth by the peculiar circumstances.
I presume that Mr Upham's lecture will be printed & that you will
read it, but, if it strikes you favourably as an interesting production, it is
impossible that you should feel that enthusiasm that you would have
done to have been on the very spot were the little flock two hundred years
before me [finance?] their church 2 offered up their prayers & praises. A short biography of several of the first Pastors was given in a concise, clear & interesting
manner. The two of most interest to me were Roger Williams & Hugh Peters, Should
have named the latter, first, as he was prior to Williams. Indeed Mrs Hale
I wish not for fictitious tales of magnanimity, heroism or suffering for virtue's
sake to awaken my sympathies when I can read or hear passages in the lives of such men -
You will perceive my admiration of Mr Upham's eloquence & excuse (I hope) my prosing
to you about it -
It will be impossible my dear Madam that I can visit you in Boston
as my recent long vacation must prevent my leaving town again soon, but
you will be pleased to accept my thanks for your polite invitation.
And now, will you not come to Salem unceremoniously! My sister & self
will receive you most cordially - ss to time I hardly dare name that; as I
know not what may be your engagements, yet this or next week week we shall
depend upon seeing you. Perhaps it might be pleasant to you to spend a Sunday
here - Would that I could promise you more of my attention than merely between
school hours, but I will do my best. You must visit our museum & that will
take one long half day, & if the weather is favourable you must see all our town
& its delightful environs - I wish you were here tomorrow, for Wednesday afternoon
is my holiday. In addition to my school of thirty two young Ladies I am myself
a Spanish scholar, my teacher comes down from Boston & spends every Saturday &
my class recite in the afternoon of that day -
I will postpone naming my intelligence of Mrs Smith, as also my apology
for not calling on you when I returned from [?], until I see you &
hoping that that may be quite soon permit me to day I am your friend
Ruth P. Morse -
P.S. I find on looking over my note that in my haste in
writing, I have left out half my words. I have broken the seal [?]
give you our address, tell the stageman to leave Mrs Bowditch's
Munroe Street -
P.S. Seconde. Circumstances over which I could have no control
prevented my mailing this until this morning, and now I conclude
you are all inter[?] in commencement at Cambridge; however,
Sister bids me give her love to you & say that she shall depend
on seeing you on friday afternoon of this week, do not dsappoint
us, if the weather [etc.] permits, we shall invite an arriving
party to meet you - truly your friend
R.P. Morse
Monday Morn. Aug 24th