Metadata
Title
Sarah Josepha Hale to David E. Hale
Creator
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Date
1836-10-15
October 15, 1836
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-159
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Boston Oct 15th 1836
My dear Son
Your letter of Sept 10th containing
one $20 bill reached me safely - The
discount on it was but triffling [trifling] - 2 per
cent - and it was discounted on sight by
the [broker?]. - I prefer that you should
send me money, when you can spare
it, rather than an order on the paymaster.
- I shall doubly enjoy it as coming
directly from you - and there
is little or no danger in sending it
by mail. - I wrote you a long
and large letter, (with the help of Fanny
and Willey) - I hope you have had that
some time since - also a letter acknowledging
the reciept [receipt] of the $50
I do hope that you will soon be released
from the Florida prison. I see by the
papers, that there is some likelihood your
Regt. will be allowed to come North, and some
other troops supply your place. Is it so?
- Frances has gone back to Troy, and is
again engaged in French and Music -
- H was here today - he is full of plans to
gain a name in the world - thinks that
all he wants is a little more cash and
he should go ahead bravely. But after
all, his want of money is a spur to his
talents. The Hales are not much in love
of labor for the pleasure of the thing,
and had my children inherited a fortune,
I have many doubts., that the world would have
been little benefitted by their talents. But now,
you must all "do or die" - and I hope will do
what will gain more than money could,
the applause of your own hearts, which
only arises from the consciousness of
self-exertion in a good cause -
- Do you ever get any news-papers, pamphlets
[etc.] - from me? - I send a package often -
- but the way is long and they may be [subtracted?]
by the newsmonger. I would
send every week, if I knew they reached you.
What a literary dearth you must suffer[?] - Here
we have a repletion of books - but everything
else is scarce and dear. The season has been
very cold - frosts occurred in August, which
destroyed the corn [etc.] - and last month, Sept -
there were falls of [snow?] in many places
in New York, Vert. and Mass. - In consequence
of the failure of the crops, and the great increase
of travelling, which [seems?] to bring everybody
to the city, board is very high, house-rent is
enormous - and money very scarce -
"Hard Times" in the [?], with almost every
one. - But I don't see that any one really
suffers. People like to complain; and in this
free country they should never be questioned in T[ED: page torn]
right of grumbling.
I have made an arrangement with [ED: page torn]
editor of the "Lady's Book" Phila. the first of
Jan. our publications will be united, and I shall
edit the new work - Mr Godey publishing it simultaneously
in Bost and Phila. - I shall gain
by this arrangement - then I have a new
work in prep, will be out
in two or three weeks - "The Ladies' Wreath" - a Selection
from the Female Poetic writers of England and
America" - it will be a vol. of over 400 pages, ornamented
with two engravings, and as a Gift book
more beautiful than Flora. I think it will be
popular - The fifth edition of Flora is published -
- that work has been very profitable to me. But yet,
my expenses increase faster than my means - and
will till H. is out of College - then I hope to have
a holiday of a few weeks - and see my children
all together once more in this world -
Write soon - Mrs & Miss Ingalls particularly
request to be remembered to you; so does Mrs Grigg -
and her mother. - I met the Rev. Mr Gilmore and
lady of Charleston S.C. lately in Boston - they inquired
for you particularly, and requested that I
would convey to you their best regards and wishes.
Your affectionate Mother
S.J. Hale -
David E. Hale
Lieut. 1st Regt. Artillery
Newmansville
E. Florida
My dear Son
Your letter of Sept 10th containing
one $20 bill reached me safely - The
discount on it was but triffling [trifling] - 2 per
cent - and it was discounted on sight by
the [broker?]. - I prefer that you should
send me money, when you can spare
it, rather than an order on the paymaster.
- I shall doubly enjoy it as coming
directly from you - and there
is little or no danger in sending it
by mail. - I wrote you a long
and large letter, (with the help of Fanny
and Willey) - I hope you have had that
some time since - also a letter acknowledging
the reciept [receipt] of the $50
I do hope that you will soon be released
from the Florida prison. I see by the
papers, that there is some likelihood your
Regt. will be allowed to come North, and some
other troops supply your place. Is it so?
- Frances has gone back to Troy, and is
again engaged in French and Music -
- H was here today - he is full of plans to
gain a name in the world - thinks that
all he wants is a little more cash and
he should go ahead bravely. But after
all, his want of money is a spur to his
talents. The Hales are not much in love
of labor for the pleasure of the thing,
and had my children inherited a fortune,
I have many doubts., that the world would have
been little benefitted by their talents. But now,
you must all "do or die" - and I hope will do
what will gain more than money could,
the applause of your own hearts, which
only arises from the consciousness of
self-exertion in a good cause -
- Do you ever get any news-papers, pamphlets
[etc.] - from me? - I send a package often -
- but the way is long and they may be [subtracted?]
by the newsmonger. I would
send every week, if I knew they reached you.
What a literary dearth you must suffer[?] - Here
we have a repletion of books - but everything
else is scarce and dear. The season has been
very cold - frosts occurred in August, which
destroyed the corn [etc.] - and last month, Sept -
there were falls of [snow?] in many places
in New York, Vert. and Mass. - In consequence
of the failure of the crops, and the great increase
of travelling, which [seems?] to bring everybody
to the city, board is very high, house-rent is
enormous - and money very scarce -
"Hard Times" in the [?], with almost every
one. - But I don't see that any one really
suffers. People like to complain; and in this
free country they should never be questioned in T[ED: page torn]
right of grumbling.
I have made an arrangement with [ED: page torn]
editor of the "Lady's Book" Phila. the first of
Jan. our publications will be united, and I shall
edit the new work - Mr Godey publishing it simultaneously
in Bost and Phila. - I shall gain
by this arrangement - then I have a new
work in prep, will be out
in two or three weeks - "The Ladies' Wreath" - a Selection
from the Female Poetic writers of England and
America" - it will be a vol. of over 400 pages, ornamented
with two engravings, and as a Gift book
more beautiful than Flora. I think it will be
popular - The fifth edition of Flora is published -
- that work has been very profitable to me. But yet,
my expenses increase faster than my means - and
will till H. is out of College - then I hope to have
a holiday of a few weeks - and see my children
all together once more in this world -
Write soon - Mrs & Miss Ingalls particularly
request to be remembered to you; so does Mrs Grigg -
and her mother. - I met the Rev. Mr Gilmore and
lady of Charleston S.C. lately in Boston - they inquired
for you particularly, and requested that I
would convey to you their best regards and wishes.
Your affectionate Mother
S.J. Hale -
David E. Hale
Lieut. 1st Regt. Artillery
Newmansville
E. Florida