Poor Family Papers, 1791-1921. John and Lucy (Tappan) Pierce. John Pierce to Abiel Aboot, 1794-1817. A-132, folder 3, Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

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Note. Dorchester, 1 Nov. 1796.

Rev. Abiel Abbot, Haverhill.

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Note. Cambridge, 23 Dec. 1796.

{ Stamp} { Stamp} 8

Rev. Abiel Abbot, Haverhill.

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Cambridge, Dec. 23d. '96.

My good friend,

I am glad to find, you have not wholly forgotten me. I was suspicious, that the gentle rebuke your lady gave you at my chamber would be more effectual, than any thing I could say. I suppose, I must thank her, that I was not neglected for some months longer, at least. It is very pleasinng to see a wife, who can spy the faults as well, as virtues of a husband, & who can perform the office of rebuke without the hazard of giving offence. Such a one have you; & it cannot be sinful to envy your happy lot. I was highly gratified, my friend, with the picture you gave me of your domestic bliss. To me it is a picture indeed, wh I must, for the present view at an awful distance. It is at such a distance, I can hardly distinguish the light from the shade. You have, however, furnished me with a mirror, wh discovers to me some features before unknown. I must be a poor proficient, if it do not help me to become a connoisseur.

While you, my friend, are enjoying all the pleasures, wh result from a union with

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virtue, taste, & I had almost said, every human accomplishment; it is my dismal lot to lead a life of solitude & laborious employment without a female friend at hand to sweeten toil & cheer my depressed spirits. But be the inconvience ever so great, I am determined never to marry ------- till I have paid my debt, (I can hardly say debts,) procured a good library, & have something beforehand. But I spare you. All this is an old story.

Respecting a singing - master, I have to say, that I have attended punctially to you[...] requests, & conversed with your kindsman Abbot[...] on the subject. I am sorry to add, that we know of no one, who would answer your purpose. All we can say is, if you can get your school into a state of forwardness, (as you seem to think is probable,) by some of your own fingers, your cousin will do what he can for you in the spring vacation.

We have more peaceable times at College, than I ever knew. The chapel is quiet. The hall is decent. Disorders are almost unknown. I have not been once raised this quarter. Inded, we have had a melancholy times. Three of our number have been taken from us by death. Others have been dangerously sick. These circumstances appear,

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&, well they may, to make considerable impresion on the minds of the students. White, whom we met at Mr Allen's of Bradford, delievered the best oration on his classmate's death, I ever heard on the occasion. This is a unanimous opinion. We have been under the disagreeable necessity of refusing the Seniors liberty to keep school. This occasions some inward murmurs; but no open rupture. They have contested long enough; & will perhaps find it for their interest to comply with the laws. You doubtless heard of brother Hedge's [ ] It is hushed up. The person suspe[ ] for insulting him, has returned & this day passed an excellent examination. Jewett, whose posteriors were a little wounded, has taken a trip into the country, for a few months, to heal them.

Excuse my not writing a longer letter, on better paper, in a more elegant style & a legiable hand. Want of time, and excuse for everything, is my only apology. So many Thanksgiving, Christmas, & Newyears sermons leave me but short intervals, even to breathe. In my next you shall hear something of Brookline. In this, I can only request subscribe myself your Philos.

P.S. My best respect to [...] dear wife. May your mutual happiness never be diminished! Respects & compliments where, you know, they are most due.

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No 18. Brookline, Feb. 25th 1797.

Dear friend,

WhenI take my pen to write to an old & esteemed friend I find so many things to say that I can not promise myself much method or accuracy in expressing them. What, however, lies uppermost in my mind is, that I have not heard from you or your dear wife these some months. Before you were inthralled (pardon me) I mean bound by the chain of wedlock, I experienced your literary favors as often as once a month. But since matrimony has taken possession of your heart & engrossed your affections, your old friends, it seems, must be neglected. You have now been in the married state, (let me consider,) these seven happy months; during wh period you have turned me off with but one letter & two small billets. I long to have your honey moon over; for I may then expect you to resume ancient familiarity. This luminary must be of extremely long duration, if it have not by this time begun in splendor, & move round its centre of attraction without matrimony mine. I would even try my chance, were there even a hundred to one of lessing it. I have so much to say to you, or rather so many questions to ask, concerning the subject, that I will even wait till------------ But here a subject rises to view, a subject to me, & perhaps to some others of eternal importance. On this I cannot be too serious. It has given me many a sleepless hour & many an anxious thought. In my last I recollect promising to give you some account of my relation to Brookline. But such a complication of duties, cares & employments has engrossed my time, that I have quite neglected all my friends, even her whom I ought

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night to remember. The history of my affairs is short. On the 25th of December, the anniversary of our Savior's birth, I received a call from the Church & Congregation of this town to be their his minister. Their offers for my temporal encouragement were 500 dollars gratuity, 400 dollars in money, 16 cords of wood or £32 per ann. & the use of the parsonage buildings. In a matter of so great importance I judged it necessary to consult friends. I found many at hand, who stood ready to give me advice. But so various & contradictory were their opinions, that I found but little relief from this quarter. I still found it necessary to have a judgment of my own. Wherefore, after taking the affair into serious & attentive consideration, & sought that counsel & direction, wh the importance of the subject demands, I gave an affirmative answer without making any new proprosals. In this step, I have acted contrary to the opinion of some respectable characters, while I have gained the approbation of others equally respectable, &, what is of far greater importance to myself, of my own conscience. If I know my own heart,I have not been influenced in this business by the desire of a good parish, on any terms or by a wish to be speedily connected in life. Experience must determine. It affords me great satisfaction to reflect; that thus far every thing has been conducted without one dissenting voice. If every thing circumstance has conspired to fix me in a situation disadvantageous to myself, & for wh I am by no means calculated, I shall always be happy in the reflection, that I acted according to my best judgment. It was the opinion of my friends, that, I might have obtained more salary. But as I love a cheerful giver, so I would sooner have relinquished my connexion with them, than have given cause of altercation & disaffection O my friend, you know how to feel for me in a situation so peculiarly trying, as that in wh I am now placed. My unfitness for the office, wh I am about to sustain, is a constant source of painful consideration.

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My only comfort is, that I Serve a Master, who will require the improvement of no other talents, than what I possess.

You have, perhaps, ere this received a letter missive from this church to attend my ordination, the 15th of the next month. I shall confidently expect & rejoice to see you. Should Mrs A. accompany you, as she doubtless will, it would add greatly to my happiness. You an hardly imagine how great a favor you would confer on me, if you would tarry & preach for me the Sabbath after ordination. Such will be my engagements, I fear I shall not find time to prepare any thing occasional, tho, methinks it would be the most fruitful subject in the world. I cannot leave the subject without making you promise to as[ ] me. I shall almost depend on it. It is in th[ ] parts very customary to have help on these occ[ ] So you engage to preach for me. O how thankful I shall be! ------- But yesterday I left the walls of Cambridge. Short reign indeed! My comfort is, that I have not been a nuisance there. Well, who, do you think, is my sucessor? --- Brother Hawley. He has been lately employed in a school in Brookline. He will doubtless do well.

Ordination approaching, fast day coming on, every thing to do, you will doubtless excuse the abruptness, the carelessness, with the same candor you have ever overlooked the faults, of your Philos.

P.S. Regards as due.