Susan B. Anthony Papers, 1815-1961. Correspondence. With family, cousins and friends Caroline Taylor and J. H. C. Remington; also concerning her appointment at Canajoharie Academy, 1846. 18 ALS, 4 fragments.. A-143, folder 12. Schlesinger Library,

Battenville 11 [??] 1846

Dear Aunt Susan & Co

It has been but a week or so since I wrote that other long tedious letter & no doubt you may think strange of my writing again so soon. I think it strange if you dont, but I seem to be impelled to do so by some strange fatality. It would be a most diffic ult task to say what I am going to write or why I am going to write I believe however it is usual in writing a letter in the first place to speak of our self. To follow the custom then I would say that we are all enjoying usual health except Ma & the baby & they are about as well as usual. I dont exactly remember but I believe that when I wrote before Guelma was not very well. We think she is better now except the Salt Rheum on her right hand which is pretty bad. We are trying the Magical Pain Extraction on it now & think it is going to help it. As for Margaret she is much better than she was a few weeks ago. But there is some symptoms of the same complaint still lingering about her she [growge?] some & we are in hopes she will get along without much further difficulty. My own self & my second self as folks say IE Ann Eliza are full as fat as we were when you last saw us. Paul is well. I believe ha has been writing to you lately

As for the [residence?] of our family that is the Cat & pig, are doing well tho by the way I had a falling out with the Cat this morning about the fish, gave it a smart licking & he went out of the house in a great hurry & in high dudgeon & I have not see his face since Guelma has gone over to Mr Pitchers to prayer meeting this evening & left me to take care of the Babies & talk to you. She has not been out to meeting or any where else, much lately. On Tuesday of last week I went over to our Uncles and got his two horses & log sleigh & took Guelma & Margaret to Easton. Arrived there about middle of the afternoon staid till noon the next day, then took the team & went to Troy & next day [??] up load Goods & took in Ma & baby & had them home arriving at dark, so you see we made them a regular

3 days visit. I tell you I am beging to think this keeping a half way house is not what it has been cracked up to be. She was not much sorry to see us start although she made some small effort to make us believe that it was going to Storm & C.

They are all well at Nashua & are thriving in their mercantile business but there is no appearance of thriving in some other things as yet. Time and industry may bring it all round right.

[yet? crossedout] I believe Guelma & Hannah talked of the prospect of going to Rochester next fall is the time set so if all goes on as they hope you may expect to see all the East out there at that time. But I hope & think we shall see some of you out here before then. Mary may come down in the spring and spend the Summer if you think you can spare her & c Some in these parts would be most excrutiating happy to see her perhaps.

As to matters & things in general we have some sickness at present here abouts. [Lewis T.?] is very much out of health & has been two or three week. He was taken with a bad cold which seated on his lungs very bad cough & sick otherwise. He has been confined to House most of the time and to his bed some. They were in hopes yesterday that he was better He is not considered dangerously ill but unless his cough is removed soon I should be some alarmed if the case was mine. Another servere case of sickness is Julius Collins wife She had [?] some ill for some time past but was very severely attacked on Monday last & has been very low ever since. They are in hope she is rather better for a day or two past & think she may recover

[?] Savage came down last Sunday to let us know that Elizabeth who is there was sick. She was home about Christmas and was out considerable in the cold weather & took cold which grow worse after she went to [Aiggle?] and the day after New Years she was taken with pain the head face & throat & was very sick so that they were some alarmed about her Saturday & in the night. The Doct came down to let us know & Mary Anne went home with him. We heard in the middle of the week that she was some better & have not heard since but hope she is better

[sideways up margin] I was saying that our Aunt was expecting it seems they realized the hopes since yesterday it is a he child [? text cut off]

Thus you see we are surrounded by sickness & I presume you are not entirely exempt in your vicinity. Where ever we are or whatever our age or circumstances we are all exposed to sickness and death Hence the imporance of living in a constant state watchfulness & preparation for in such an hour as we think not we may be called hence to render up our final account My sincere desire & prayer to God is that [crossed out that] we all may so live that when we are done with the things of time & sense and are called to enter upon the vast & untried realitites of Eternity we may be among the happy throng who shall have a joyful meeting to part no more forever.

We had our annual Temperance Meeting here last evening. ^Emeline White has a son^ The address was delivered by Rev Mr Saubert of Salem and was a first rate good one Paul R went over early in the evening leaving me to come afterwards but so many came to store that I was prevented from going & I was very sorry indeed. We are to have another Meeting 2 weeks from last night & a Mr [Beveredge?] is expected to make a speech. We talk some of triming out these rum holes here abouts. As to weddings there are divers but few among your acquaintances. Miss Montgomery & the Blacksmith were married a few days since & a Miss Goodell & Mr Seonard of the place on New Years. These are all I think of at present. There has been extensive additions to the world in way of boys in "these ere [dyging?]" A new dentist at Crosby in the village. A new Blacksmith at OConells A new Shoe Maker at Greens & some who have not [heard?] any tracks as yet Besides these there are large expectations yet in reserve such as our [artist?] Charlotte &c who are beginning to look every which way I forgot to mention that [Servis?] Cole was married to Charity Allen about 3 weeks since & the infair is expected to happen soon. Ma thinks there are some ridiculous things in this letter but she wont say what they are & you know I am such a fool (I dont know [brand?] when the bay is [ trid ofrise?]) as to think I was writing the very prettyest letter ever was. If you think as Ma does you had better not show this to many of the fellers in Rochester & send me word & I will try to be better next time. I am coming very near the latter end of this paper & I am glad for my brain begins to give out. If there were 3 lines more I could not fill them. Thine A M McLean

[This section is written sideways across the main body of the letter] I was saying that our Aunt was expecting. It seems they realized the hopes since yesterday it is a [he?] child

Eliza [McLeav?] had a letter from home today saying that one of her brothers lay at the point of death probably not living now. It is the one who was down here last fall. He took cold coming down and it has resulted in the consumption. Mary McLean come home in about 3 week from the time she left & Caty is West yet. Ma made fine work writing on [??] of this letter and still [??] in folding it so as to cover her writing. I was mad wasnt I

The word is that Maria B McLean is about to be married to a gentleman in Salem dont know anything certain about but will let you know when we find out

Monday evening. Dear Mother, I will write a few words to you, not many as Aaron has about filled the sheet of paper to some or all of you I can hardly realize that you are so far from us. It does not seem so strange about the girls as they were so frequently gone from home.

I have not bee at the mansion since you left nor past there but once when we went to visit Hannah. Daniel says the things are safe he has been in to see about them several times. I want to go down soon. Had a first rate visit at Brother Moshers Hannah seems to enjoy herself and can actu quite as natural as ever gets along first rate [Sc?]

I hope you may continue well and like your new home if there is the place It would be much more pleasant to live near each other so that we could visit [crossed out "and"] occaisionaly. But if we are all permitted to live and enjoy our usual health we ought to be thankful and try to be happy. My hand is so tied up I can not write very well. I have not had the Salt Rheum so bad if every in a long time. Aunt Sophia has another Son. Do write and Mary too. I think sometimes I would give a good deal to have her with me a while. Merritt must write. [Am?] Eliza said she almost cried the other day she wanted to see Merritt so bad. Love to Father mother & all Guelma

[text written sideways across page here] Postscript Tuesday 13th [Jary?] There was [shuch?] work made with this letter in my absence that I have [couluded?] to enclose it in a wrapper & so I will write on the outside myself. There is nothing new with us since Sunday health about the same all around [Lewis J?] was some better yesterday. Have not heard from [Ayyle?]. Ann Collins about the same I have just learned that Paul has not made & forwarded the inventory of property at the old house but will have him attend to it today. Thought he had done it. Miss Sarah faculty all is teaching in the School Room. Dont know how many scholars she has. Ann Eliza goes very strongly impressed that this was some thing else I was going to write but cant think now. Must write us long letters. Follow my example long and every week or two.

Tell mary that John remains steadfast for any thing I know to the contrary but think likely she has had the same news from his own pen. Nothing to add but kindest regards to all the family. In fact this is intended for kind of family letter treats largely on family matters and is only addressed to you because you are the most weighty individual Breakfast bell has rung and I must close Thine truly A M McLean

[end of sideways text]

Slate, Hill. [Ja?]. 14 Dear Friend

After a length of time I have made up my mind to answer your kind Letter I am very glad you are so well pleased with your Western Home I hope your Mother will Like it after a while she is not fond of new things things as you young Children are_ You wished me to write and Let you know about all the Friends you will not [?] a [?] [?] statement, yesterdy Mr. T and myself visited Fort Edward Papa and Mother are very well. H. R. Wing and his Lady were their she is as smart and well as ever, Mrs. [Grimward?] has been up this Winter made a Long visit [away?] her Friends she feels well and you know [forward?] Caroline has been Home and spent one Week-she is much pleased with her School appears to enjoy herslef very much-your Letter came while she was here she could hardly wait for me to have the first reading of it

{left margin} do not know whether Mary [Miles?] has become [agent?] with [Hannah?], if she has not she soon will can hope [Ian?] will write [Caroline?] if [you?] [have?] [not?]