Letter from Lucy Guernsey on family news, school, traveling, and future plans

Castleton July 19th, 1851

My Dear Aunt Mary,

I hardly know where to begin or what to say in commencing this letter to you for it is so very long since I have heard from you and so many things [?]. I think of to tell you that really I have been thinking perhaps I have not better say anything at all and then I can only wonder whether you have ver received any last letter which is altogether uncertain as I did not know certainly how to [?] it. But I will believe that it has been received and write accordingly. It is so excessively warm today that I really [?] great differently in summoning sufficient courage and energy to write and should not have I not so many to write.

But I will begin and that too in Oliver where I was when I last wrote to you I have then just returned from Mothers wedding. Nearly six months have since passed away and I no longer there but in Castleton once more, here in Doctor Perkins home, now my home. How strange are the [?] and changes of life, how little do we realize the changes to which we are constantly exposed.

I spent the winter very pleasantly in Oliver there was nothing there to [?] my attention from study the school was such as no one I liked very much. It was to be sure a very small place not much society except the students but when one is attending school I think it much better to be [?] from the unifications of society which we necessarily held not in such a place as this I remained there till the middle of May there [?] to Ral to make the necessary preparation for my journey I [?] there four weeks. Aunt Caroline and Uncle J. and Herby were absent having taken a trip to N.Y., Boston and Castleton they spent several days here. Aunt C’s health which has been very poor all winter improved very rapidly all the while she was gone and she [?] in fine spirits and health but has been home hardly a week when she was taken sick again. She was much better however when I left Ral. And here as well as anywhere else I can relieve to you has [?]. She sent her love and and wishes me to tell you that the reason she has indeed been sick a great deal and can under fatigue no better than Mother can. Aunt Gertrude was well while I was here Uncle Evan you know has been engaged in a flour mill at Galesburg, he last a considerable the past winter it has been a very bad season for millers generally he is now out of business but the [?] of Oliver Institute are very anxious to have him accept an agency for the School to go abroad and collect funds they are building a new church this summer this Chapel was burned in the winter so they have [?] no large room in which to hold public meetings. I do not know yet whether he will go there as not they offer him [?] a year. He thinks of selling his place whether he goes there or not it seems a pity for him to do it for there not a more lovely situation. [Hale?], I was going to say but so not know as that would be correct but his garden and fruit trees are in this glory, they have a great deal of fruit. But I must not revel long on [Ralamakon?] all whom you know are well. I believe Mrs. Tomlinson is getter better slowly. Mr. Hoyt has ceased to be the pastor of the Presbyterian Church other have or soon will be going to leave [?]. His family will remain for a time, at least I think he is going to take an agency for some society East. You would find [?] greatly changed were you return there how so many have been the change that I hardly know who to mention. The week before I left Ral., William went to Holland to visit Henry and Anna, we spent a week with them and a very delightfully spent week it was. Hoyt soon came to [Hal?] to accompany us there, the road is perfectly horrible most of the way but when it reached Holland I was charmed even with Dutchland.

Henry’s house stands back a little way from the Lake, just far enough to make it pleasant so there is a cool water breeze coming up all the while making it very comfortable even in bad weather. We sailed several times in the lake in Hoyt’s little sail boat and one [?] sailed down in the month and outside Lake Michigan a little way Robert Duncan was there. He has been spending the winter in Wisconsin and [?] on his [?]. He stopped at Ral. Two weeks and went from there to Holland where he has been so long. The [?] same quiet beautiful fellow he always was not much of a talker though. I had some fun with him and Anna would make him sociable if thing was possible. She is very social and a very lovely person, she wishes me to give her love to you and ask you if you ever had received the letter she and Henry wrote to you. We visited there while at Mr. Van Realy’s, you have heard of him of course, they have a very lovely place and are very fine people. Van Realy is a [?] he is truly the most interesting I ever saw. Anna has no society except the Dutch and but little of that can be called society so she is very much alone. She has no children, Henry is gone a great deal which makes her still more lonely. But she seems quite cheerful and happy notwithstanding. Robert thinks some of going to Grand Haven to practice [?] as to try. I do not think he will ever succeed very well, he does not seem to be [?] very great energy and lacks experience in his own [?].

From “Lucy”

And now I will return from Holland to [?] and back you along on our journey. Hoyt was with us we went to Ral. Friday, set out Monday morn at two o’clock for Castleton. We were a very pleasant group, Hoyt, William, and myself, we reached Detroit at ten o’clock, went down the Lake on the MayFlower a very handsome and rather elegant boat & had a delightful time. The lake was very smooth, the weather fine, I never enjoyed anything so much and to make it [?] pleasanter we fell in with an acquaintance by Hoyt with his wife were going to Mass. We reached Buffalo Tuesday morn at five o’clock and spent three hours then went out to [?] and remained till the next morn at ten. I wish I could have tell you what a pleasant time we have [had?]. We walked immediately to the falls I felt considerably disappointed at first, they were not as grand as I expected but after viewing them longer and coming nearer to them they fully met my expectations [?] [?] went up to [?] Rock up under the Falls on the Main of the Mist a little steamboat which carried persons almost under the falls, went all over [?] and a great many more interesting [?]—which I have next time to write about. We went from there to [?] took a boat to [Oglenbury?] and went on our way feeling well paid for having spent a few days at [Peaqary?]. and again we we were happy [?] on Lake Ontario and the [?] Lousiana had a very pleasant ride the scenery is very beautiful along the river and I enjoyed all those things much more for having Hoyt along he is such excellent company. We took the [?] at Ogdensprings for Rouses Point thinking to go to Uncle Luncans but concluded not do so as it would be a hard ride which we were all slightly [?]. So we came from Lake Champlain to [Whitehall?]. I need not tell you of the long that Luke for you are familiar with it but I will say I was perfectly enraptured the mountains were so grand everything about it was perfect; I sat on deck till 9 in the evening and was up at two in the morning to view by moonlight. We reached Whitehall about five o’clock Friday morn; came on to Castleton in the Carrs reached this place about eleven. We found mother rather unwell, Aunt Fanny and James were here and the excitement of meeting them and expecting us was rather to much for her. I assure you it seemed strangely enough to see so many around my mother and to have them call her mother I thought I should never feel at home or as if they were all connected to me. And still harder did it seem to call Dr. P—Gather many I thought I could never learn but am trying do as well as I can, the people did not seem changed very much. Emma seemed very surprised I could not see any change in her looks although she has greatly improved in appearance. I went up to grandfather the next day Aunt Sarah greeted me and grandpa all looked very [?]. But Uncle Edward had changed much he looked so very older. He has had the measles this summer and is very thin indeed, I was almost frightened to look at him. Aunt Sarah baby is a perfect beauty you have seen no you have not either I never so have seen a child! The scenery here I have mostly [?] at least the height and distance of the mountains [?] number of the hills, but I enjoy the scenery much. We went upon Birds Mountain and other [?]. William Perkins came home from Burlington for a [?] and the children all went to Gridley and wife and his [?] two sisters. Emma, Hoyt, William, James, Duncan, Mary, Maria and myself [?] up had a very pleasant time. Gridley is a very fine fellow and excellent scholar. William is a wild fellow but I like him.

And now I must tell you about myself exclusively a little in the first I will tell you about my Sarah where I am sitting now writing to you if you know where she [?] study was you know whose my room is he has moved his study to one of the back chambers. Mine is a front room and very pleasant indeed. I have the cuspate that was on the front chamber on the floor. You remember of course his Mother has his room [inspected?] with it and mine also then Master little parlor stains in here which makes the room seem quite like home. Many rooms with me.

Mother has a good Girl she is [?] but very pleasant and strong well able to work. The family is large is large now of course so many additions once Hoyt has gone over to Rutland to stay & visit his cousins there. Aunt Fanny and [?] have set out for home this morning, so our family is somewhat diminished for Hoyt has been with us now so long he seems like my brother. Grandfather and grandmother have gone to Connecticut to spend a few days they are quite well. Grandma seems quite rational; grandfather looks and acts as good as ever, so you will understand how that is. Our little house seems very much changed since it has been [?] so nicely for Mrs. Robinson, it looks very pleasant there indeed. I have not yet seen many young people except to meet them in church, everything here seems very old very different from Ral. be almost any western village, still Castleton is indeed a lovely place so shady so hilly, the scenery is too beautiful not to be welcomed by everyone. I have just been down to see Mother a moment. She would like much to write—but does not feel able her is pour and she has been very sick much of the time since she came here. So I told her you would excuse her on that account and I would try and say all that will interest you though I know it would be better then she can with a long letter. She is good spirits all the while better than I have know her to have for a long time [?] all seem to love her very much and to desire to please her. The people all say that they have improved much since she came.

William thinks of remaining and going into business with Mr. Parker as a partner, there seems to be a very good opening for him. Good bye my [?] send love very dear Aunt.

Yours most affectionately, Lucy

I shall probably remain here and attend school for awhile at least this school seems to be a very good one now though rather an oppressive one the term. The term closed a few days ago. And now I think I have written all that is to be written if I have [?] over matters too hastily please excuse me for as I [?] here I think of so many things that I only [?] say one before I move upon another. If it is possible for you to write to me I should be delighted to hear from you for it is so seldom we hear that it seems almost as if you were out of the world. We have heard that Uncle L. has been sick and feel very anxious to know how all are now, but we all know at least I do that you have many to engage all your time and thoughts. I wish it might be otherwise but if you are indeed doing good you feel rewarded every day.

I know not whether I should have missionary spirit enough to lead me there or not. I hardly think I could deem it my duty if I was to be in missionary. I could do more good it seems to one elsewhere. I wish you would tell me when you write all about your place, school, Baby, and everything else that forms a path of you. No new news after that we have forgotten you or cease to love and talk about you such is not the case but we hear so seldom we hardly know whether our letters reach you or not and indeed I presume they do not. But I must lose mine. Give my love to Uncle Lyman and the baby and bushels to yourself, both from me and many others.