Letter from the Lyman family in East Hampton on family life

Eashampton March 1 1851

Dear Uncle and Aunt

I was 9 years old yesterday the day our school was examined our teacher was a Mr Bemis of Chester I studdyed Addams Arithmetic and Mitchells Geography Last year we had 23 hens and 2 cows and sold Butter & Eggs to the amount of $50 and raised 24 chickens March 4 We are reading Capt Rileys [?] we find it very interesting we think he suffered a good deal do you have good road to travail have you used your new waggon. We was sory to hear that Uncle Horace and Aunt Mary sick so much can little Sarah taught our little Eunice [?] can tell a great many Baby stories March 5 I am reading the Bible by course New testament through and the [?] 23 through. It it a pleasant day we are dropping the wood I and father [?] and Uncle Lauren are drawing logs to the Mill [?] all night has Uncle Horace got any Sap trees near his house has this been much Sown in Oregon New year the Snow has most gone off here.

March 6 the day is [?] than yesterday this fore noon we are chopping wood Alfred loves to shoot with his bow he can make his arrow go up higher than the house. Horace likes to run away one day I went down to the [?] after him son Daniel came running after me and said that he was found I came home and learned that Mother had found him under the bed up stairs

March 7 yesterday we went to Se [?] it [?] up and has been eer since Emma has gone to Virginia teaching She has tow [?] 2 a month for each scholar March 11 Olliver came in before i had finished my sentance that night it snowed and has snowed 2 or 3 times since the snowed has most gone of now we want to meeting last Sabbath and to town meeting yesterday the snow was most gone of and it was pretty hard work coming home I saw an [?] tie on Mr I [?] Watts name and I wanted one on my name and Mother made one I wanted to put it here and Mother told me that I might

The [?] Payson my son thy [?] seek
A net all his holy people keep
I am God and [?] love
So Shall you be prepared to move
Oer all the named scenes of earth
Nor fear the approach of Death
Wake a awake to duties call
Let Jesus have they least them all
I cald up the [?] of time
Make the good choice in youthful prime
And after read gods holy word
Nor [?] fear the norrow road

March 14 this week Father is cutting up foot wood which we drew from the hill the wether has been very [?] Last Sabbath morning it was quite warm but before noon it became very chily and in the night and some Monday and yesterday the wind blew and the snow flew [?] March [?] cloudy March winds not very cold North hampton folks have built a school house out where we used to call West hampton road and Mr [?] Lymans Children go there Father bought Molasses hogshead but the Molasses was drained out we paid for 9 Galons at 40 cts a Gallon there was 77 lbs of [?] [?] Molasses [?] March 21 to say we weighted little Eunice and she weighted 18 lbs and the last time they weighed [?] he weighed 20 lbs how much does little Sarah weigh we all should like to see little Sarah some say that little Eunice looks like aunt Sarah Grandfathers folks are [?] a [?] 3 years old Walnuts and chestnuts are plenty here last Fall does Uncle Horace have any I suppose Uncle Horace has not heard our new miniter some say he appears like Mr Swift of Northhampton March [?] O look the Sun has come out right now I must now close as my paper is most full from your affectionate Nephew Payson W Lyman

July a it has been a good [?] since I wrote there has some things took place since I wrote the other part of my letter I have attached the [?] of one of my Dear friends while other have [?] new Whooping Cough so that I could not go and Uncle feeling [?] 2 wandering children [?] north the Whopping cough

East hampton March 1, 1851

Dear Uncle & Aunt

I have not learned to write expert on a late, but wish to wish to write a little to write Uncle Horase now I have learned to write with a pen. Since last Aug. we have had 4 little cousins and one delicate little sister. And Since March 1 3 little Cousins. March 4 Have you a Sabbath Sh[?] Portland I see by our little paper there are [?] Well-srings sent to Oregon; does Uncle Horace see any of them? We have a new library of 400 vol. Uncle Lauren is [?] the Super intendent

March 5 I have read the testament through and am reading the Old and have got as far as Ps 139 I have been down to Cousin Denise to get measured for a pair of [?] shoes; I saw [?] Edwin he said he wished he was in Oregon and believed he should be in 2 years if he could get so much a day. March 6 I have learned to [?] make [?] chains to day; Uncle Leauren learned Payson he learned me and would have learned Alred and he hopes he will learn Horace March 7 Horace can answer many little Bible questions / Oliver came in before I had finished my sentence March 19 when asked who was casting take [?] [?] he says Payson or Daniel just as it happens. We have got some little lambs some of them died last week March 20 Harris Clark died alst Aug and was buried the same day that Uncle [?] was made very pretty flowers; the last year that she lived, we bought a pretty lunch and gave 25 [?] to for it. if Uncle Horace has seen any of the well Springs he has seen some things about it; March 21 Father and I went down to meeting yesterday; I went into Doctor Clarks and had a tooth pulled and saw a great variety of birds and insects with nests and Eggs and other curiosities that Mr William Clark had collected. July 4 our Teacher is a Miss Celia Write of Syracuse of New York. Uncle Addison is coming down here 2 or 3 weeks. father killed 3 little skunks today dug them out. You affectionate Nephew Daniel W Lyman

July 4

The boys have finishe capping their letter and gone to see Oliver and Mr [?] boys. they were going to meet near Mr Aerys old shop have been disappointed with many others by the rain that has poured in torrents for intervals of 5, 10 or 15 minutes at a time many times during the day. Father was here this morning and wished us to go there this afternoon could we do so I should be glad; for on such aniversary days Father feels that his family are all scattered; Tow years today my Father and Mother eat supper wish us last year L Charles [?] did so they have gone to S Hampton to day the grass is so wet that I must stay at home Last eventing Jenny Lind sung in VLC old Church more then 200 dollers it is said went out of W Hampton tickets sold for $2 $3 $4 corresponding with the seat to be occupied you cannot imagine the excitement occasioned by her [?] many have been to N york to hear her. I think those that heard her last night must have had some bitter with the sweet if a complete drenching could be called bitter. It is Florence [?] Celia that teacher our school this summer enough here

Almena