Letter from Margaret Duncan on contacting her uncle and caution in entering marriage

Union Falls N.Y. Nov. 1st/ 81

My Dear Uncle,

Your letter was indeed a great surprise to me; but upon reflection, I know that as strange as things have happened before, was for a man to write to his wife's niece.

Thanks for the kind interest you manifest in my welfare. We were sorry that you could not visit us, when you were east.

Willie also passed us by, when he was visiting his relatives. So it seemed much as if we were never to have any face-to-face acquaintance with my dear Aunt Mary's family; in each member of which, I could not feel otherwise, than deeply interested. Horace's visit was a very pleasant surprise to us. It is a
wonder how nimbly he moves about on crutches & how well he bears what some would consider a great misfortune. I wonder what he could have said to you, in his letters, of one, which made a favorable impression on your mind.

Probably your pity, for me in my lonely condition, was excited.

I am naturally so comfortably happy (I should not say naturally, for, were it not for the hopes & comforts imparted through the religion of Christ, I should be most miserable) that I perhaps have been less inclined to enter into the matrimonial state, than some others would have been under similar circumstances.

It has long seemed to me that I could better endure all the opprobriums cast upon an old maid, than run much risk of an unhappy marriage. Perhaps I have been too careful in this respect. But I would not be so set in my own way, as to overlook the clear indications of Providence pointing in some, other direction. I desire an interest in your prayers. It is a great comfort to me, to feel that dear friends remember me when they approach the mercy Seat.

I hardly know whether I am doing right to consent to take part in, the correspondence you propose; but it seems to me that there can be no harm in our becoming better acquainted, in this way.

Since receiving your letter, I have been thinking how strange it is that your thoughts should be turned towards me so much, when mother's relatives used so often to tell me, that I looked like Aunt Mary. But if I even did resemble her, I think I must have lost all traces of such looks; I am so very plain. Of course, no one seeking beauty & wealth need look to me, for them & for my part I should not wish a husband who would for either of these qualities alone, seek me.

I am really ashamed to send this letter it is so egotistic & I have expressed my feelings so freely to you. I'm about half inclined to commit it to the flames, instead of the mail.

But I haven't time to rewrite it. Perhaps you will be so disgusted by it that you will not wish for further correspondence with me.

I shall be glad to hear from you whenever you feel like writing to me. Mother is feeble; but about as comfortable as usual for her. You have probably heard of Uncle Post's death which occurred about the same time that our land was enveloped with deep gloom on account of the death of our beloved President. So Mother & her 2 sisters are all widows now.

I must close

May God bless you & yours most abundantly is the sincere prayer of

Margaret