Letter from Margaret Duncan on writing her future husband, family news, and the weather

Union Falls N.Y. Jan. 6
Rev. H. Lyman
Forest Grove, Oregon

Dear Uncle,

I cannot acknowledge the receipt of any letter from you since writing last: & perhaps it is foolish for me to write to you this week: but I have become so accustomed to writing to you, about this time in the week, that it seems almost like one of my duties to do so. There are so many chances in such a long journey, for letters to be delayed, on the roads, or lost, that I thought you might have written about as you had for several weeks past; & I might not have rec'd it; though of course you are under no obligation to write so often.

You have given me such a free invitation to write to you that I trust you will not consider that I am overstepping the bounds of propriety. This week of prayer is drawing near its close. Heaven & earth seem nearer together when so much prayer is ascending to God from all parts of the world. I trust that your field of labor, in common with many others, may receive a rich spirited blessing, in answer to prayers offered during this week. Jan. 10th. Thus far, I had proceeded, when sleep overpowered me, and being unable to finish it in the morning, did not get it off, on Sat. as I intended. If you can excuse me for sending such a looking sheet, will write along.

Perhaps the looks no worse than others I have sent, but I have seen & should not wish any one, unless it were yourself, to know how often I read them! Think you must have become weary of writing so many times before you read any thing from me. Suppose I cannot look for any thing from you, this week.

You may have read one in which I acknowledged receipt of that generous offer of yours, & mention some of the many things I must consider before giving a decided answer.

I still desire to do right in the matter. Oh! if we could always know what duty is! I rec'd another letter from Horace with yours last Sat. Isn't it funny how his letters & yours always fall in company, before they reach me?

He seemed to be in good spirits. He kindly renews his invitation to me to visit Oregon, & the dear boy says (excuse me for calling him a boy when he is a minister) that he will write poetry for me by the yard, if I will go.

Perhaps his poetic ardor might somewhat abate should he think of me, as a 'cruel step mother.'

Mother rec'd a letter from [?] Joler last week. Castleton friends were in about their usual health.

She mentioned the death of Dea. Caswell whose widow is Mother's cousin. Perhaps you had heard of it before: but we had not been informed of it before.

Our weather is still very changeable. After being very mild most of Dec. it grew cold at the close, & some of the first days of the year, we had snug winter weather the mercury going down to 18 below 0, one morning: but it soon moderated again. We have no sleighing, yet though there is it by daylight! I should beg your pardon, for inflecting upon you such nuisances. Yours of 17th Dec. reached me Sat. evening_ having been 3 weeks on the way. Many thanks, dear Uncle, for its contents. You need have no fear that I shall not prize your likeness. Think I shall not wish to give it away. We have an old photograph of you: at which I have often looked, since our correspondence commenced. But I like this late one better,_ think you look better, as you advance in years. Yours is a noble brow! But this is perhaps too much like praise to the face & I forbear. I stuck that little one of myself (which you may have rec'd, before this) into my letter, to hint to you, that I would like yours: but you had kindly anticipated my wish, & sent yours to me previously I think; though I do not remember certainly the date of the one in which I sent that. I enclose one, of which that small one, is a copy. Haven't sat for one since this was taken 6 years ago. Some of my friends called this very natural. One of my dear New Hampshire aunts, (my Father's sister) said she felt almost as if she could have a visit with me, when she looked at it. I send it to you not because I consider that it will be any addition to your collection, to have this 'horrid old maid' (unless for the curiosity): but in correspondence with your request.

Of course I have not grown young, during these years since this was taken but am somewhat more horrid & haggard. As for this 'continued writing' of which you speak it is not in my opinion, 'too much of a good thing,' & is indeed a good thing.' I enjoy your letters ever so much, a little sprinkling of snow some of the day.

But I shall weary you if I haven't already unless I close.

With best wishes
ever
Margaret.