Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER HF 3030 F
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE August 21, 1836
AUTHOR Rebecca Gratz
RECIPIENT Ann Hoffman Nicholas,
MEDIUM Paper, ink
PEOPLE Matilda Nicholas Whitman, Emma Nicholas Maloney, Sara Hays
Mordecai, Mrs. Nicholas Biddle, Dr. Rush, Anna Gillaspy, [?Liev] Boyce, Julia Hoffman, niece Roda,
PLACES Long-branch (Long Branch), Philadelphia, The West, Rock River,
Kishwaukee, St. Louis, Prairie du Chien, mary [Dewees?], Hyman, Josiah Ogden Hoffman, Charles Fenno Hoffman
EVENTS Anne to return to Phila as she travels to IL, Matilda head to IL, Ann
and Rebecca renew relationship,
Addressed to:
Mrs. Anne Nicholas
Care of Judge Hoffman
New York
*Original spelling retained throughout work, content appears exactly as written.
[PAGE 1]
August 21st 1836
I found your letter here My Dear Anne when / I returned from Long-branch a week ago and should / have answered it immediately to express the pleasure / your affectionate expressions afforded_ and the deep / interest your communication excited _ I do most sincerely / hope Matilda may more than realise her expectation in / her Western home _ such a loyal spirit[s] deserves to be rewarded _ with such feelings as wife + daughter she need / be happy and will rear her children into good citizens / I am obliged to you dear Anner for copying her own words / which give me a fairer view of her character than anything / you could say in her favor _ I wish her path was laid / through Phila too I should like to see her again and re - / member her in her mature character. She was only a / beautiful child when I saw her last but you will bring / Emma, your little pious pilgrim and I shall make up / the family group after my own imagination, and feel as / poetical a construction on your “life in the wilds” as I can / knowing the molecules of which it is composed _ there is so much / of adventure in this popular plan of planting villages / and in a little while cities in a wilderness that I could / almost wish to raise a standard for the way facets of my own / people _ were it not decreed that their wanderings continue / until their mission is completed _ go forth then, and / proclaim that we are the witnesses of Gods judgments & mercy / and in His time we shall all be gathered in to one fold / I often think my dear Anne how earnestly we discussed the / holy book together _ [unrecovered] from different points_ agreed to / differ and yet unite in the essential trust, faith in the Rock / of [christ]
[END OF PAGE 1]
[PAGE 2]
On my return home I found Sara [Mordecai] just recovering / from a most dangerous illness, of which she is still confined / to bed in [almost infant] weakness _ the joyous and interesting / bride you so much admired _ was brought low indeed even to the / shadow of the valley of death _ but she has been spared to our / Prayers. + I hope to a good and happy life _ her mother + hus/ band have been devoted to her bed side and are beginning / [inserted: now] to feel that they may safely leave their watch. I too have / brought my invalid home much improved in health, and / have been enjoying all my former enthusiasm at the beach / scenery _ do not [hurry] Miss Anne put up your pretty mouth into / a quizzing expression and ask what scenery a sandy Beach / presents _ remember the heavens above + the waters beneath / surround the little speck of barrenness on which we stand / and even the sands are so perpetually washed and covered / with the things of the great deep, that they are wonders to eyes / unused to their habitable element. If I knew a human being / unacquainted with the God of Nature I should recommend / him to go down to the sea and consider of this unseen power / his Majesty + love and should think it strange if he did not / come away with religion in his breast _ our friend Mrs Biddle / was there, and we frequently talked of the pleasure your visit gave / us. Dr. Rush too, has been [unrecovered] for a portion of your time ./ when you come again _ “if Mrs N. stays three evenings in Phila. / will you not give me one? Yes Dr I will be even more generous / if she stays only one, you shall see her a part of that / because I shall feel inclined to make her as happy as poss / -ible _ Anna Gillaspy has not yet returned _ but her mo - / ther came here as soon as she heard of your letter and they / affection you express is most warmly reciprocated indeed / her heart overflows with kindness to you _
[END OF PAGE 2]
[PAGE 3]
and we shall not be satisfied if you do not erect a little / sanctuary near Rock river, dedicated to the memory of you / Phila friends _ and who knows in the changes of this changing / world, how many of them may yet greet you on the banks / of the [Kishwakee] _ [Liea] Boyce is going this [tale] to his old / haven Prairie du Chien, and may perhaps take his wife / to St. Louis so many officers have heroic companions who / would rather go to remote stations than be left behind, that / the most distant ports will command good society _ and I can / not help thinking any situation at home preferable to / the prayer missions some young American ladies have under - / taken _ My niece Rosa has been spending the day with me / she regrets that she did not come soon enough to meet you / here but I hope she will not be gone before your return, for / she has heard so much about you that she wants to renew / her acquaintance and I think you would [bestow] a share / of the favor with which you regard her mother + sisters on / her _ she is so gentle + affectionate _ Tell Julia she wishes very / much to hear from her and so do I _ Miriam sympathises with / you on the fate of your cap but says she will repair your loss / she would make six caps to have them so admired _ and so / comented _ no one but Mrs Nicholas could so eloquently im - / mortalise the perishable fabric all my girls send you abundance / of love _ even Mary [Dewees] in her last letter expresses the / confidence she feels that all your [unrecovered] left kindness + / good will in your hearts towards each other _ and I my dear / Anne am quite penetrated by the assurances of affection / which after such a long lapse of time and under such a / vanity of struggles + changes you have cherished and so warmly / renew. I trust now your most difficult warfare is past /
[END OF PAGE 3]
[PAGE 4]
And that the future years of [inserted: yr] life will be in paths of / pleasantness + peace _ you have such good children / and are so essential to them that I cannot but view your / prospect a happy one here _ and you have such a [fervent] / spiritual hold on that which is to work out the good / to come that in saying God Bless you my dear Ann _ / all that affection can suggest is compelled in the / wish _ and so God Bless you _ ever [inserted: prays] your friend R. G.
I have dated 21st _ and it is not 6 days later _ Sara is improving /
Present my affectionate love to your Emma + my Julia / also to your Father + Charles _ I hope the latter will have / an increased subscription bid to make up his losses _ The / [unrecovered words] has arrived and is worth waiting for _ Hyman / + Jr beg to be remembered _ Joe is at Bellefonte - Adieu
[END OF PAGE 4]
[ADDRESS]
Mrs. Anne Nicholas
Care of Judge Hoffman
New York
[END OF LETTER]Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
