Name/Title
Letter from Elizabeth Fisk to Lorraine Hitchcock FiskEntry/Object ID
HHV 003.420Description
Letter from Elizabeth Fisk to Lorraine Hitchcock FiskSubject
Emma Willards “Troy Female Seminary", examinations, address by Mr Bragg, exhorted to devote self to
Christianity, very moving, death of Mrs Grigg’s 20-year old son, the week prior, domestic department, “countlefs number of invitations I have already received to become a follower of Jesus”, indecision, roommate, Elizabeth’s “sick thumb”, Bacon’s sermon on the death of Samuel J. MillsSubject Person/Organization
Elizabeth Fisk, Lorraine Hitchcock Fisk, Emma Willard, Samuel J. Mills, Josiah FiskSubject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Troy, NY, New Haven, CT, VermontCollection
Irving Manuscript CollectionTranscription
Transcription
Troy Feb 10th 1828
Dear Lorraine
I have a few moments that I can de - / vote to you, and it is probably the only time I shall / have till after examinations; which commences / Thursday and ends the middle of next week – / This is Sabbath evening _ and I have just heard from / the lips of Mr Bragg one of the most solemn / and imprefsive addrefses that I ever heard from / any one __ Mrs Willard mentioned at the dinner / table that Mr. B. had requested an opportunity to / speak to the young ladies, as many of them would / leave the Seminary soon and he might never again / see them _ We all afsembled _ and after a short / prayer he rose with a Christ-like meeknefs and hu- / mility - and most earnestly and affectionately entreated / us to make Jesus our friends _ for that He and He only / could guide us in prosperity, comfort us in affliction / and support us in the hour of death _ I can give you but / a faint idea [^ of] what and how he spoke _ it was as none but /
[END OF PAGE 1]
A true christian could do _ and the uncommon excel- / lens of his character of which we are all conscious, made / the sincerity and reality of what he said more evident / Among the many gay and apparently [thoughtless?] who / are here, very few, if any could refrain from tears _ / He called our attention to the necefsity of being prepared / for death and the uncertainty of the time of that / change by referring us to an instances of mortality / with which has recently been presented to us /
A young man nearly 20 years of age died here last / Sabbath _ He was son of Mrs. Griggs (who oversees Mrs Wil - / lard’s domestic department) and one on whom she / leaned with fondnefs for the support of her declining / years _ He had been sicj here about 6 weeks and but / few of the young ladies saw him till after his death. / He obtained a hope only a few hours before he died. / When he bade his Mother farewell, he said “Mother / don’t weep for me, we shall soon meet in Heaven,” / (for she is a Christian) BUt his brother he entreated with / great earnestnefs and an anxious look to Remember / now his Creator, and attend now the the things that / belong to his everlasting happiness _ After Mr. B. left / let us Mrs Willard said a few words to us _ it was / the most interesting season I have witnefsed this / winter and I thought as I returned to my room this / is added to the countlefs number of invitations I / have already received to become a follower of Jesus
[END OF PAGE 2]
And they will all at a future day rise up in / judgment against me. _ I feel this to be an / awfully solemn thought _ but wish I could feel / more deeply imprefsed with it.
Monday morning. 4 o’clock. This is not my usual / hour for rising but my roommate set off for / her home (in Vermont) this morning. She expected to / have gone yesterday but we [^ were up] by 3 o’clock.
I am now left alone in my room . I should like / you very well for a room-mate a week or two — / I received you letter, I believe two or three weeks / since _ I very readily recognized Mifs Darling’s / hard writin-[page torn] -n the back of it and thought the let -[page torn] / was from [page torn] ___ I have not heard a word from ho-[page torn] / since I saw Pa _ I have a very sick thumb on my / right hand and I think you will believe it when / you see my writing _ remember me affectionately / to Aunt Mary _ I hope you will write me soon _
Your affectionate Sister
Elizabeth
P.S. Please to send me in a letter the extract / from a sermon of Mr Bacon’s on the death /
[ADDRESS]
Miss Lorraine H. Fisk
Grove Hall
New Haven
Conn.
[POSTAGE STAMP - red ink, oval]
TROY
NY
FEB 12
[POSTMARK]
12 [?]Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
EnglishOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Former NumberOther Number
W 3121 B
