Susan B. Anthony Papers, 1815-1961. Correspondence. With family, also cousin and niece, 1847-1848. 19 ALS, 1 fragment.. A-143, folder 13. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

those around him. His heart & hand are ever ready to assist the unfortunate. Would that it were in our power to return some small tokens of the deep gratitude we feel for the sympathy and benefits confered when we were in the deep waters of affliction. He is still geeble, yet has he been enabled to go grhough wth all the excitement & fatigues of these trying times, much to the astonishment of all the family. How sadly different the feelings now from those indulged a year ago. Then all hearts were elate with hope, now are all those brigh dreams blighted. Ah fickly fortune how dost thou play thu pranks, e'en when reason sits enthroned and wields her mighty septre.

I had the pleasure of reading a short letter from Aaron last week also one from H. Nothing new from either. It is but ten week to summer vacation. I told M yesterday that I thought of nothing but getting fixed & ready ot go to Rochester in August. Sometimes I can hardly wait for the time to come. If I could only spend the Sundays under the rof of my parents homes, I now think I would be content. they have talked of building a new Academy this summer but I do not think thy wil. My room is notfit to stay in & I have promised myself that I would not pass another winter in it. If I must forever teach, I will seek at least a comfortable house to do [f???iance] in. If weariness has come over me that the short

spring vacation did not in the least dispel. I havea pleasant school of 20 scholars, but I have to manufacture the interest duty compels me to exhibit. I am anxious they should learm, but feel almost to shrink from the tast, energy & something to stimulate is wanting. But I expect the long summer vacation spent with my dearest & truest friends will give me new life & fresh courage to presever in the arduous path of duty. Do not think me unhappy with my fate, no not so. I am only a little tired & a good eal lazy, that is all. Margaret now things of going west with me and I guess she will not give it up again.

Writing letters does not afford any satisfaction. I want something more real to feast upon. I am out of sorts with the whole world. I want a new $5.00 fancy hat, $15.00 pin, $20.000 Manlitta dresses, shows, gloves, pocket-hankerchiefs & yes, oh yes, a nice fur. Every one of which I am resolved to deny myself. I am going to have my straw bleached & trimmed with my old ribbon, my blue lawn dress I have had made over which is as handsome as when new. The black braise is being made, which will be as nice as new, is very much worn & for the rest I am determined to banish even the desire.

H. had just had a letter from D.D. He continues pleased with his situation. I hope they are suited with him.

All my happifying thoughts are of the anticipated joys of next vacation. Willet the Clerk was down to the canal a week ago today. A fine boat was there. He hear a man & woman talking about a stone house with green blings & the heading on the hills. He stepped up & asked them about whome they were talking. They told him, said you were well and gave him no card or name. I know from desciption that it must be non other than Lewis Bustis'.

Do write very soon. Tell about the strawberres & peaches, charres & plums. Joseph talks some of going with us & going to his fathers with me. Joshua & Elisha want to come too. I guess I will come home & live this winter & let Mary & Merritt go to Washington Co. H. wants J.M. to come there & stay & go to school & Aaron & Gula do not feel at all satisfied with Mary. Visit G. Said Aaron could noe be reconciled to M's going home last winter. How I wish J.M. would wned me or us some strawnerries by express or some merchant or [??dy] coming down on the Cass. Guess I can stand it through till I come and now be all ready to viist. I can it be [sta???] with you in ten weeks. Now Merritt write. Tell me how the yard looks, what flowers are in blossom, & all about the family business.

Love to all, S.B.A.

Rochester June 4 1848 5 1/2 PM

Dear S.

It now rains finely with thunder & lightning. Your Mother Myself Merritt & Lorinda went this morning to Friends Meeting which is now held in No. 3 School house on Corn Hill. The Society are building a new house on the site where the old hovel stood. The young are now all at Singing School which is this summer held at the individuals houses in this district--has been once at our little paradise -- After we returned from Meeting the chief musician of the neighbohood on his way to S School with his stringed thing in oldtimes caled a fiddle.

Stoped and gave us a number of tunes quite unlike those we had just heard or not heard at all at our meeting-For there as frequently in olden times all was Silence -- Had I but had the mind & tongue of a Douglass or many others of the Nigger race I would have preached to them myself -- For in these days of I was about to say Light & knowledge--it seems to bad to go to meeting where people prefer to gather for the purpose of good and not hear a single wrod? word spoken--when there is such a grand opportunity for telling a word of truth--I had not those matters of qualification & therfore kept my peace--By this remark I do not mean to cary the idea that any more good is done in the churches

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where Long Sermons about Progress & heavenly Music are each in systematick order dealt out to the anxiously listening congregations all in accordance with the most popular notions of the American church--In all the churches except the Quakers we are quite sure to hear much preaching--Much praying & much singing to day--Step a few miles South & tomorrow our beloved Bretheren of the same Church will be found engaged Lawfully, honestly & very religiously engaged in the Brotherly & human acts of riveting Iron fetters & handcuffs upon upon the Brethren & sisters of the selfsame Church of God. That they these said Brothers & Sisters may--with the greatest security to their beloved & religiously devoted owners. be transported to a far distant land where both body & soul are to be dealt with in accordance with the customs & usages of allowed of as auctions by both the civil & Purely Religious Institutions of this Republican & Christianized land---Of what use is preaching & all this pretended or blind devotion ? so long, as this horable buisness of traffery in the bodies of Men, Women & Children is sanctioned & actually carried on by those making the hightest pretensios to goodness-If instead going to church & remaining silent as all were at the Church we attended today and instead of going through the far more sensless routine of ceremony that we