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The letters of Mary Ann Dains
The following are two letter written by Mary Ann Dains, to her friend, Laura Clark, transcribed in 2005 by Jo Anne Lee Cornick, and sent to Richard Taggart The note from Jo Anne describes the transcription, and the letters follow. "I have transcribed everything below using Mary Ann?s spelling, but have added punctuation and capital letters to aid in the reading and comprehension of the letters. JoAnne Lee Cornick" Letter #1 Pittsfield, VT May 19, 1848 Miss Laura A. Clark No. 18 Merrimac Corp. Lowell, Mass My dear, dear Laura, I received your kind and affectionate letter dated May 7th and was very, very glad to hear from you. I was also delighted to learn you was going home. Oh how much better to spend the warm weather in the country. I have thought so much about you since I came home. You know not how often you are mentioned here in our family, nor how much your miniature is thought of.. They thought nothing in the world was so nice as those, nothing in the world would induce me to part with it. I never have been sorry that it looks so smiling. You spoke of the book and poetry that I left in your trunk. I intended when I wrote it to have given it you myself but I had hard work to control my feelings and it seemed to me as though I could not give it you. So I put it where I thought you would find it. I did not think Josephine would tell you of it. I am sorry you felt so bad; never mind it Dear Laura. But let us so try to live that when we are done living here we may meet in that bright world above. I cherish the hope that we shall meet again on earth. Oh yes, we will hope it will soothe many a lonely moment. I wish you were here tonight to sleep with me. We should have a good time. Sometimes when I retire to rest I feel as though I could have it so ?those peaceful hours I once enjoyed how sweet this memory still?. But as it is not of any use to feel bad we will make the best of it. I think sometimes ?well Laura will go home and soon someone will take her away?. Be it so, I only hope it shall be one who is every way worthy and to whom you may give your undivided earthly affection. When you find such an one you will be happy. Such an one I hope you may who will be a friend in times of adversity and prosperity. Just such an one as I have ever found in you. Martha you say is to be married. Give my love to her with my kindest wishes for her prosperity and happiness through the short journey of life, also to all your friends. I think you will enjoy yourself well at home and I am so glad you are going. By this time you are wanting to know how mother is and has been. When I wrote you before I had not been able to learn precisely about her sickness so much. I have since. She was for about 3 weeks very sick indeed. They all tell me after that time she began slowly to mend but is not as yet able to do anything. She has walked across the garden to Mrs. Davis and I think she is gaining slowly. She coughs a great deal but not so much as she did. I think myself that it is a great chance if she gets able to do anything this summer, though she may. She cried when she saw your miniature. She says O I guess Laura will come and see us sometime. Martha Jane is teaching where she taught last summer. We hardly knew what to do about having her go away but finally concluded to spare her. Almena has been confined to her bed almost ever since I came home. She is gaining slowly now. She wished me to give you her best respects. (notes by JoAnne Lee Cornick, great, great, great grandaughter of Mary Ann ? It was expected that Laura would marry Decatur, Franklin?s brother, but instead he married Eliza, which was a surprise and disappointment to all the family. From Aunt Ella?s writings: ?she also met and loved Franklin?s brother, Decator. The Shedd family looked forward eagerly to a wedding. Instead Decator took home to Sherburne a bride from Dorchester, Ma. an Eliza Turner.? The following refers to this. Mary Ann did not use Decatur?s name in her letter, but the ?D_____? she uses several times obviously refers to him) Mr. Shedd called Monday after I came home and stopped some time almost the first thing after speaking with me. He inquired for you and all about you. You cannot imagine how he feels though. He says since Eliza has been there they have had no reason to find a word of fault with her. Still said he, it is not Laura. He feels it deeply I assure you.. D___ has not been down but once since I came home. He called then. I do not know how he enjoys himself as I have had no opportunity of conversing with him. But I can tell you what his father said. Said he ?in my candid opinion he has waded in deep sorrow ever since he came home and I guess always will?. He seems to love his child as well as any one need to. Saw Mrs. Shedd yesterday and she feels just as the rest of us do. Bad, very bad. But it is now very late and I must hasten to shut my peekers soon and so an affectionate good night, Dear Laura. Friday morning. I have been churning and I wish you could have some of my butter for dinner. I have now got on to a new page and must tell you something more than I have yet. You know I promised to write you if anything happened. Therefore according to that promise and agreeable to my own feelings I sit at this time to tell you that Wednesday morning at ten & a half o?clock May 18th, 1848 ---------- I became the wife of F. W. Shedd. It was a most lovely morn. Not a cloud obscured the sky, as was yesterday. Would you like to know something of the affair. Well to begin everybody is was astonished almost out of their wits. Says Mrs. Eggleston ?there now did you ever see anything beat that in all this world?? She thought, I suppose that no one could be married unless she knew it before. There were two or three that I told and the rest were completely taken by surprise. Well to go on, we were married at Brother Huston?s our ministers. Martha Jane and Gamaliel went with us. I was no more frightened than I am this moment. He did not say but a very few words. I do not believe you ever saw anyone married so short. I never did. I wore my white dress and you would scarcely know but what it was bran-fire new. I do not know but it looked as well as ever. A white satin ribin round my waist and a white ribin round my neck, just round, and neat beau tied and my pin. In it with all they said it was pretty. My sleeves you know were not very short. Those I merely hitched up on the outside more so that they was nearly to my elbow on the outside and a little satin beau on. I trimmed it with that linen edging that looked very nice after it was washed. I wore my barage shawl and my bonnet looks very well. Martha Jane was dressed like me except our bonnets. Her trimming was light. I did not take my bonnet off. We then went to Sherburne without making any call at home. M.J. & G. went to Mr. Penney?s (that is Chat?s) and then went back. After tea we called to Mr. Clarks and then came back home. To tell you something of the time I had at the castle, Eliza was the first one I saw to speak with. She welcomed me as a stranger. Soon the rest came round. Last of all Mr. Shedd. He saluted me as his daughter, but O Laura, you know not how sober he seemed. It was not possible to rouse him. D____ was as sober as death and Eliza said nothing at all hardly. It seemed to me as though beside her we all felt just alike. Mr. Shedd wanted me to go and see the bees. When we are out there he says to me ?do you feel as though you should enjoy coming up here this summer as well as you did last under existing circumstances. I told him I meant to enjoy it as well as I could but said it was very different than what it was then. Yes indeed said he. ?how much I enjoyed that and looked forward to the time when Laura would be one of us. But it is as it is and all that remains now is to make the best of it we can?. Mrs. Shedd told me he bore it better at first than he does now. It wears on instead of off. D____ seems very reserved in her presence to me ? but when she was out he seemed more like himself only so sober. One word to Mr. Young, tell him as I found it was no use to say anything about going back. I thought I would settle down in life and think it will not be convenient to wind for him this summer. Also about mother ? best he may think it was all a sham about her being sick ? also make Davis tell who told him such a story. Tell him I am married and ask if he believes now what I told him that morning that I left. Call on Mrs. Proctor for me and tell her the thing is done and relieve their anxious minds. Tell Abby that if she will write me so I can know when she is there she shall hear from me. Love to Josephine and Helen. Tell Sarah Gucker I shall expect a letter from her soon and she must remember she promised to write one. My especial love to all the girls at Miss Hoyt?s and in particular to Miss Hoyt. Tell Lucy if she is there that I suppose I am entitled to that receipt now to make pain killer (not sure about this - JLC). My love to all the girls in the mill. Tell Martha Moody I am alive and well and doing well and have no occasion to wish myself off in the woods, as true as the Bible. So you need not pity me for what has passed. Don?t you tell her so though. No accident has befallen me yet. Tell Sarah Grant to tell Eliza that I expect that letter from her and to direct it to the same place it says on my card. Now Laura write just as soon as you can after you get home will you not ? do, do, do. I shall ever be the same to you that I ever have been and expect the same of you. Franklin sends much love to you and I suppose would like to write some but you see there is no room. Love to Austin when you see him. I was glad to hear that you had had a ride with him. Do not fail to write me soon. Your sis, Mary Ann Letter #2 Pittsfield,
VT
July 21
Miss Laura A.
Clark
Lowell,
Massachusetts
No. 16 Merimack
Corp.
My Dear
Laura
Ten thousand
thanks to you for your very acceptable letter recieved a few minutes
since, and which has made me laugh ever since. I am so happy to know
you are coming so soon & fear I shall need a whipping to make me
decently sober. O Laura ?????as we used to say about our new room,
that you are indeed coming so soon, and O if kind providence lengthens to
us life and health, I trust we may be very happy. The reason I have
taken this early opportunity to write you is for fear you will start
Monday. I think it so does Father and Mother and all of us that it
will cost you more considerable. I?ll tell you why. My ticket
to Woodstock was 3,25 you know, well then from Woodstock to L it is
near 2 dollars. Well supposing you came to Lebanon and Royalton and
not to W-------- it will be nearly or quite the same. Adelaide?s
fair was 5,90, from Woodstock to Sherburne. I think you would pay
50cts. They ask 75, but they do carry for 50 and I presume
will. However as to that let it go. And now it will be just no
trouble at all for us to meet you at Sherburne, but rather a great
accomodation. We have a good steady horse and a passable waggon
anyway. I guess it will carry you and me, beside this I can drive it
my own self and know the way and if life and health are spared I know not
why I shall not have a fine time going after you. I was thinking
today and telling mother that I was going down to Sherburne Wednesday a
visiting and if you come I would tell you I could carry you home if you
was a mind to ride with me. If not, if you had ?other fish to fry?
and your sister could not fry them, why then I would pretend I did not
come after you. So you see it is all contrived.
But oh! as I turn over
the page, I cannot forbid the silent tear to start ? I grieve to learn
your fears respecting our worthy friend Abby. It calls to mind every
act of kindness she has ever done us, every look of affection and trust ?
as she used to say, ?I knew you would want I should come in here.? I hope
she may yet regain her health and be spared for usefulness. I trust
if it is the Lord?s will to remove her from earth she will leave a world
of sorrow for one of endless bliss. I trust she might apply these
beautiful sentiments to herself.
?So may I live
that though afar ? from all my cherished ties
Though strangers hear my
dying words, and close my dying eyes
I shall not know
desertion since my saviour will be near
To fill my fainting
spirit with the ?love that casts out fear?.
So may I die that when
my death to parting friends is known
Each shall devoutly
meekly wish such lot to be their own
Not hurting if I die in
want, in exile or in pain,
But feeling that I die
in Christ; for thus to die is gain.?
I think those are
beautiful lines do not you Laura. I feel assured that if I never
meet Abby again on earth, if I am faithful I shall meet her where
fare-the-well is heard no more. I did not think when I parted with
her but that I was as likely to meet her again as any of you. But I
am writing more than I intended. Remember me with much love to my
cousins, to Caroline Wheeler. Tell her I have that nice piece of her
cabin in a ____ (Mary Ann made a line after the ?a? just as I have
transcribed here) Also to Elizabeth Longley the piece of her
dress is with it. Remember me to all the good girls in No. 5
spinning room that inquire after me. More than all remember me to
Mother Hoyt and all her family that I have the pleasure of knowing.
Tell Susan and Lacretia their friends are well. James called on us
Sunday evening. We had a pleasant chat. I hope they will
behave. Ask them if they don?t ?seem to know? ? they will laugh I
guess then. Lastly give my love to H. J. & D.____ I hope
to do this myself next time. I must stop for I must write a
billet to send Mr. Shedd?s people. In the morning you must all do as
you think best about coming but we think it will be cheaper to come to
Sherburne and I can go after you better than not. And now I want you
to remember my paper for I have run ashore.
I hope Josephine will be
very careful not to get cold. I am glad she is coming
home.
Yours in a great
hurry,
Mary Ann
In the
margins:
Tell C. Wheeler not to
wait for me to write but write by you. She and Elizabeth can make
out a good long letter and we will answer it when you are here. Tell
all the girls I am acquainted with to write me by you, Susan and
Lucretia I can?t mention them all. Tell Mother Hoyt to
send some word to me if she has so much to do she can?t write. This
is all. All are asleep but me, I guess.
Wednesday morn. I
want to say to you not to go to washing and all that sort of stuff.
Now Laura come just as if you was coming home and you could do it after
you get here. Now mind me, will you Laura. Yes, well that?s
right ? don?t we want some new cabins if we do. If you see something
pretty get us one alike. If you don?t you need not get any.
Tell Helen I should have answered her very kind letter but I could not
think she was going to stay long enough. And now be a good girl and
not work as hard as you can all the week. Saturday nights are orful
times, sometimes. I hope you may see none such before you come home
so they will all be in darkness. Unless Lucretia takes the door off
the hinges. I hope D____ will not come until Monday for I fear he
will not like to stop at Lowell so long. I hope you will find it
more convenient to stay until Tuesday.
With this I close
again,
Mary
Ann
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Lee's Trees