Newberry Library - DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Anna Mayo Stevens Rich Metcalf (mother), 1832, 1835-1839, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers

DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Anna Mayo Stevens Rich Metcalf (mother), 1832, 1835-1839, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers

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Open book DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Anna Mayo Stevens Rich Metcalf (mother), Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1832, 1835-1839

Title DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Anna Mayo Stevens Rich Metcalf (mother), 1832, 1835-1839, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers

Creator Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898

Place United States

Subjects Bowdoin College, Brothers and sisters, DuQuoin Coal Company, Illinois Central Railroad Company

Format Business records, Correspondence, Diaries, Genealogies, Invoices, Manuscripts, Personal narratives, Records

User-Contributed Transcription Jan 1st, I wish you all a Happy New Year: I am glad that Charlesteaches school this winter, but he will need to walk very straight, and exerthimself to the utmost; there is such a spirit of improvement aboutsnow with respect to common schools, that an old fashioned good teacherwill hardly give satisfaction, however if he only becomes as heartilyengaged in the improvement of his school, as in his barnyd no doubtget but what he will keep a good school, you did not write whetherthe children had much desired or make much exertion to improvetheir minds, of course they all go to school. I feel deeply for poor Naomiand hardly realize that she, so sensible & so agreeable is indeedImmoral but the purposes of Providence I cannot fathom.I have as usual, many plans for the future, whether any of themsucceed is extremely uncertain, - as to your project - thoughmy respects very pleasant - I hardly think it would be expedient Ifully respond to the spirit of the old maxim, that "home is home be itever - so homely," and, I have had occasion to feel the truth of it too, butafter reading so much as I have, to gain a competent expectation,ought then to do better, than to keep a few weeks in a year, a ?but fatiguing school & teach a,b,c, which the common set "countrygirl round here can do , and probably, too at less wages have the sense"girls receive! and if I should not keep at all, I should earn nothing and of coursehave nothing, while I should be constantly spending something, and I shouldhave to regret that I had spent considerable time and money, to gain accomplishmentand acquirements, which would be above my station as suchwould not probably increase my usefulness, & which would be of littlereal use to me. I believe that one who watches the indications of Providencewith the sincere desire to be guided by them, will be directed in his counsel,but, not without the exercise of the reasoning powers, in comparing, and judgingbetween advantages, disadvantages etc. Select schools taught by females, and verypopular in every little village, and it seems to me I had better try in this way, andin this vicinity, or in Maine, I should very much prefer the latter, if there was equalprospect of success. I wish I could be situated in Bangor, either in a private school orassistant in the High School established there: what do you think of this plan that I have forforged - to ascertain, by writing to Mr. Pomroy whether there is any tolerable prospect of anopening there, for me next spring; and if so, do up my visiting, after closing my schoolwhich will be in three weeks, and go to Boston, spend a few weeks there in reviewing my studiesperfecting myself in drawing & preparing to go to Bangor as soon as spring opens, Ihave been engaged in teaching in Boston since I left there, & possibly might succeedbetter on that account, but I wish Ann Foley had really got married. I think Mother thatif you consider the matter all round, you will think I had better persevere, & notnow give up trying to earn something; there is the apparatus and glove whichwill be of little use if A nor I do not keep school, besides I have spentmoney for nothing which I shall need to keep school but which would otherwise be unnecessary.Elisabeth Ann Rich.[right hand side]corner folded over I was to a Lyceum here this winter, well attended and interesting, there has been each evening a lecture and debate; and the question was whether West Point, Military School was or not a benefit to the nation. Uncle debated on the ? side of the question. A new Physician has moved to town. no doubt, chiefly because Dr. Taylor has left. Mr. ?? and joined the new Society. There is great bitterness of feeling in regard to ? and I think Mrs. _ and especially Mrs. Smith feel differently towards me because I go to the Orthodox.

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Isaac Stevens Metcalf papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Metcalf Box 1 Folder 3

BibID 821787

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 3280px × 3865px 72.57 MB

Filename 998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_01_fl_03_002_003.tif

Unique Identifier NL11FDD5

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