Newberry Library - DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Isaac Stevens Metcalf, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1842-1851

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Open book DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Isaac Stevens Metcalf, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1842-1851

Title DeWitt, Elizabeth Anna Rich (half-sister), to Isaac Stevens Metcalf, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1842-1851

Creator Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898

Date 1842-1851

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 honour to her: she was then not 18,- the time when the world and its vanities have most power over the mind, she does not regard herself as having been pious then yet her noble regard to principle, led her to give up the good opinion of her friend, expose herself to obloquy and neglect. I will relate something of her at a still earlier period of life: After the death of her mother, (who you know was mother's oldest sister, whom I remember perfectly & with much affection). I visited at her fathers, & spent several days: she was then 15 or 16, the oldest of seven children, I spent the sabbath there and after tea, she gathered all the children together into a retired chamber, had us all kneel round the bed, while she led in prayer: this as I knew, had been Aunt's practice, and this good girl, putting away all false shame, simply to do her duty, had kept up the practice ever since her mother's death. Is there not something uncommon in such a character?As I have gone so far, I will tell a little more of her history: A little previous to her mother's death, while on a visit to her relations in Barre, she became acquainted with a young man of that place by the name of Lee, he belonged to one of the very first families, was wealth & moved in a high circle, he was much pleased with her, for she was interesting in her appearance; he visited her after her return home, and it resulted in an engagement: after awhile some of the relations from Athol who knew all about him, sent word that he was dissipated somewhat, in his habits: she dismissed him at once, though I have no doubt at a great sacrifice to her own feelings: I can not help thinking that if it had not been for this early blighting of her affections and hopes, she would not have united her destiny with that old lunks of a Dickinson twine her age: I believe that she set her own feelings aside, and married because of her father's narrow circumstances there, the necessities of her younger sisters, and her need of a home. When I was there three years ago, she said to me, with much emphasis, 'do'nt you marry for a home'.I am sorry to hear that Joseph A. is a follower of Parker, but Unitarianism lends to infidelity, and it is not strange: I cannot but hope that Uncle Joseph & aunt are real christians; they have been grounded in the truth in infamy though their children have only been under Unitarian influence.

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 13

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 3163px × 3947px 71.47 MB

Filename 998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_01_fl_13_004_003.tif

Unique Identifier NL11FDMP

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