Susan Salter Dennis to Elizabeth Sergeant Dennis, 03 April 1852
Title
Susan Salter Dennis to Elizabeth Sergeant Dennis, 03 April 1852
Creator
Susan Salter Dennis
Source
Theophilus Adam Wylie Family Correspondence
Publisher
Wylie House Museum
Date
03 April 1852
Text
Philada. April 3d 1852
My Dear Elizabeth,
You last kind & affectionate letter was recd during my stay at Selins Grove and my intention was to reply to it immediately, but Cornelia expressed a desire to write about the time, so I thought a letter from her would satisfy you all as to our temporal estate & concerns. Since then I wrote your brother Theophilus (a reply to which letter I recd 10 or 12 days ago) informing him of our health &c &c. Cornelia & myself arrived here from S. Gove about ½ past 2 of Ck. On last Sabbath morn one week. We left on Friday morning in the stage expecting to reach the Junction in the afternoon in time to take the car for Harrisburg and so reach the city that night, but the roads were so bad we did not reach the Junction until dark. We had to remain there that night & left the Hotel at 2 in the morning (having to walk ½ mile to the railroad) to meet the cars that they said always passed along about 4 of Ck. Well, it was snowing and blowing very hard, the snow right in our faces. We got to the place and after waiting patiently until 7 of Ck we saw the cars moving along. This great detention and the running off the track afterwards caused us to miss the early train at Harrisburg for Phila. Of course we had to remain at H. all day until near 8 in the evening before we got under weigh [sic] for this city. C and myself both sick and tired. Cornelia has had 3 fainting spells since our arrival owing to debility & nervousness. She is better and this afternoon gone out to Germantown. Elizabeth Billmeyer was here yesterday, and insisted upon her coming and promised to meet her at the Depot at 4 of Ck to day. We were at Francisville this morning and saw all the family. The Dr. and Theodore returned yesterday from New York, both looking very well. T. has grown much stouter I think so matrimony seems to agree with him. His wife appears to be a plain, affable & I should judge a good young woman. Susan is looking very well and the old lady the same as 15 years ago. Robt. Black has gone to Pittsburg on a visit. Report says that he & Susan will be one day united. Emma left here on Tuesday for West Chester and I expect yesterday left there for her return to Selins Grove. Poor dear girl, she has little of what we term the pleasures or enjoyments of life. She is always the first to try and do for me whatever she can, even at the expence of her comfort & health. She came on in order to procure me a house. She succeeded in getting one at W. Chester. Caroline was anxious to have us near her, and they tried to procure one near the city, but was unable to get one to suit as I wanted a small one at a low rent. The only objection to W.C. is the distance & expence going & coming. Caroline & family have been as kind as possible for any human being to be. On Monday next we think of going to our new home at W. C. though C. does not wish us to leave until the week after. I hope and pray that you will all come on and make this place your permanent residence. We were on the subject this morning at Francisville and all expressed the desire that your brother should come and all concurred in the opinion that he could get a situation to suit him and that without difficulty. We would be so much happier were we all together in one place, or near each other. Tell your sister & brother to think seriously about it and decide upon coming. Susan says she is going to write him on the subject. Dear Lizzie, I am apprehensive there was some mistake made, or misrepresentation about the remarks said to have been made about the letter you wrote some time ago to C. E. I was sorry afterwards I had mentioned it to you but it was too late. I have since had reason to think it was not so. Let it however be buried in oblivion, forever & forever. I had a letter from Georgiana a short time before I left S. G. She was not well. The physician thought her liver affected. Poor soul, she has I fear a hard life of it, on a farm, without help, having all the work to do and the care of two children, one of which is so very helpless. Mr. Wray's brother talks of going to Oregon & if he goes Georgiana says perhaps they may go too. I hear nothing of David. I have written to a friend of his in N. York this day to try and gather some tidings about him. Adelaide's children have been sick since I left them, so she wrote Emma. Give much love to your dear sister, brother, Louisa & all. Tell Rebecca to write me. Her epistles are like angels visits few and far between. I am afraid to risk my beautiful daguerreotype by mail setting aside the expence, which would perhaps be a good deal. Though I don't know what the postage would be. I write hurriedly as I have to go out. Chloe has had rheumatism, but is better. Old Lavinia is also well and all Dr. Brinton's family. Write soon. Your ever affectionate Mother, Susan S. Dennis
Do destroy this.
My Dear Elizabeth,
You last kind & affectionate letter was recd during my stay at Selins Grove and my intention was to reply to it immediately, but Cornelia expressed a desire to write about the time, so I thought a letter from her would satisfy you all as to our temporal estate & concerns. Since then I wrote your brother Theophilus (a reply to which letter I recd 10 or 12 days ago) informing him of our health &c &c. Cornelia & myself arrived here from S. Gove about ½ past 2 of Ck. On last Sabbath morn one week. We left on Friday morning in the stage expecting to reach the Junction in the afternoon in time to take the car for Harrisburg and so reach the city that night, but the roads were so bad we did not reach the Junction until dark. We had to remain there that night & left the Hotel at 2 in the morning (having to walk ½ mile to the railroad) to meet the cars that they said always passed along about 4 of Ck. Well, it was snowing and blowing very hard, the snow right in our faces. We got to the place and after waiting patiently until 7 of Ck we saw the cars moving along. This great detention and the running off the track afterwards caused us to miss the early train at Harrisburg for Phila. Of course we had to remain at H. all day until near 8 in the evening before we got under weigh [sic] for this city. C and myself both sick and tired. Cornelia has had 3 fainting spells since our arrival owing to debility & nervousness. She is better and this afternoon gone out to Germantown. Elizabeth Billmeyer was here yesterday, and insisted upon her coming and promised to meet her at the Depot at 4 of Ck to day. We were at Francisville this morning and saw all the family. The Dr. and Theodore returned yesterday from New York, both looking very well. T. has grown much stouter I think so matrimony seems to agree with him. His wife appears to be a plain, affable & I should judge a good young woman. Susan is looking very well and the old lady the same as 15 years ago. Robt. Black has gone to Pittsburg on a visit. Report says that he & Susan will be one day united. Emma left here on Tuesday for West Chester and I expect yesterday left there for her return to Selins Grove. Poor dear girl, she has little of what we term the pleasures or enjoyments of life. She is always the first to try and do for me whatever she can, even at the expence of her comfort & health. She came on in order to procure me a house. She succeeded in getting one at W. Chester. Caroline was anxious to have us near her, and they tried to procure one near the city, but was unable to get one to suit as I wanted a small one at a low rent. The only objection to W.C. is the distance & expence going & coming. Caroline & family have been as kind as possible for any human being to be. On Monday next we think of going to our new home at W. C. though C. does not wish us to leave until the week after. I hope and pray that you will all come on and make this place your permanent residence. We were on the subject this morning at Francisville and all expressed the desire that your brother should come and all concurred in the opinion that he could get a situation to suit him and that without difficulty. We would be so much happier were we all together in one place, or near each other. Tell your sister & brother to think seriously about it and decide upon coming. Susan says she is going to write him on the subject. Dear Lizzie, I am apprehensive there was some mistake made, or misrepresentation about the remarks said to have been made about the letter you wrote some time ago to C. E. I was sorry afterwards I had mentioned it to you but it was too late. I have since had reason to think it was not so. Let it however be buried in oblivion, forever & forever. I had a letter from Georgiana a short time before I left S. G. She was not well. The physician thought her liver affected. Poor soul, she has I fear a hard life of it, on a farm, without help, having all the work to do and the care of two children, one of which is so very helpless. Mr. Wray's brother talks of going to Oregon & if he goes Georgiana says perhaps they may go too. I hear nothing of David. I have written to a friend of his in N. York this day to try and gather some tidings about him. Adelaide's children have been sick since I left them, so she wrote Emma. Give much love to your dear sister, brother, Louisa & all. Tell Rebecca to write me. Her epistles are like angels visits few and far between. I am afraid to risk my beautiful daguerreotype by mail setting aside the expence, which would perhaps be a good deal. Though I don't know what the postage would be. I write hurriedly as I have to go out. Chloe has had rheumatism, but is better. Old Lavinia is also well and all Dr. Brinton's family. Write soon. Your ever affectionate Mother, Susan S. Dennis
Do destroy this.
Original Format
Handwritten letter
Files
Citation
Susan Salter Dennis, “Susan Salter Dennis to Elizabeth Sergeant Dennis, 03 April 1852,” Wylie House Exhibits, accessed April 25, 2024, https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/wyliehouse/items/show/691.