THE FRIENDLY CRAFT I THE RULES OF THE CRAFT WRITE Lengthy and often. JOHN HANCOCK WRITE by every boat. . . . Tell the news — the news. RUFUS CHOATE T acknowledge the receipt of letters is always proper, L to remove doubts of their miscarriage. GEORGE WASHINGTON ETTERS should be affectionate, natural, and graceful - almost everybody can get as far as that—then make them as witty, or sensible, or in any way agreeable as CATHARINE M. SEDGWICK you can. NEV JEVER write for the sake of covering paper. “If you have nothing to say, say nothing." This was the advice of my dearly beloved mother, and I hand it down to you. ABBY HOPPER GIBBONS I II A MOOT POINT OF CRAFTSMANSHIP WONDER if Eve could write letters in Paradise! But, poor Eve, she had no one to write to - no one to whom to tell what Eden was, no beloved child to whom her love traveled through any or all space. Poor Eve! CATHARINE M. SEDGWICK I SOMETIMES think one of the great blessings we shall enjoy in heaven, will be to receive letters by every post and never be obliged to reply to them. WASHINGTON IRVING III THE NEWS FROM HOME Judge Sewall survives the earthquake ("To the Rev. President, Mr. Benjamin Wadsworth at Cambridge") RE Nov 14, 1727 EVD SIR, — I am glad to hear that you have been so far Recovered from your long and painfull Indisposition, as to have been able to go into the Hall again. And I congratulat with you our having survived the late terrible Earthquake. I cannot affirm that I was shaken by it, although our Kitchen parrallel to our Bedchamber, and near it, was Rocquid like a Cradle, yet the crashing Noise was very amazing to me. For I was just warm in my Bed, but not asleep. The young people were Busy Days quickly frighted out of the Shaking clattering Kitchen, and fled with weeping Cryes into our Chamber, where they made a fire, and abode there till morning. As I lay, the good Bp and his Lady came to my mind, who were buried in their Bed in the desolating Tempest in England; but I did not venture to tell my thoughts. I remember the Earthquake of 1663 and my being Shaken by it, as I sat in my Father's house at Newbury in a Jâm of the Chimney. Oh that I could learn to fear the Lord and his Goodness! The busy days of a colonial girl (Two letters from Eliza Lucas) EAR MADAM, DEAR I I flatter myself it will be a satisfac tion to you to hear I like this part of the world as my lott has fallen here, which I really do. I prefer England to it 'tis true, but think Carolina greatly preferable to the West Indies, and was my Papa here I should be very happy. We have a very good acquaintance from whom we have received much friendship and Civility. Charles Town the principal one in this province is a polite agreeable place, the people live very Gentile and very much in the English taste. The Country is in general fertile and abounds with Venson and with fowl. The Venson is much higher flavoured than in England but 'tis seldom fatt. My Papa and Mama's great indulgence to mee leaves it to mee to chuse our place of residence either in town or country, but I think it more prudent as well as most agreeable to my Mama and selfe to be in the Country during my father's absence. Wee are 17 mile by land, and 6 by water from Charles Town where wee have about 6 agreeable families around us with whom wee live in great harmony. I have a little library well furnished (for my Papa has left mee most of his books) in wch I spend part of my time. My Musick and the Garden wch I am very fond of take up the rest that is not imployed in business, of wch my father has left mee a pretty good share, and indeed 'twas unavoidable, as my Mama's bad state of health prevents her going thro' any fatigue. I have the business of 3 plantations to transact, wch requires much writing and more business and fatigue of other sorts than you can imagine, but least you should imagine it too burthensome to a girl at my early time of life, give mee leave to assure you I think myself happy that I can be useful to so good a father. By rising very early I find I can go through with much business, but least you should think I Shall be quite moaped with this way of life, I am to inform you there is two worthy ladies in Cr Town, Mrs Pinckney and Mrs Cleland who are partial enough to mee to wish to have mee with them, and insist upon my making their houses my home when in Town, and press mee to relax a little much oftener than 'tis in my power to accept of their obliging intreaties, but I am sometimes with one or the other for three weeks or a monthe at a time, and then enjoy all the pleasures Crs Town affords. But nothing gives mee more than subscribing myself Pray remember me in Dr. Madam Yr. most affectionet and most obliged humble Serv ELIZA. LUCAS the best manner to my May ye 2ond. [probably 1740] |