Mary explains that she is struggling with her physical and mental health to her Mother. For the first part of her time at Troy, her school, she was struggling to get to her lessons but felt that the only time for her to finish her studies was the…
In this letter, Mary writes to her mother, Elizabeth, primarily about what is going on at school. She begins by sympathizing with her brother Frederic about being home-sick, and also reflects on the death of her sister, Catherine. She briefly…
In this letter from Mary Huntington to Elizabeth Phelps Huntington, she updates her mother on her rooming situation and the internal struggle she’s been experiencing as a result of homesickness. Mary is staying with a friend temporarily while her…
Elizabeth starts off her letter to Edward by saying that Edward’s brother Frederic has just surprised them by showing up to the house and is taking a nap on the couch. She then discusses how the people of Hadley talk to much, and this causes…
In a response to Frederic’s previous letter, Elizabeth begins by assuring him that she had received his letter, and that there had been confusion with the gift he sent to his father. She explains that Helen has grown sicker but is still alive, which…
Mother Elizabeth writes to son Frederic in order to inform him of the state of his dying sister, Helen. Elizabeth reveals her thoughts on death and the afterlife, and talks about their various encounters with family friends. Elizabeth compliments her…
This letter actually contains a letter written on November 18, 1843 and a lengthy postscript and shorter sidebar written on November 26, 1843. A major portion of the letter is devoted to reporting the death of Edward and offering praise of his…
Elizabeth is updating her son Frederic on the occurrences in the valley. She tells him, first, of his siblings who are at home and of his siblings who are in other places. She then tells him of the visitors that they have. While noting the shifts to…
This is a letter from mother to child, where Elizabeth updates her son John of her husband’s hopefully growing interests in becoming a preacher. She also informs him of different family matters, including who is visiting, and relays the contents of…
In this letter, Elizabeth talks extensively about how she had expected Elizabeth Fisher and her family to arrive at her home and had taken great pains to prepare for their arrival only to find out when Pa came back from town that she had written that…