1831.10.03 - Elizabeth Huntington to John Huntington, Oct. 3rd, 1831

1831.10.03 - Elizabeth Huntington to John Huntington, Oct. 3rd, 1831

In the letter, Elizabeth addresses a letter she had received from her son, John, a few days prior. In that letter, he had discussed his desire to win College honors, but had not received this prize, for which he was greatly disappointed. Elizabeth reminds John that “worldly distinction” should not be his main goal in life and references many passages from the Bible to prove her point. The second half of the letter is comprised of updates of the town and family: John’s uncle left for Boston the previous week, his father preached in another town, Elizabeth went to hear another man’s sermon in Northampton, etc. She ends her letter by speaking of the health of the town—many townspeople are “sick with fever” and “death is making ravages” through the town. Luckily, the whole family is in “comfortable health.”

Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington

Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 11)
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

1831-10-03

Courtesy of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation
For permissions contact Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Correspondence