(Swain Residence, Short Tract, New York – 1863)
Written by Susan Maria Swain (Mm. Van Nostrand)
Sometimes, when I read in diaries or letters a reference to the “future generations” by my own direct descendants, I feel as an audience member watching a play when the fourth wall is broken. Instead of separated by an accepted illusion that I am not involved in the actions playing out on a stage, I am separated by a time illusion of 152 years, touching a document written by a person of my own person—one I am senior to by 4 years.
This letter is written in the love-drunk months preceding their wedding in September, and has the flowery language of people trying to impress the other with their poetic thoughtfulness. While confirming their date of marriage, I realized that I share the same marriage date with my ggg grandparents, exactly 150 years later! Weddings in the Fall are the best of all! 🙂
The letter is transcribed as it is presented in the original document.
Home, Sunday Morn
June 4 /1863
My Dear Friend,
There is an old saying that a clear conscience is the result of a promise fulfilled, a guilty one of a promise broken. So as I haven’t any particular desire to be troubled with a guilty conscience. I here arisen early this morning while all is quiet around & every one else is the house are taking their morning naps; in order to fulfill my promise & write to my most worthy friend.
The God of day has not yet arisen in the east sending fourth his en lighting rays to gladden all nature after the recent shower and the little birds are singing their messy morning roundelay.
[Love?] happy they seem & how happy seems easy thing in nature; and what a beautiful world we live in. Oh! why can not all mankind be happy, & live in peace & harmony with each other? Why can not all live to do good, live for the sake of their friends, & to strewn lifes pathway with roses! It is true, life has many ills; perfect happenings is not the lot of mortals on earth: but if we live as it is our privilege to live & as Heaven designed we should live we can in a measure conceal the thorns & smooth life’s pathway to the grave.
If we glorify God & honor ourselves, we live not for the sake of the self alone, but to make the lives of others noble and happy.
I suppose every one can do some good in the great busy hive of humanity. We do not realize an influence we [chest?]-over each other either for good or evil in this world. For instance, suppose you speak kindly to another who has been guilty of some great fault–! “A word fitly spoken” (Quote: Proverbs 25:11) may change his whole course of life! then the influence of that little word will be imprinted on the minds of future generations; on on through time Yes! the influence of the little word will sound through eternity. Is it a little thing
But you know this better than I do. How many times I have thought that no one is so unworthy, no one is so littler deserving as myself, but still I have a hope a will strong as a love for life, to do good to my race.
The same God who made the hills & the forests, & clothed them with beauty, has also planted in every human bosom a fountain of friendship. “an [oasis?] in the soul” He is indeed to be pitied who has no friends. Did you ever heard the beautiful song
“I live for those who love me,
And those who believe me true;
For the Heavens that smile above me
And the good that I may do.” (full song)
That is my favorite, don’t you like it? But now my friend I must beg you parden for writing is such a strain, I have forgotten myself & nearly filled this sheet with nothing at all. I have often wondered how you can have so much patience with such a wild, crazy headed girl as I am. But I know you are [popseped?] of a large share of kindness & good nature & I rely on this for pardon for all my wild preach & misdemeanors. I don’t mean to do any thing very bad but I am naturally so full of firm mischief that I often do & say things that I very much regret afterward
I did not leave Short Tract tuesday as I expected. Annie was obliged to teach for Emma & could not come till thursday. I shall go to my sister today with my father & when I write again I will tell you how long I shall like to stay. probably about three weeks if sister Hattie don’t send for me before.
You must take good care of the girls at Short Tract (Mary Black in particular) while I am gone. & see that [Iimps?] Bennett don’t elope with any body because that would break my heart & wouldn’t that be awful. what an explosion there would be you would probably hear its report at Short Tract. I believe I should like to see you first a little while for the sake of teasing you but as that can’t be I will not crucify you with any more such nonsense as this. so for the present I will stop writing which I know will please you better than any thing else so au revoir & with this hearty [seraul?] accept the most sincere regards of your Eternal Everlasting Ever true & simple friend, Susie.
Of the North Shore 