[001] 
 
Woodstock Jan. 1842 
 
My dear Sister 
From the time I received your welcome 
favor of Decem. 16th; Which is some two or three weeks, I 
have daily purposed writing you, but wishing it to be 
one of my "old fashioned letters," that is a very long one, I have 
deferred it from day to day hoping to get a little more 
extensive piece of leisure than I have yet been able to 
find. But on feeling a little disappointed in not getting 
one from some of you last mail, & being moreover a 
little inclined to abuse you for it, I found on slight 
self examination, a large beam in my own eye, & 
concluded to write you just a common kind of a 
new fashioned letter, in the first snatch of leisure I 
could get just to let you know how we are, & may hap to 
answer some important interrogatories in yours. 
It is not that I do so much, or have so much to do 
that gives me so little spare time. I have plenty of 
hands to do my biding, but I have to lend my head & 
attention to almost every pair of them, & then I am 
such a perfect novice in the mysteries of house keeping 
especially in this region, & withall, as you know, rather 
of a "weak sister", that I make a great labour of what a 
woman of your capabilities would consider mere 
pastime. You may recollect I told you I thought I should 
for a time at least, escape the chief burthen of housekeeping 
 
[002] 
 
[left page] 
 
by having a husband who was somewhat experienced & as 
I thought quite gifted in that way. but do you think that 
"cruel He" threw the whole of it upon me at once, kitchen 
parlour, pantry, larder, servants little and big 
men & women, all I must have the management & 
direction of. And then pretended he did so merely for 
my good. But I suppose I am not the first object of "dis- 
interested benevolence" who has been equally oppressed 
by kindness. Then too, I have to ride on horseback every 
day (all for my good) which takes up two or three hours of time 
& the weather has been such for two or three weeks past 
that our rides have not been interrupted for scarcely 
a day & they have been perfectly delightful. The air as 
soft & balmy as summer & the sky almost entirely 
cloudless the roads we take are through continuous 
groves of pines-flowers (a kind of daisy) are blooming by 
the road side, & even in our very paths, for we often take 
those not much traveled, mere "hauling paths", as they 
are called, & sometimes strike out a path for ourselves. 
My "pale faced", tho sagacious guide taking the lead, & 
I, jogging after a large Newfoundland dog, who accompanied 
us in all our walks as well as rides, capering & frolicking 
by our sides. Everything is quite romantic save a piece 
of "boggy" ground which we occasionally come to which 
makes me raise the surplus drapery of my riding dress 
a little, draw up my stirrup foot & sit as lightly on 
my horse as possible. Lest I should help to sink him so 
deep among the "bogs" as to make him loose, in some 
measure, his elasticity of step and motion, not to say lose 
 
[right page] 
 
him altogether. [crossed out: The name of] One ride we take is to go out 
some road (I don't know the name) & "skirt cabbage swamp home". 
Now don't think of a swamp of sea-green cabbages. It takes its impractical [?] 
name from the cabbage Palmetto trees on its border 
& is really a very pretty ride. I have half expected 
to see Cyrus here this winter after what you wrote of his 
suffering from colds. Mr. A. upon the strength of it, wanted 
to know if it was not best to put up a stove in our little 
spare bed room, but I thought we might possibly be able to 
keep him from freezing without it, at any rate would wait 
untill after he got here. Next winter, if we all live, I shall 
certainly expect to see some of you. I think I have a kind of 
promise from you and John. However we "know not what a 
day may bring forth", much less a year. I can not derive 
much pleasure from anticipations reaching so far into [?] 
futurity. We have been reading some books that I shortly 
like much to have you read, & one I want so much to send 
To Mama. "The Table of our Lord" by Miss Fry is one. Do if you 
can get it, read it. Mr. Andrews may have it. Please tell 
him if you see him that tomorrow I am going to commence 
my school for the negros which he recommended. 
We all black & white (Mr. O'Neal's family & ours are all of the latter) 
assemble on Sunday mornings in our parlor, have 
prayers, etc. Mr. A reads a sermon, now, in the afternoon, we 
are to have the school, & I think we shall devote an evening 
or two in the week to them besides. It is a most hopeless task 
if we look merely to human means to enlighten them in 
the way of Salvation. I want to tell you a great many 
things about them, that is, those in whom I am interested. 
Give you a little history of my experience in slaveholding 
 
[003] 
 
[top of page] 
 
but I have neither time or room now. I have yet  
to thank you for the "gossip" as you call it, of your letter  
and then I may have another of the same kind. I am able to  
say you desired that I might be do make the best  
of me you can to Julia. Tell her how bad I am even  
to her own sister--a left-handed way of making the best 
of me, sure enough. Well, taken give her my most  
affectionate regards, in beg her to play the amicable kind  
forgiving benevolent Julia. And write me a good long  
letter to say she is going to do as I desire. But I have  
not told you either about "bread and pancake" making.  
 
[bottom of page] 
 
And I have got quite a long of interesting experience  
on the subject, but at present suffice it to say I have used  
the "emptins." It makes first rate bread. I make a  
loaf of the ground floor every other day, make it with my  
own and proper hands, knead, and mold it, after the most  
scientific directions, n'though and I don't know that I toss it up."  
I have it put in the oven, and then the first bakes it, Miserable diet,  
my husband eats it, and thinks it is the bread of all breads,  
and the sweetest and best he has ever eaten. As to, the thimble  
affair, you may not flatter yourself with any vision  
of gold pencils but only contrary to take the first opportunity  
of furnishing yourself with an extra gold thimble.  
 
[written crosswise] 
 
Mr. A begs kind remembrance to  
you and his other Binghamton friends.  
Give my best love to all to the out  
of door ones, Tell Mrs. Harpin [?]  
to write to me and any other Misses or Misters  
who will be at all likely  
to comply. Major Strong might condescend  
to write to some of us. Forever yours, Ern.  
 
[written crosswise as address] 
 
Mrs. John Clapp 
Binghamton 
Broome County 
N. Y.