Hallock, S A. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Hallock, S A. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Hallock, S A

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Description

Handwritten letter from S A Hallock to Amy Kirby Post, n.d.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

62

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Overlaid text in pencil, running upward in left and top
margins, appears to be a final postscript and is
transcribed at the end of Page 4.]

Ulster Co N.Y
Milton Dec 1. 4th Day
My own room until Spring

My Dear Amy
First and foremost, will thee be so
very kind as to post & frank- to me-
Walden or Life in the Woods- by Thoreau-
Lucy took it with her to Rochester, the book
does not claim me as proprietor, and I want
it very much. In consideration of which
goodness- will thee please to accept-that
copy of Miles Standish. until To do myself
justice I never intended to claim the Poem,
and had it not been for the atmosphere I was
then breathing and the dissolution of my
worldly prospects ^so engrossing my thought^ at the time, I should
not have neglected so common a civility, to
a dear friend who has bestowed herself bodily
on every good cause that lacks assistance.
furthermore, dear friend will thee or some
of the young ladies that form your family
circle, please to purchase for Ann Hallock
2 ounces of this variegated zephyrr [sic] wool
she saw none at Peyser’s you will find it
at Bakers or at [Peders?]-- I think-- It has been
greatly admired ^the reason of this admiration is^- partly I suppose to use up time
that is passed with me, ^&^ to avoid the subject
that seemed to threaten turning the rest of

(Page 2)

life into bitterness. I found things here
just as I described them to thee. Isaac’s
interest demanded- not only that I give
up my Home, as dear to me as it can be-
but for an equivalent, that is but about
half - what it stands me in when I work
on it - and I have done it - and yet
live_ It was a very cruel state of things, in
which no one seemed to be to blame.
I not only did not wish to thwart them -
but no one seems to have had the most remote
idea that I would -- I have not yielded so quietly
as might be inferred from what I write, but
I resisted and remonstrated, being determined to
find some outlet - some mitigation in some
way- the principle was wrong- and I set my-
self to work- going through fire and water to
Dutchess Co to see the parties concerned- and
then in my extremity making a flying
visit to seek advice and consolation from
my poor dear sick father, who for the last
three years - has been an object of great
solicitude and anxiety to me - very childish
about many things, but, on this head he seemed
like the good strong man he was of yore-
and I left him feeling strengthened to
endure- what I must- but still to not give up
without an effort- to some modification by
the unwise bargain, and that without -

(Page 3)

well - no matter. I did what I could and
I have been the means of making Isaac’s
bargain look better for him tho it does
not add a cent to my pocket- I am thankful
that I have been able to do even that- and I
am more than willing they should have it
Please do not think me too amiable I have
spoken my mind very freely to the family
for so neglecting to see to my interest &-
I have wept- until the fountain was
exhausted – Has thee read Mrs Brownings
Garden of Eden or Eve & Adam story It is
told by Eve and all through in tones
of anguish - and hopeless misery Eve
repeats the sadly expressive term
“ I wail”- so has it been - her image
constantly suggests itself to me - and
I have several times thought , what an
ungrateful and unreasonable woman
she was Did she not depart from
the sacred holy and first loved home
leaning on the arm of Adam?

The next morning-
Please do not infer [that?] I think
any one has or would willingly injure me - no the
position of things is such that I must suffer or the
others suffer still more, and I am getting quite recon
ciled to the particular case but not to the state of
things in general - that has brought it about

(Page 4)

5th Day evening
Do not set me down as
as [sic] a hopeless egotist - for troubling
thee so much about our humble matters
It is because I had already talked it
over with thee- and recieved [sic] thy ready
sympathy that I felt impelled to tell
thee how it is with me -
I have passed thru, I think, the
worst [of?] this affair - and if my
sister, [who?] does not seem well now
[obliterated] her health - I hold myself in
[readiness?] to make the best of it
Give my love to Lucy Coleman and
when perfectly convenient, please
[hand?] this note to
I would like to hear of your
welfare please give my thanks and kind
[obliterated] to thy husband and sons -
[obliterated] thy friend S.H Hallock
[obliterated] I wonder what Professor [Bolle’s?]
[treatment?] would do for my
Father- He has palsy - for three
years- sleeps but little and is greatly
troubled with saliva - excaping [sic] without
his power of control
Please remember that I blame no one & every one
is very kind to me- I am getting quiet and
[continues upward into right margin]
really have no apprehensions about getting along
some way if not in the pleasantest
[upside down top margin]
way

[Final postscript in pencil appears in left and top margins
of page 1, running upward.]

I have my eye on a field that- it would be a luxury to live on
even in a hovel that is when it
neither rains, or
snows - I have
taken a terrible
cold [poaching?]
over it in the
snow to
see what
the prospect
is there from
as it belongs
to a neighbor
only- I hope
to purchase
it & set it
to Raspberries [sic]
just so
silly is
S. H. H.

Tags

Personal

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Hallock, S A, “Hallock, S A. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 25, 2024, https://rclomeka2.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2364.

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