Thayer, Sarah E. Letter to Amy Kirby Post. (1853-03-09)

Title

Thayer, Sarah E. Letter to Amy Kirby Post. (1853-03-09)

Creator

Thayer, Sarah E

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1853-03-09

Description

Handwritten letter from Sarah E Thayer to Amy Kirby Post, March 9, 1853.

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

977

Location

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

Transcription

(Page 1)

         My dear friend                                   Waterloo march 9^th 1853
                  Thyine letter was truly welcome; it came with one from the girls
from Pa. I think thee has done well to produce such a corrected document
if thee has to write in the "family room" I have but one good ear and that
being on the left side I apply my finger ^to^ the lid and by closing it I am
able to scribble, have been visiting at the village for one night and re-
turned refreshed, riding has been useful in restoring circulation to my
"old back"-the rheumatism having been present for 2 week threatend [sic] to
deform my otherwise upright position and I trust that by keeping all
implements going "[illegible] & all" I shall be sustaind [sic] upright or in nowise
improperly changed either by disease or my unexpected good fortune I confess
I have large "hope" & it seems I was right in my judgment that on the sale
of the stocks "at last" would depend_the result _ but I could never solve Aunt
[Easly?] extreme parsimony It has now come to be prov'd that her unyielding sense
of justice combined with her high respect for the partner of ^her^ life has kept her
with a "single eye" to the spirit of the Will _ and as the best stock was reserv'd
for her use she has suffer'd all that she did not immediately need to accum
-ulate so as to now furnish the lame ones as Uncle used to call us (D.G.
Sally ^W.^ & "myself) with the means of comfort - my cousins (the W^m rejoice for
my dear girls whose labours will be lighten'd thereby - Phebe writes cheerfully
has gaind [sic] 13lbs of flesh_ and if the "balmy south" has been so favorable to her winter
life I hope the incresd [sic] heat of summr [sic] will not be injurious; they both allude to
the future in this respect and A. in particular anticipates the oppressive heat but
with her characteristic hope and speculative disposition she supposes she may
look to L.I. from whose healthful seats she has receiv'd letters of invitation
by which I learn that our loved and honourd [sic] S Le,tt. is still there either attending

(Page 2)

her aged parent - or lingering for reasons best known to herself and one more
please write me again soon I know it will do thee good because it will benefit
me and in spiritual parlance I ought to expect one soon I know thy previous
gift of letter writing will have afresh claim in the person of thy loved and (I trust
hopeful son. "Look aloft" my dearly belov'd Isaac & Amy you have much better
[proffs?] of Divine Guardianship than most of those who send forth "lamb, from
the fold" _ Margaret [Mier?] is again disappointed_ her son is now attending to the
sale of his "ranche [sic]" &c His letters are good and evince the same amiable
trails of character for which he is remarkable; and such as have doubtless
prevented his success here in his var^i^ous attempts in business but there he
has got hold of a home so large as to afford a visiting place for family
who arrive with their children cattle &c _ while they look around_ His anti-
slavery principles have a good scope_ his mother (what a treasure is
expressed in this name) altho' strongly advis'd [sic] to the [contrry?] sends
him seven papers at a time_ and he write "send more" for I dont get a "
" chance to read them myself" she is indeed a faithful mother; her sim
ple husband is a blessed man how useful are good women ^men^ tho' they serve
to complete the bond of domestic life and keep up a home which is our
present state we poor slaves so truly need I cherish a hope that I shall
live to see some improvment [sic] yet_ but truly it is either discouraging
or encouraging _ to read the account of the opperating [sic] in the various ranks
in the "spirit world" _ Our spirit, it would seem, requires assistant teachers and
in ^those^ instances where the soul is entitled to a tender reception the "beloved
deciple [sic] John" takes the dear spirit on his "knee" and imprinting a kiss!
^he^ is thus installed as "governor ^over her future asension [sic] higher and higher^" &c in this way _ the offices are all represen
=ted as "males" _ how delightful to be embracd [sic] by a dear man we all
know how good it feels - but I have out lived my selfishness and would
fain be recived [sic] by a fond mother who ought to be better qualified
to direct the spiritual life of her own sex than any belov'd deciple [sic] or
   even Jesus himself as a man or a brother

(Page 3)

I have been perusing with much interst "Supernal Theology" and think the author a
very correct writer   I dont complain of the truths there set forth but I rejoice at
the view it gives of absurdities _ it will enlighten our path and I hope increase
our industrious natures for woman is a worker and always has been only a large
portion "are industrious by doing nothing" I see the "Peoples College" is on a footing
with all our other Glorious institutions_ a system of education for formulas to be
side by side with brothers and behold it is such a "mans school" as we
Newport girls used to attend _ we sat by the boys in school _ we stood up with
boys in the class _ we went above them when we spelled the word right after
school we took hold of hands and walked along the street _We have a
committe [sic] of the M.M. men & women ("Quakers [firm?]") to visit the school &
report_ and what is still more to the credit of woman of those days they
were so well qualified to judge of good writing, reading, and spelling, than
the Master had help from ^not^ a few of the "committe [sic]" in the decision and "report"
now 50 year have pass'd and here in Western N.Y. a "people college" is instituted
without one woman to sit in council wonder if they will recive [sic] her dollar
or are they to levy a tax on the holder of property Now for it _ let us come out
on them (Greely will publish our remonstrane [sic]) _ we wnt [sic] send out daugh-
ters to a school unless at least 1/5 of the number of votes are well
qualified women _ the men must be shewn that we are in earnest
what great achievement _ did Bonaparte attain but ^by^ the power of his will
and suddenly as we draw our eyes from the pebbles on the ground to the
stars above_ let us ascend from the Tyrant to our own lovely I T Hopper
and the determined Garrison to give us the brighted, purest, firmest, advocate
of human will engulfed in the lawn of Truth
[Cos?] S Williams- spoke of Garrison yesterday as a remarkable abolition
-ist_ other men "he said had flinched but W^m L G - never

(Page 4)

4 Well dear Amy here I am in my 4'' page but Uncle Sam will let
me send two sheets_ we do have some right, now and with the acquisition
of more real knowledge & with the admitted power on our side by
our own dear selves we shall accomplish something I am very sure
I listen'd to a lecture written and deliverd [sic] by Lydia Ann Jenkins
which was (in my opinion) full equal to those I have heard in [Co^an?]
Hall _ but how much more imposingly & sublime were those high toned
truths brought home to my bosom when uttered [sic] by a sister _ She is inten-
ding to repeal her course (which she is now reading to a few in a
"low roofed school house") to many in other places and I wish you
would invite her to R. I assure you she would not cause you to
blush for her want of propriety _ but would please and instruct an
audience perhaps _ it might be as well to get a cheaper place than the ^Hall^
but Of this you may judge    To day she has an examination of her
school near "Genesee" she has left her quiet home (her husband keeping
house) in pleasant weather he has taken her home oftener than once a week
but she has boarded near her school _ and has wages equal to a man
she is a pleasant friend and we enjoy ^have much^ their society _ she will close to
day her winter term and we shall enjoy she visiting _ [ilegible] writes to W^m
Nell and he sends us the Liberator how grateful he is dear social friend
my hopes for him and his race are bright if they will-
     Mary Ann M^cClintock reciv'd [sic] thy message of lovee [sic] with the express-
ion "why dont they visit us" _ I alluded to thy present occupation as a mother
making the necessary preparations for thy "boy" _ _ to which they with M Prior
responded _ M P could do so with heart felt sympathy _ they ^the letter^ will soon go to
G M Cooper by special invitation I believe R Capron is at home _ M Prior
seemed shocked at my cool treatment of the "fact"_ but I dont see any difference
between the neglect or violations of "Laws" in one shape more than anothr [sic]
poor suffering humanity _ how many suicidal acts are daily being
committed by the ignorant _ and vicious and nor shallould we confine ^the crime^ of such
omissions or commission to the limits of any one day no! for while a
body of people are confind [sic] in an illventilated house or hall the
fear of unhealthy _ and poisonous gass [sic] ^is^ suggested to a large number
                                                          of knowing ones _

Tags

Education; Family; Spiritualism; Women's Rights

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Thayer, Sarah E, “Thayer, Sarah E. Letter to Amy Kirby Post. (1853-03-09),” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 24, 2024, https://rclomeka2.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3266.

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