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Louisa Hooper to Priscilla Strange 2 Sept 1837
Ampthill 9th mo.2nd 1837
My dear Cousin
I begin my newspaper early - being desirous that want of time may not form an excuse for an unfilled sheet - and I have not I find the often made plea of nothing to say -
I suppose thou art by this time safely lodged at the place of destination, and it is to be hoped thou hast escaped some of the rain we have had, during which we particularly thought of our dear traveller, and rejoiced that she had so kind & able a caretaker.-
9th 3rd. I continued my scribble last night as Uncle came in with the print for the lap-bags, for which we had waited until the evening as a new stock was expected by the coach - of course we set to work immediately having chosen what seemed suitable - though not quite to my taste being quite a dark print - however we began tearing it up when the entrance of Morris Ashby who is come to Ampthill for a few days shooting - rather occupied our attention too much to perform all we had intended though we continued our business as before -
I had previously to all this been actually watching for the coach as the idea had seized not only myself but Uncle & Aunt also that a Mother might be found in its dark interior, but she was not there as to be sure was the most likely thing - Yet the vehicle was not unpeopled, and who dost thou think were found upon it - none but Thomas Richards' cousin Ampthill, with his Bristol bride - yes they were there - as we heard from eye-witnesses, Thomas & John being determined to be some of the first to see the Lady of there -
Now though I have not begun this quite in journal style I will continue it so by telling thee that about twelve o'clock of the day thou left us - brought our visitors Elizabeth Wheeler & J.Sharples - Elizabeth Sharples having some important business relative I believe to a district committee could not accompany them, and therefore I cannot say I was sorry that no children accompanied their mother.- They set out on their return home about half past five o'clock, having I believe paid quite an agreeable visit to all parties - this to be sure is an odd and cold way of noticing such an opportunity - but the truth is, I thought E.W. & Aunt would do so remarkably well without my interruption that I felt quite easy at withdrawing myself to see to other things such as arranging the desert; and reckoning up my stock book &c.- while in the afternoon Uncle & J.S undertook an excursion to the lavender fields and E.W. & Aunt a sociable confab. on the sitting room - all was concluded by a most kind & warm invitation from E.Wheeler to us all to take up our Quarterly meeting quarters in her house, and Aunt therefore acknowledged her kindness by bespeaking one bed.-
Yesterday being the next day - began like all other seventh days. I had the unspeakable satisfaction of beholding my long accumulated heap of unmended stockings settled in their respective places in my drawer as tidy as my ability could make them.
In the afternoon Uncle received a message by Swaffield that Colonel Fox & Mr Carr of school notoriety were at the White Hart and would thank him to take a glass of wine with them as they were desirous of knowing the progress of the Ampthill School. Accordingly Uncle joined them quickly and had quite a long opportunity during which time they sipped their coffee and Uncle received the encouraging addition to the school funds of fifteen from Colonel Fox who had already given 5 while Swaffield, animated I suppose by his example desired 5 more to be to be payed down for him.- It seemed to be quite a sociable meeting and Uncle was I think much gratified. Mr Carr spoke of the friends' Address to the Queen on her accession, which he quite admired; he is intimate with William Allen and seemed interested on hearing that he had the reading of the Address before the throne.-
(Afternoon). Whatever humiliation may be in store for me I hope I shall never have to experience that of feeling it a burden to write to my friends - therefore I will not designate so harshly the unfitness I felt this morning to attempt to write the above, yes - write to whom you will; It must be that the word is more fitted for the occupation at some times than others, and really on looking over the preceding I am ashamed of myself for having pretended to write when I did - but in writing to thee, sometimes shortness of time may induce me to take up the pen when otherwise I should not, therefore I must in some measure rely on thy Cousinly charity for due allowance for (I fear) many blunders -
I have thought much of your dear party today and we have talked often of you - how comfortable you must feel together - How happy I hope you are - for where through life shall we find greater cause for happiness and enjoyment than in a reunion with those we love whom time and distance have divided from us, though it may have been for a short time, oh if we thus keenly feel the delight of again beholding our friends on earth; what I have thought will be those purified feelings we all hope to experience, in an eternal meeting with departed dear ones, where earth & time shall cease - yet this is a theme too high for me, one I dare not to pursue except in my own mind.
Nothing of any moment has occurred today I think - My Cousin Edward did not breakfast with us - preparing I suppose his usual first day, some o'clock repast after which he came down the hill and I took care of his arm to meeting - we went a short walk together after meeting up the Woburn road, and returned to dinner here - then read, thought, (and perhaps some slept) - had tea and went to meeting in the rain, in the evening just before supper Robert Marsh and James Grimes called on their way from Cranfield to Hitchin.
4th J.Grimes said Ann Brown was no better and John Whiting had set out to procure a suitable nurse for her.- An account has been received today in a letter from Mary Exton; J.W. has returned with a nurse but poor A. Brown is not improved, and they fear it will prove a more settled case than they had anticipated.-
We have been truly busy all today in the morning cutting out the lap-bags and fitting several - at about two o'clock we (that is myself first) set off towards the school (Aunt followed) - we had before seen numbers of the children ( or as John designates them little sewing apparatuses) I ascending the hill, and on my arrival the rooms were both filled, E.Powell was present and all the ladies as last time with the exception of Julia Hagar, and the additional company of the Eagles' and John Eagles' wife - there we were, not quite stew'd tho' it is a somewhat cool day - 77 children - only 61 bags - and one mass of confusion I thought. However I am really happy to say we succeeded better than I had expected - most of the girls can work - some very passably, only so quickly that the bags will too soon be finished - in the middle of the scene I journeyed off for some more print for sixteen other lap-bags - I should say that Aunt made one completely for a pattern -
The girls names were all set down in the book and the ladies had enough to do to keep fitting work - some came without thimbles yet they managed to work without - how many needles were broken how many seams pucker'd I cannot say, for I had enough to do to keep turning down work; and setting the little things to pick their cobble stitch [sic] out again - yet as I said before we did better than I expected and I often thought of thee and wished thee there to help.
The tables are very nice ones with a good large drawer in each - but instead of a stove for both rooms as proposed Whitehurst has put a grate in the larger room a fresh plan we do not so much approve of on account of the firing - but I now conclude on this subject or I shall fill the sheet too soon - at five o'clock each girl's name was read over having been previously written on a slip of paper and as each came forward with her work the name was pinned on to it -
3rd day 5th. After finishing my scribble last evening I went for a call, a farewell call, to John Morris, they were just going to tea, yet at their desire I sat down to talk to them the while. Presently in came Morris Ashby who had had a famous sporting day. Seven brace and a half of birds, two hares and a rabbit. Perhaps thou hast heard of a certain large baby house of Kate's which stays in a lumber garret at J.Morris' - that, according to John's account is his as well as Kate's, tho' somehow she seems to have taken the claim upon herself - this same old thing she guards as if her life depended on it, under lock & key (the lock, by the bye being but a poor weak thing) and thus debars herself and all others from any pleasure they might derive from it.- and certainly it would be a source of pleasure to her nieces - Well, determined to bear this no longer, John Morris some time ago bethought himself of the chisels use in such cases, and in the presence of his wife Debby Beck and little Edward Beck gently moved aside the old lock and discovered the inside of the worm eaten affair. This might have remained unknown to Kate but that little Ted Beck alluding to something he had seen entirely disclosed all, by saying that it was in Aunt Kate's baby house; she being present immediately took fire and the consequence was a burning letter which she has lately sent to her brother on the subject in which she sums up all her other unsisterly epithets in the term mean, which she applies to the offenders in a manner which extremely hurt John's feelings - however he does not consider it was so - as the concern was always considered his own equally with Kate's and he laughs it off by saying he is determined not to be called names for nothing, and set off immediately to look at it again - When I called he told me the whole story and wants me to talk to Kate about it; so that in order to give more might to my lecture, Charlotte was desirous I should see the baby house and accordingly we viewed it again by the light of a lantern.
Poor Kate - how I wish that any one could convince her of her errors - what pleasure she has not that she might have, but for her own whims (for whims they must be) if she values this plaything she could not do better than to give it up to those who would use it and keep it in order; if she does not, she is going the right way to be sure to have it destroyed - for no lock nor garret either can prevent the moths and maggots from destroying it & there are cobwebs & spiders too, all busily employed on her treasure - how true it is that trifles make the sum of human things - And half our misery from our foibles springs"- I could but think of this at the time,, and after all this grand baby house is nothing so beautiful and wonderful as I had expected; Morris A. took a little piece of candle out of the candle box, to show her he said, and illumine her darkness. I went to the Morris' merely for a call but the long and the short is that I actually stayed supper -
4th day 6th. Well dear Priscilla how dost thou get on - I can fancy thee puzzling away famously at this scratch - and I find I have taken a sheet of paper with likenesses on it - but thou canst take them over again I thought it hardly worth while to copy this - [Note: A profile is still on the paper]
Ampthill is a place of change and well for us that variety is pleasing - so for a change here I am alone in the parlour, having just seen my dear Uncle & Aunt "snugly packed up" in the chaise to go to Hitchin, whither they bend their course as Aunt has heard from Mary Exton of a young woman whose character seems worth enquiry - but as Samuel May & his wife seldom travel quite by themselves so now they have the back occupied by thy Mary who goes for a change to return tomorrow, and West who means to offer herself to some lady as nursemaid.- she returns with Uncle & Aunt this evening.- It is just about half past twelve, they set off directly after meeting.
Maria Morris goes to London next seventh day with her brother Charles - so Aunt & I are likely to be cool enough in meeting on first day particularly should the weather continue as it now is -
I have just been curing a few wasps that seemed too ill to fly, yet looked as though they had not lost all power of injury - with the tongs in my hand I am now second to none in the act of destruction - really I am quite forced to be valiant in the cause today as my superior is not here to do the work for me - I suppose thou art pretending to forget there are such things as wasps; however we do not tho' we hope we need not much longer remember the existence of another species of insect almost as venomous, and whose attachment to mankind we were sorry to hear thou hadst experienced at Springfield - "Joseph's friends" as thou art pleased to term them are we hope disappearing - much has been done to expedite their end since thou left, and, at last we quite hope they have all shared the fate of the wicked -
Yesterday was a quiet one so far as regarded events,- and I ended it quietly with a solitary walk - it is said "A solitary blessing few can find" - yet in this instance I was glad to find myself one of the favor'd few - for I did enjoy my ramble tho' in a different manner to that which I should have done had a kind friend been with me, that I can hardly say whether I liked it better or worse, yet for a continuance I should decidedly prefer a companion -
We had a middling sort of Lavolter game in the evening; and this morning's details I have given thee - I have actually kept scribbling on and not once mentioned thy most welcome letter which we were quite glad to receive; I say we, because I had the benefit of it, but as it was expressly to another, I must leave him to answer for himself as to the extra delight it affords him.-
Since writing the above I have travelled up to your abandoned dwelling and there seeing some bacon without a cover I was about to put one over it - when a few pricks plainly told me I could no longer boast of never having been stung - I soon settled the offender but my middle finger which received the dart is so stiff and swoln [sic] I can hardly write -
Now thou canst not after reading this accuse me of not entering sufficiently into the detail of things, and I shall quite want to know if I have done so to too great an extent, as however pleasant it may be to me to relate the minutiae of things I should be quite sorry to be troublesome to thee in so doing -
I received a nice long letter from home by the same post that brought thine to Edward - Mamma intends to come down next 3rd day.
Charles has had an invitation to Alton and is likely to go there next fifth day.
Have you heard that Charlotte Crowley has another little boy, her ninth child. Mother and baby were both well when Emma wrote to Emily -
Dear Carry seems nicely settled in at School and happy - When Emily wrote Aunt Maddock was staying at Kennington but was to return home as today; E.'s remarks "What a happy old woman Aunt is, she sits knitting stockings for poor boys and telling us long tales of all the good she does."- this is certainly now pretty much the extent of the dear old creature's abilities - and indeed we had all thought her last visit to us was the last of all, for the winter tried her a great deal, and she seemed to alter from it -
They all at home think it quite the right thing for thee to have gone to Ipswich as thou didst, they will be very glad also when thy stay there is ended to see thee at Kennington, and in the mean time, will be happy if I can be of any use to Aunt during thy absence; so I suppose they have given me up as a run away child that may as well be anywhere where she can be made anything of. - Well I seem to live here and what can I do more -
Mamma wishes Aunt to look out all the sheets that want turning for her when she comes, as she wishes to rest herself and not to "gad about."-
As we do not send this until tomorrow evening I shall write no more now, but leave it for my cousin Edward - & finish it tomorrow - unless perchance he means to keep it all to himself when once he gets it - in which case I must e'en finish it presently as best I can -
(Evening). I have been another walk round by the rabbitry and tho' I was alone, very much enjoyed it - who could help enjoying so beautiful an evening under any circumstances - I have since then turned housemaid and shut up all I could find shuttable in your house. Uncle & Aunt are now returned, the young woman Aunt went to see seemed so far likely to suit that she has pretty well engaged her; her name is Ann Godfrey.
West was too late, the situation she went for is engaged and she can hear of no other.-
Poor Ann Brown is not better - indeed it is rather feared her health generally is giving way - her nurse is a woman who has been used to the insane and seemed very suitable for her charge - this seems to be all the Hitchin news -
Aunt has just told me to say that as they left Hitchin Elizabeth Bennell was just going to Ann Brown who has taken quite a fancy to E.B. and they hardly know how to get on without her but everyone seems tired out with the nursing - The nurse says it is the worst case of the kind she has ever seen.- -
We were quite amused with your long company list - but you will have to lengthen it yet - Really Ipswich seems in a fair way to become famous -(in our society at least) as the place of resort for all - Aunt has heard that William Lucas, Joshua Ransom and Henry Brown are all Ipswich bound, but I suppose they will reach you before my letter does - pray do not let them see it, nor any one else either, it is intended solely for thyself and I am ashamed of it going to thee.-
Before Aunt's housemaid comes it will be six weeks (i.e. six weeks yesterday) to the day of her coming - Thy Mary found her sister ill with an ague, but she said Mrs Lucas & Mrs Thomson have been very kind to her.-
I have not mentioned the children - do they remember me? - Tell them I often think of them, more particularly now than I am here and miss them from Ampthill more than I can tell - it will be a real pleasure to me to see them again - one I hope I may some day experience -
Edward wants this so in a few words I must endeavour to send more love to you all than a great many could convey.
I need not say what pleasure we felt in hearing that my dear Cousin Nancy is so well - nor how glad I always am to hear anything of her - (that does not tell of her illness) - May she continue nicely amidst all the numerous friends tho' they crowd around her closely, and I trust she will feel no worse for the excitement of so much company when the season is over -
Now dear Priscilla after mentioning particularly the dear love of thy Father and Mother (which the latter says is a thing so thoroughly understood that it is scarcely worth noticing) I will spare thy patience for my next scrawl - and ever believe me
Thy truly affectionate Louisa Hooper -