Title
Hannah Southall to Ann May 28 Feb 1838
Leominster 2nd mo 28th 1838
My dear Friend
I have been waiting in the hope of receiving ere this another letter from dear Tertius, but as todays post has not brought one to hand I cannot longer delay taking up the pen to address thee in reply to thine for which our T. has conveyed to thee I hope my very grateful acknowledgements. I feel however that much more is due to thee my dear friend than I have ability to express.- The truly kind interest which thou hast in every way evinced on behalf of our precious boy is so far beyond what I could at all have expected - and the freedom & candour in which thou hast written to me - putting me in possession of particulars so deeply interesting to my feelings, are subjects indeed of heartfelt gratitude, and I can only hope that the object of this attention and care, may by his continued uniform & increased endeavours to perform his varied duties, in some degree repay you for the kindnesses he has received-
That he is sensible of his obligations I trust may be gathered from the few simple impressions conveyed from time to time through his letters. In the last he says "I must here acknowledge the extreme kindness shown me by all who are concerned with me." and that of thyself in particular "who" he adds "could hardly have been more attentive to me had I been her own son." "I have also to feel very grateful to Master and E.Strange, for the indulgences which he enumerates - in another place he hopes we shall not be anxious about him "at any rate, that you will be assured of the care & kindness I receive here, which I am sure exceeds any thing which I have any right to expect."
Such a season as we have had during this first year of his apprenticeship has indeed poor boy been much against him - and I fear it must have occasioned great inconvenience in your business - but a Winter like this is happily very uncommon indeed my Uncle Pritchard says, he never remembers such a one, except it may be 52 years since - when the Farmers thought the wheat was destroyed but contrary to their expectations it proved an abundant harvest. We may hope at last for a similar result in the present year.
The long continuance of this dreary weather is however discouraging to those who are suffering much from its effects yet a little more patience, and in the common course of things Spring must ere long succeed - and with this delightful season a deliverance from some of the hardships which so many have endured -
We have found our public soup provision for the poor a most effective & economical means of more permanent relief to this class, and we hope the fund will last until the extreme necessity may cease.
In reference to the particulars in thy very kind letter - I wish to make some remark separately, as they occur. With respect to bodily health, I feel so entirely satisfied from the reports we have had that I have scarcely of late an anxious thought , though I do feel very sensible of that which it is not in my power to amend, the necessity for so much care and trouble on thy part, as well as the loss of service in the business which must be the consequence of the trying ailment our dear T. has been afflicted with - I hope however that the chilblains have not been quite so bad since the weather has been less severe - It is a great relief to us - as it must I am sure be to you, that this trouble can only be of temporary duration - and I trust he will soon lose all his disabilities for his customary occupations - We do most gratefully feel the kindness of thy Husband and E.Strange in desiring to make as easy as may be the work which has always been laid upon the youngest apprentice, and I believe I may say on the part of Tertius that he would not willingly shrink from anything which he is able to perform.
I think I mentioned when at Ampthill how much I regretted our dear boy's unskillfulness in using the pen fearing for a while it may prove a great disadvantage to himself and others.- When at school he ranked high in most of his acquirements but the lack of improvement in this particular was a source of disappointment and mortification to us. We rather fear that classical and other studies had too much the preference with his Master to the neglect of that which he might deem less important. When speaking of the subject to our Elizabeth's Governess, who is very clever with her Pupils, she remarked on seeing dear T.'s handwriting that she saw no reason why he should not write a very good hand had sufficient pains & attention been given - Perhaps the usual practice in business may effect what school tuition has not - We lose much thro' this deficiency, as the effort to him of letter writing is so much increased. I do not expect a great deal in this way at present, and consequently shall feel truly obliged to thee my dear friend for such information as thou mayst be able occasionally to give me - tho' I am far from wishing to trespass too much on thy kindness. Knowing how much must be the demands on thy time and attention -
Thou wilt suppose how deeply interested I was by thy late communication - it afforded matter for very frequent thought & solicitude... but I feel as regards the great work which I trust is begun in the heart of our dear {boy} that I cannot do better than to commend him to that watchful Eye which "sleepeth not by day, nor slumbereth by night" He alone can carry on and perfect his own gracious designs.. may they prove to the praise of His own glory.-
I may acknowledge some earnest breathings on behalf of dear T. in days gone by - hardly however venturing to hope that my feeble petitions would so far be answered - for when our dear children are almost of necessity removed from the shelter of the parental roof, and exposed to the various consternations of boarding schools, we cannot but have many, many fears, and when from these scenes of thoughtlessness & youth, they are again removed to other places, perhaps still distant from their homes and subjected to other sources of temptation and besitment [sic], the anxiety, so far from being lessened, may be increased sevenfold. Such were my feelings, my dear friend, when we had to look out for a situation for our T. my mind being fully reconciled to the persuasion - that it would be better for him on many accounts not to remain at home. The subject was often before me - and frequently discussed by us, but on looking round again & again nothing seemed to appeal quite to our wishes, until the opening which so unexpectedly presented in your family - I feel that in making this allusion I am touching on a very tender subject [death of Lewis May,1.2.1837] and I am sure I would not willingly open a wound which time I trust has in some measure healed - I would however wish just to express how tenderly I have sympathised with thee my dear friend under this severe affliction - yet hoping that that thy mind has long since known something of that passive resignation to the Divine Will, which brings with it the truest support & consolation. Seeing then it has pleased Infinite Wisdom thus to order events I may perhaps be allowed further the comfort it has been to my mind that dear T. should have enjoyed the privilege of a home under your roof. His timid disposition would ill have brooked anything like ungentle usage, and to have countenance of friends so kind & judicious with thy truly maternal care is indeed a favour - I trust thou wilt also be enabled to act the part of a Spiritual mother over this tender child - needing as he doubtless may do sometimes, a hint, and at others encouragement, which well taught experience may amply give. I have long known him susceptible of serious impressions, but I must confess I was not prepared for such early manifestations of obedience to the Cross - How I do desire that these may so far be cherished as that in due time a growth may be witnessed, and tho' the sacrifices may appear to some mean, or even contemptible, it is by being "faithful in the little" that we are made "rulers over more".
Too many are now despising the "day of small things"- and in attempting to reach unto higher attainments without first passing thro' this humbly self-denying process - and being led as little children, step by step from one degree of religious experience to another.-
If our own Society be restored as a body with primitive purity I believe it must be thro' the more general operation of the same divine principle which so effectually wrought in our fathers in the truth - Of this power abundant evidence is set forth in the writings which are found exceedingly precious by those who are seeking like them to follow the steps of a crucified Saviour, but how much easier it is to rejoice with the multitude as in the "gates of Jerusalem" than it is to be found faithful to Him thro' suffering & death.
I cannot but rejoice when I meet with young persons who are inclined to value Friends writings - but this is now very rare. Other publications are generally so much more specious as presenting often very attractive views of Religion - divested of its self-denying garb, that we cannot much wonder that they should be preferred by such as have not early been embued with our principles -
It will be truly kind to notice as thou mayst find suitable opportunity anything in our dear T. which it is desirable should be corrected - habits are soon formed, if not early watched and it is very likely that many little errors may be seen by others which are wholly unthought of by himself - I hope he will always lend a willing ear to thy kind instructions and profit by them - I have not been acquainted thro' his letters as yet of any of those scruples which thou hast mentioned, no doubt he finds some difficulty in writing as freely as he might do - Knowing that his letters can hardly be confined to my perusal alone - May I then ask of thee when thou finds convenient opportunity, to make me further acquainted with things as they occur - resting assured that these interesting disclosures shall be as confidential as thou canst desire -
I feel much obliged to your young men for their kind considerations towards dear T. he will I hope secure their friendship and esteem as they become more acquainted with each other.
We are becoming very anxious for another letter, it being nearly a month since the last. If T. has not yet dispatched one he will lose no time I hope in doing so - Please to tell him with our dear love that our circle at Leominster are in usual health - he will have heard from his dear Sister E. - they are at Worcester.
We continue to receive favourable reports of the Hooping cough in the school and hope our precious little Harriet will pass well through it -
The information thou gives me of your dear Priscilla did not at all surprise me - Louisa & I had talked it over when I was with you, strongly suspecting how matters were - I shall rejoice to hear of her after the interesting event when it occurs, and sincerely hope everything may prove as favourable as you can desire - the little stranger will no doubt prove a very welcome addition to your circle and be, I trust a sweet solace to thee - if favoured to thrive & do well - Please present my kind love to thy daughter and tell her I know how to participate in her feelings - Her dear husband must also have his share of mingled emotions. It is a favourable season of the year for the anticipated event.
I am really quite ashamed of my lengthened epistle and fear it will quite discourage thee from holding any correspondence with me if I impose so much on thy patience - I will however endeavour to be more brief in future - Which I shall esteem it a favour to receive as much from thee as thou canst find leisure to {write} me.
With very sincere regards for thyself and Husband as also E.Strange in which my husband J.S. unites
I am my dear Friend thy affectionate & obliged H.Southall
Perhaps thou mayst recollect a young woman (Ann Cartwright) who lived some years since in your son Edward May's family - she is about to leave Leominster & I believe for the neighbourhood of London in search of a situation -
[In pencil] 3yds 1/3 1yd 1/31/2
Samuel May Postmarks : G LEOMINSTER
Ampthill PAID MA 1
Ann May Beds. MR 2 1838