Reference
Z699/261
Title
Louisa Hooper to Edward Harris Strange 15 April 1850
Ipswich 4th mo 15th 1850
My dear Cousin,
I do not like to remember how long I have left thy recent kind & interesting letter unanswered - thy kind concern for my health should have received an earlier acknowledgement - but I was at the time so circumstanced in attendance upon my dear Mother, who was quite an invalid with a distressing cough that I found no time suitably to reply to it - it was her illness principally that kept me from the London Quarterly Meeting to my great disappointment - though I was not at best myself.-
Since then we have parted, & she has returned home with Emily, from whom we have improved accounts of her health -
I meanwhile have proceeded hither to the land of many old acquaintances & endeared friends, amongst whom I am as usual passing my time very pleasantly.-
I had hoped to write to thee here, and Margaret's doing so has determined me to follow her example while through the medium of the sound of her pen, I follow in thought the information it is conveying to thee, and rejoice to think it will be the bearer of pleasure to thee.-
Often & often as I contemplate thee in the cold atmosphere which I know surrounds thy path, I wish I could hear of some amongst thy kindred & friends, in heart as well as by natural ties, being likely to renew by their presence, if only for a short time, something of the spirit of thy happier past
Margaret has a heart full of sympathising love for thee & the dear children and is eagerly longing to be with you for a time -
How much I should love just to look round, I need not say, the sweet baby & little Dory sometimes feel like my strongest attractions - but their elder brother & Sisters - and thyself also, seem equally to claim my interest when I seriously consider you each & all round -
Thy notice of dear Mary Ellen's last letter was extremely interesting to me - as thou sent it up to Uncle May I have since seen it, and well can imagine the gratification her Father's heart must have derived from the perusal of so well written thoughtful informing & considerate an epistle.- Full well too can I sympathise in the unavoidable glance backward it must have forced upon thee, to the day when such parental feelings would have been more than responded to by her whose claim it was to share it.-
Well mayst thou find it hard, literally to "leave those things that are behind" - nor do I imagine it is exactly required of thee to do so -
And mercifully favoured as thou art with ability to trace out in all thy affliction, the Guiding Hand of Heavenly Love - it may be that the dark shadow of the past that overspreads thee now, is likewise permitted by the same High Power - only to stimulate thee "to press forward to the glorious mark" for the same "prize" which is doubtless already gained by the loved companion thou hast lost -
Do not think the last month has been passed by me without many a remembrance of the corresponding season last year - I know how deeply thou hast lived almost each day of that time over again, and I have thought of thee with warmth & sympathy -
If my Uncle May is able to put into practise his scheme for liberating thee to attend part of the Y.M.- it is possible I shall see thee, as I hope to be at the 3 or 4 first sittings -
H.Gripper being with thee is I trust some comfort & relief to thee in business concerns, and may enable thee to break away more satisfactorily -
It is very late and I am sure thou wilt have letter reading enough with all Margaret is preparing and this scribble of mine so I will only add - that
with much love I am thy very affectionate Cousin Louisa Hooper
Date free text
15 April 1850
Production date
From: 1850 To: 1850
Exent
No. of pieces: 1
Format
paper
Level of description
item