Letter from Emma A. Clark Green (New Haven, Connecticut), Sept. 23, 1846 | This letter from Emma A. Clark [Green] to her parents in rural New York informs them that she plans to attend a select school in New Haven to "make progress in her knowledge" as a teacher. More than letters from other students, this one points to the hard work of farm life, housekeeping, and mill work for the children of hill country Vermont farmers. In this letter, Emma Clark declares she prefers teaching to the labor of housekeeping. The letters are transcribed literally to duplicate punctuation and spelling except when to do so would obscure the meaning. |
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New Haven, Sept. 13th, 1846 Dear Parents, [Greetings not transcribed. Punctuation transcribed as it appeared in original letter.] My health is very good it was never no better than at present I think the physical part of Emma A. Clark has expanded some since she left the goodly town of Stockholm, but you are well aware that fruit does not grow in as great abundance there as here, this is one reason why I think Vt. preferable to NH, or at least that part of the state. Francis health is much better than when I wrote you last though I do not think it is quite as good as usual he worked for Uncle a month in haying and received R/B [room & board] for it. He has gone back to the shop and commenced work but he is not doing the same business that he did when he worked there first his business is grinding he grinds so many axes per day. [letter continues regarding his plans] |
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[E. Green, Sept. 23, 1846, pg. 2] I closed my school the 4 of Sept. I am now at Uncles I thought quite hard of going home this month but there is a select school in operation here it commenced the 2 of Sept and the first quarter will close in Nov. I thought it would be a great benefit to me to stay and attend as I wish to qualify for teaching. Times are such now days that in order to give satisfaction in teaching the teacher has got to make some progress in knowledge from year to year or else you are in danger of coming off minus I have not commenced going yet as Uncles folks started yesterday for the North part of the State. they expect to be gone about 10 days and I am left as housekeeper so I shall probably not go until they return. Mother I can tell you what it is I do not fancy keeping house very much it is too much like work for me I had much much rather teach than to be obliged to do all that pertains to housework. For I ask what comfort is there in washing, baking, brewing, ironing and the never ceasing rabble of the milkpails and dish tub. [letter continues about farm matters] |
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