26 March 1854

Well Austin - it's Sunday evening - Vinnie is sick with the ague - Mother taking a tour of the second story as she is wont Sabbath evening - the wind is blowing high, the weather very cold, and I am rather cast down, in view of all these circumstances. Vinnie's face began to ache Friday - that night, and yesterday, and last night, she suffered intensely, and nothing seemed to relieve her. Today she is better - has sat up in the big rockingchair most of the time, and seems quite bright this evening. I guess she'll be smart tomorrow. She sends her love to you and says you will sympathize with her. I went to meeting alone all day. I assure you I felt very solemn. I went to meeting five minutes before the bell rang, morning and afternoon, so not to have to go in after all the people had got there. I came home with Sue from meeting. She said she wished you had heard Mr Dwight's sermons today. He has preached wonderfully, and I thought all the afternoon how I wished you were there.

The sewing is moving on - I guess the folks will be ready by next week Tuesday. That is the day fixed now. I have to work very hard. I dont write to you very often no, and I cant till all this is over. I should love to see you this evening. I told Vinnie a few minutes ago that it seemed very funny not to see you putting on your surtout, and asking us if we would like to call at Mrs Jones'! I received several notes, or paragraphs, from you, in the course of the week, for which I am much obliged. The wind has blown a gale for the last week, in Amherst.

Sue and I went to the Depot to get "Vinnie's Express," and we had to hold our bonnets on and take hold of each other too, to keep from blowing away. We had a snow storm here last week, and there's a covering of snow on the ground now.

Mr Sweetser's family went to meeting in a sleigh, so you can see there's a little. Sam Fiske called here this evening. I will tell you something funny. You know Vinnie sent Father a box of maple sugar - She got the box at the store and it said on the outside of it, "1 Box Genuine Quaker Soap." We did'nt hear from the box, and so many days had passed, we began to feel anxious lest it had never reached him, and Mother writing soon, alluded in her letter to the "sugar sent by the girls," and the funniest letter from Father, came in answer to her's. It seems the box went straightway, but father not knowing the hand, merely took off the papers in which the box was wrapped, and the Label "Quaker Soap" so far imposed upon him, that he put the box in the drawer with his shaving materials, and supposed himself well stocked with an excellent Quaker soap, until mother gave him the hint, which led to the discovery. He said he really supposed it a plan for the progress of soap, until he had mother's letter. We all send our love to you, and want you should write us often.

Good night - from

Emilie -

I spelt a word wrong in this letter, but I know better, so you need'nt think you have caught me.