Blackwell Family Lucy Stone Mother 1843, 45, 47, 53, [57] Stone, HannahOberlin, Sep. 11, 1843 Dear Mother I have an opportunity to send home, without making you pay postage, so I will write again, through I have not much to tell you that is new, if you received the other letter. I have been examined and "pass muster" as Father says. They examined me about half an hour in Latin and Greek, and about five minutes in Arithmetic, and told me they thought I would do. So I am a regular "freshman woman". I recite Latin, Greek and Algebra every day, attend two practical lectures on Physiology each week, Composition once a fortnight. I work only an hour a day, wash knives at night, and put the sitting room in order in the morning. I washed this morning, and got done at half-past eight. I thought I should be glad to help you finish yours. Don't you think, Mother, John Locke lives in Brownhelm, about ten miles from here; his wife is sister to Mrs. Fairchild, who is wife of the steward of the boarding-hall. John Locke sent a man here the other day, to inquireif there was a Miss Stone here, from Brookfield, Mass, cousin to the Lockes in Litchfield? If there was, he was cousin to her. I told the man who I was, and sent my respects. He said Mr. Locke would come to see me in a few days. I think, perhaps he can assist me to get a school this winter. I can't teach here until they "find me out". They think likely I may teach in the spring. They pay 12 1/2 cents an hour for teachers. Mother, you need not send me any butternut pills, for the nuts grow here, and thoroughwort too, in abundance.... I don't have the headache now and am perfectly well. We have bread and milk almost every night for supper. I am not homesick at all, and things appear very much as I thought they would. I should be very glad to take a peep home now and then. It is so easy to get here, I think, Mother that you and Father had better come and see me. I should like to show you to the folks here. I have become acquainted with Mrs. Walker's sister; she has told me all about the courtship. I find that I left some things at home that I meant to bring, but no matter. I guess I have got enough to pay for what I left, for I find one of your caps; so I will exchange, you may wear my shoes and I will wear your cap. There are a good many colored people here at school, and they sit, some at each table in the dining-hall and nobody cares, or whines about it either. There is one named Brown in my class. I reckon he is brother to Willy, for he looks much like him. In church they are on terms of perfect equality; there is no negro pew. I find a number of students here from Massachusetts. Phebe's cousin Jeftt is here; he has called to see me once, and sent his respects to Luther and Phebe. He belongs to the freshman class. I suppose that Frank feels big enough, on account of the big Buffalo Convention, 5000present, but if you do feel big it is not a good plan to crow. There is not a single Liberator taken in Oberlin nor a single Liberator man, woman or child here but me. At the table where I sit they hate Garrison, but they all acknowledge him a talented man, and they don't know but he may be a Christian. I should be glad, Luther if you would send me a Liberator once and a while. Mary A. Bishop has sent me one. The Emancipator is taken here. You probably noticed Mr. Taylor's marriage in the Oberlin paper. I attended the wedding; it was public. The promises were all mutual; the president married them. It seems a great while since I left home, and I want you to write to me. I want to know whether Sarah is at home, and whether she teaches this fall; what has become of our cheese; whether Frank fills the brass kettle or not; all the news, little things and all. I have not heard a thing from home since I left. I want you should send me a paper when you get this and let me know if you have heard from me. Father do you think I did best, doing as I did coming out all the way by railroad? Harriet Matthews gave me a good silk pocket-handkerchief just as I left. I shall have another opportunity to send in 5 or 6 weeks, by Prof. Finney. You must let Bo know how I got here for I have not written to him yet. Aff. Lucy Stone. My time is very fully occupied. I have to sit up tonight after the rest are abed to write this. Love to all.(Lucy Stone's mother & father) From Lucy's mother, Hannah (Matthews) Stone West Brookfield, Sep 28, 1845 Very dear Lucy: I am always happy when I hear of your prosperity. --- We have quilted Rhoda's cloak for you, to keep you warm next winter. Harriet and Phebe quilted it. You need a cloak very much. How are your bonnets, stockings, flannel petticoats and all your clothes? Are they not almost worn out? I want to know if your apparel compares with the rest of the students. MotherLucy Stone's Mother and Father. From Lucy's mother, Hannah (Matthews) Stone. West Brookfield, Sep. 28, 1845 Very dear Lucy: I am always happy when I hear of your prosperity. . . . . We have quilted Rhoda's cloak for you, to keep you warm next winter. Harriet and Phebe quilted it. You [a] need a cloak very much. How are your bonnets, stockings, flannel petticoats and all your clothes? Are they not almost worn out? I want to know if your apparel compares with the rest of the students. MotherOberlin, March 14, 1847 My Own Dear Mother, Oh, Mother I wish you were here today! You should sit in my large rocking-chair, and I am sure we would talk very fast. I have so many things to tell you about and so many, many to ask you about. ---I know you feel badly about the plan I have proposed to myself, and that you would prefer to have me take some other course, if I could in consciences Yet Mother, I know you too well to suppose that you would wish me to turn away from what I think is my duty, and go all my days in opposition to my convictions of right, lashed by a reproaching conscience. I surely would not be a public speaker if I sought a life of ease for it will be a most laborious one; nor would I do it for the sake of honor for I know that I shall be disesteemed, nay even hated, by some who are now my friends, or who profess to be. Neither would I do it if I sought for wealth, because I could secure it with for more ease and worldly honor by being a teacher. But Mother, the gold that perishes with the using; the honor that comes from men; the ease, or indolence which eats out the energy of the soul are not the objects at which I aim. If I would be true to myself, true to my Heavenly Father, I must be actuated by high and holy principles and pursue that course of conduct which, to one, appears best calculated to promote the highest good of the world. Because I know that I shall suffer, shall I for this, like Lot's wife turn back? No, Mother, if in this hour of the world's need I should refuse to lend my aid, small though it may be, I should have no right to think myself a Christian, and I should forever despise Lucy Stone. If, while I hear the wild shriek of the slave mother robbed of her little ones; or the muffled groan of the daughter spoiled of her virtue, I do not open my mouth for the dumb I am not guilty? Or should I go, as you said, from house to house to do it, when I could tell so many more in less time if they should be gathered in one place? You would not object, or think it wrong for a man to plead the cause of thesuffering and the outcast, and surely the moral character of the act is not changed because it is done by a woman. I received a letter the other day from a friend in the southern part of the State, to whom I had written, saying that you could not consent to having me speak in public. It was said in reply, "I regret for the sake of others that your Mother refuses her consent for you to become a public speaker. I regret its loss on your own account. The position of a woman advocating the right, is so far painful that I feel as though I did not wish you to be subject to all the trials, to all the injuries that will be heaped upon you." But Mother, there are no trials so great as they suffer who neglect or refuse to do what they believe is their duty. I expect to plead not for the slave only, but for suffering humanity everywhere. Especially do I mean to labor for the elevation of my sex. The little pamphlet that I sent you, written by S. J. May, gives a faint outline of what is to be done, and the changes that are to be wrought. But I will not speak farther upon this subject at this time, only to ask that you will not withhold your consent from my doing anything that I think is my duty to do. You will not, will you Mother? I am not boarding at the public hall this spring, because I could not room alone there, and I can improve so much faster alone that I chose to board in a private family, though I have to pay 12 1/2 cents more a week. The family are perfects haters of Disunionism. They berate Garrison, Stephen and Abby Foster most unmercifully, but I have to bear it patiently, so it does me good, though it is not very pleasant.... Your affectionate daughter Lucy Stone. We are trying to get the Faculty to let the ladies of our class read their own pieces when they graduate. They have never been allowed to do it, but we expect to read for ourselves, or not to writeWest Brookfield Sep 28 [*1845*] Very Dear Lucy I am always happy [whin] when I hear of your prosperity Mr [Sefft?] was home Friday last he think you are getting a long first rate it did me good to see him it was next to seeing you. I sopose he is like the rest of the world can flatter some. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] my health is good my feet and ankles are not so bad as when you was at home. we [ ] have quilted Rhodas cloak for you to keep you warm next winter Hariet and Phebe quilted it you need a cloake very much. how dos your bonnets stockings flanel petticoas and all your clothes do are they not all most wore out we have no aunt Sally to knit now I want to [ ] know if your [ ] apparel [with] compares with the rest of the students. [S ]Lucy [ ] wont write no more I make sush work of it Father may finish it It appears that Mother was a little vext when she left [when she left] off writing because she made such work I think Mother has done first rate everything considered. My Health is good. I have took my Scythe in the morning and mowed till noon some days the hay was to take care of. so I do do not mow so much as the others did I work as many hours as any one and after work was done I fed the hog to I thought I worked the most hours, you know that I feed the hogs [my of] my shoulders and back and feet have been the first rate this summer I get tiered by night and I expected I should so I was not disappointed [ ] I tell our folks ther hant a Man in Brookfield my age does so much work as your Father [* [Guard] Grandma Stone Oberlin days undated*]You wrote about paying Sarah I did not know that owed her anything till you wrote for me to pay her. I let Sarah have Twenty Dollars and offerd to let her have more she thought that would be all she would need with what she had. Her School Teaching last Winter and this summer was between 60 and 90 Dollars If she can get a long [which] with what she has got it would be best for them. [The] I told Sarah that I was calculated to give the girls 200 Dollars a piece when I had done with it You wanted to know a what I thought a bout Lawrence I never see him but 2 or 3 times he is called a likely man Bo. think much of him He has got a good Grade If he gets turned out of school keeping he can go to [Carpoting] I ges they will get a good loving. time will tell You wrote that hay [was] came in late in ohio & Cows Sheep my hay cam in lite this summer. I shall fat 5 Cows and I think I shall make it go pretty well. You want to know a bout Frances [ ] what what his future plans was. as to the present I hir him and his wife when he gets enough to buy half the stock I should like to have him take the Farm on Shares if it would do. How his wife would manage I do not no. She is not an early riser liks Tea firs rate. drinks when Frank dont no it can't work with out it You will want to know about Deacons Dea. Dupre Dea. Baxter Ellis Dea. Liberty Sampson Mis Shephard Blair Died this summer Caroline Ghent is now sick puks blood Thinks she wont get well Mother said she was a good mind to write to you that Liza Bocum was up here to her Starthers and come pretty near loosing a baby but not quit Good By Lucy He was glad to hear that your Eyes were better hop they will get well by the tim you write again you need not search to get money to get a long with your studies you can have all you [ ] need from home Bo has got through with his dets and wanted to let me have money to pay Luther dets. I borowed $500 Dollars for Lut and Took a mortgae of his house and land nothing is wanted but the Interest Lut pay that, Luts thohought he could pay one hundred Dollars a year he has paid nothing but Interest yet I do not no as he will it cost a good deel for clothes for L and I write often 10 cents hant much in Fathers pack. Hariet time is out to day October 1 so I do the work she helps some to pay her board Franks wife thinks Bs wife is a going to have a baby but dont know certain I hope Lutes wife is clear this time [ ] I ges Fs wife is clear to You write that fruit was scarce with you it is not so here last year we had abunend evtrything bore that was not dry, dry trees I mean my potatoes this year was very rotten had not more than half crop This year corn and potatoes good Apples enough to be comfortable [o?t]. Cheese 7 to 7 1/2 per the Pork cent. 6 grapes in abundance I wish you had some left since you was going to teach in Oberlin tell us in your next if it is in the middle of the Town your Mother with much love take good care of [?.??] your health and heartMiss Lucy Stone Oberlin Ohio