NAWSA General Correspondence Barnes, Mary A. Oliver Dec. 13th 1845 Dear Lucy Often since I left Oberlin, has your injunction, "Do write to me" - been brought to mind; and as often have I longed to sit down and commune with my dear L. even through the cold medium of pen and paper. Have you dear Lucy deemed your friend Mary unfaithful and wanting in punctuality? I admit you have had reason thus, to conclude, but be assured that circumstances, and not want of love, have prevented my writing before. O: that I could be seated with you in your smug little room this Sat. evening. But the thought of such a situation, brings to mind a train of associations, that this the fountains of my heart, and flood my soul with emotions two deep for utterance. [??] here I will not dwell; for I cannot tell thee, if I would, what are now the feelings that move my soul. I will change the scene, and you dear Lucy may be seated with me in my little room. Perhaps you may not like the change, but as it is only in imagination that I shall transfer you to Mich, I presume you will not object to spending the evening with me in that manner. Then dear L. I will introduce you to my room, here in Oliver Mich. Please be seated, and we will have a sweet interview this evening. I must first tell you, where I have brought you, and what is the aspect of things round amount you. If you will stay with me until morning, you can see for yourself, and save me the trouble of giving a description. And as my description powers are not great, I think you will be more favorably impressed to see for yourself. [*I wish you would remember me to Dr. Brooks' family, and inquire for me about Hellen McGuire my warm love to Lydia Ransom. Tell her where I am -- what I am doing. Ask her to send me some word if she cannot write herself. I wish she could write me a few lines. Most affectionately remember me to Miss Adams if she is in Oberlin. I think none that I shall go home in the spring. If so I shall call at Oberlin on my way. Had I known fully what were the feelings of my friends at home, in regard to my coming west, I presume I should not have come, but I cannot say that I regret on the whole that I came. My friends insist upon my home as soon as possible. M.*] Wednesday, Dec. 17th-- Dear Lucy, just as I was about to commence my visit with you last Sat. evening I was interrupted and was obliged to lay my letter aside, and have found no time since to resume my pen. This morning I have a few moments, before the ringing of the bell, which I devote to communing with my dear Lucy. Perhaps I shall have time to give you some description of my present situation. From what I have said before, you will be aware that I am in Olivet. Yes Lucy, a singular train of providences have brought me where I least thought of being. Surely man may devine his way, but the Lord will direct his steps, and direct too, in a manner that will seem indeed mysterious to us. But we have this assurance that He directs in infinite wisdom. From Oberlin I had a pleasant journey to Richland, Mich. where I found my friends. I spent five, or six weeks there, very pleasantly, when I came to Olivet on a visit. They were then destitute of a female teacher here, and insisted upon my remaining with them. I somewhat reluctantly consented to become a teacher, but have not since regreted that I did so. Mr. and Mrs. Denison did not remain here but a short time. They were both sick and left. I could see plainly that the people here were not pleased with Mrs. Denison, and on that account, I felt a little reluctant about staying, for if she could not fill the place satisfactorily, how could I? Mr. Denison and wife are now at her father's, not far from here. But Lucy, so far I like my present situation well. It is one that brings not a few cares; and to one as inexperienced as I, it affords some trials. But the Lord is ever ready to afford strength according to our day. Blessed promise on which we may rely. I know the Lord will fulfill all that He has promised to His children. He has been faithful to me thus far, then why should I distrust Him now? He does indeed strengthen and support me in an amazing manner - I will dear Lucy give you some account of my duties and labors here. I teach four classes daily, attend to the ladies' composition exercises, meet the ladies for a kind of weekly exercise etc. I have a kind of general superintendence over the ladies; you know what it amounts to better than I can tell you. There are about twenty ladies in the school at present. I have already become very much interested in them. I love them. O that I may be enabled to do them some good. Pray for me, Lucy that I may possess all those things, that I need to render me useful where I am. Our school here, I think is a pleasant one. It numbers between forty and fifty. The institution being in its infancy, its operations of course are not extensive. But I think it is in a prosperous condition. They have building completed, erected where the first one was burned down. In this the recitations are attended, our meetings are held etc. One part is occupied by the district school. The district school is taught by Mr. Cady, from Oberlin. He is a member of the Freshman class here. That class number five. There are three teachers employed in the Institution at present, two gentleman and myself. Mr. Hosford has charge of the school. Mr. Dresser is expected here soon, to engage in teaching and preaching. There are about a dozen families here, all of the best kinds (or at least we think so) Dr. Denison's family are here. Dear Ann is with them. I fear she will never recover her health. She is able to sit up but very little, and appears to be failing. I call frequently to see her - for she seems to be rather lonely. She is a noble spirit, I love to commune with her. But disease seems to be waisting her away - and the lovely spirit is quiet beneath its relentless hand. She still thinks she shall recover, and pursue her studies. It is well that hope does not forsake her. What should we do without hope in this world? If Hellen Locke is in Oberlin, I wish you would ask her to write to me. I would write to her if I knew certainly where she was. I heard she remained in Oberlin this winter. when I left she thought of teaching somewhere away from Oberlin. I wish I might receive a letter from her. My P.O. address is Olivet Eaton Co Mich. Lucy shall I not receive a letter soon from you? Be assured it will be received with pleasure by Mary; Lucy have you my rose plant in your possession? You must take good care of it for my sake. Lucy do you know that I owe you a cent? I know it. I will pay it with interest if you will come after it. Now Lucy let me charge you once more. To write me a good long long fall letter as soon as you receive this. Mary A. Barnes 1845 Marshall Dec 23 5 Miss Lucy Stone Oberlin Lorain Co. Ohio Dear Lucy - I have arisen early this morning, with the hope of being able to finish this letter. I am affaid it will be so old by the time it reaches you that it will loose all its interest. O dear Lucy you cannot tell how much I want to hear from you. Will you not write to me immediately after receiving this! Tell me all about yourself, and many other dear friends in Oberlin. Is Miss Moore to retain her place in the Institution! There are many questions I want to ask but you can anticipate many of them, and answer them in your letter. I suppose Mr. Farechild has left the boarding hall. Give me all the particulars about these things. Do you hear from Julia and Nancy. I have not received a word from Julia since she left Oberlin. Is Mr. Dixon in Oberlin? If so give him my respects, and tell him I have visited with his cousins in Richland. Tell him I heard he had become Prof. of Mesmerism or some other ism there in Oberlin. He must guess what it means, for I do not know. Do you hear from Phebe. I have not found time to write to any of my classmates since I came here. Tell me what you may know about any of them. Lucy you know you made me promise to write you concerning some things that pertain to my dearest earthly interests. I should prefer to say nothing about those things. But I will be faithful to my word. It is not because of lack love or confidence in my dear Lucy, that I hesitate. No Lucy if I would open my heart to any one, it would be to thee my dear friend. But Lucy you know what are my feelings when I approach that subject. I say you know, it is impossible that you should know in full what have been and what are my feelings. They are known to no human being. But you know as fully as any earthly friend. Lucy what I say to you in this letter I say to you alone. You know what was the contents of last communication I received from Mr Dewey while I was in Oberlin. You know too the contents of my answer, to that letter. Well Lucy I can go but little further than that. I have received no further expression of feeling from him since I came to Mich. So far as my own feelings are concerned it stands now just where it did then. Perhaps you may know more about the course Mr. Dewey is pursuing than I do. I am entirely ignorant of any steps he may have taken since I left Oberlin. Lucy will you express your thoughts freely to me in reference to these things. If you know more than I do, tell me. Let me know your whole heart. O Lucy how I would love to have a long talk with you. Do write me a long fall letter. It will do me not a little good. Lucy as the light of the sun begins to fall upon this page, I see the it exhibits not a very neat specimen of penmanship. Will you excuse it appearance. I will make no apologies, but I know my letter is not written in very fine style. Remember me to all my dear friends in Oberlin. I have heard Laurels Garner has returned home, if so will you give my love to her, and ask her if she will write to me. She will probably know about our classmates, and I want to hear from her. Lucy will you please to write me the next day after you receive this! In warm and tender love M.A.Barnes. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.