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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Mary Chase writes her mother about her journey to stay with the Morses in Steubenville. She asks that her mother and brothers write her more often, and tells her she is homesick.
Date
8-30-1838
Keywords
Mary Chase, Sophia Chase
Recommended Citation
Chase, Mary, "Letter to Sophia Chase" (1838). Philander Chase Letters. 1103.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/1103
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Transcript
Stuebenville[sic], Ohio
Aug 30th 1838
My Dear Mother
You will see by the date of my letter that I have at last arrived at my destination after nearly three weeks hard travelling. Our journey on the whole for so long a one has been very pleasant. When Dudley left us at Jonesville we took the stage coach and rode all night before we got to Tecumseh. I should have been very tired had it not been for a very warm argument upon the subject of abolition between two gentlemen in the coach in which we all became very much interested and which served to keep us all awake, and when we arrived at Tecumseh one of the gentlemen was heard to declare that he had become so much interested he wished we could have continues riding two hours longer but I am not quite sure if the question had been put to vote that we should all have agreed with him.
But I have not time now any Dear Mother to give you a circumstantial account of our whole journey and besides if I had I fear that I should be in great danger of repeating what you already know. For I know that Father has written to you so very often that he would hardly have omitted any that could be interesting however I shall try to remember some amusing scenes which seemed to keep us in good humours and describe them in the best manner I can in a long letter which I intent writing soon to Henry. Philander too I will write to often and hope they will both feel inclined to answer my letters. Perhaps I can prevail upon Mary to write to Philander if so he must be sure and answer her letters.
We have not heard a word from home since we left we had been so long upon the way that we did hope when we arrived here to find a letter but in this we were sadly disapointed[sic], but I do hope that it will not be long before I shall hear good news from the Robinsnest. I am treated with the greatest kindness here and I suppose that I can be as happy here as anywhere away from home, but nothing could induce me to stay here after Father’s return, but the assurance that you will hold your promise sacred of coming on for me in the Spring I delivered the message that you sent to Mrs. Morse upon the subject and last night she told a number of ladies that you were certainly coming.
Do dear Mother write to me often and make the boys write often, so that I may hear from home at least once a week. While my dear Father was with me I had hardly time to feel homesick, but since he has left us there has has been such a dreadful stiffness reigning through this habitation that it seems like an awful prelude to everlasting silence.
I have many things to tell you and would be glad to fill this sheet but Mary has gone to school and I must go and help good Mrs. Morse.
I am writing to a P.M. so that I can write short letters and more of them.
[Please] to give my love to my dear Brothers and most affectionate regards to the Radleys and Susan Benson.
And remember in your ever affectionate daughter
Mary