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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
Chase updates Uncle Dudley on his recent activities and the health of their family.
Date
3-13-1826
City
Randolph, VT
Keywords
Aunt Chase, Salmon Chase, Mary Chase, London Missionary Register
Recommended Citation
Chase, George, "Letter to Dudley Chase" (1826). Philander Chase Letters. 560.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/560
Rights Statement
Transcript
Randolph March 13th 1826. Monday
My Dear Uncle
It is now evening and I do not know how I can better employ my leisure moments than by writing to you. It is so short a time since I have written, there is not perhaps a great deal of news to send you, but having once myself experienced the pains of absence I know very well how welcome is anything from a friend who is near those you love most. Aunt Chase has made us a visit today and has been gone but a few moments. She has been, of late, rather dispirited, but after being here a few minutes her spirits seemed to revive and I have not seen her seem so well this long time. She and my wife are great cronies and so earnest are they in conversation when together that it is almost impossible for me to have my share of the dialogue. Today I have commenced tapping a few maple trees but it has been quite cold and the sap did not run very well. I have put every thing in the shape of pan, bucket or dish into requisition and I hope to have about 20 trees under my especial care. Instead of being troubled with horses, oxen, or any such team I have myself bowed my neck to the yoke of a hand sled with one of your half [bbls] in which to bring home the saccharine juice. You would laugh at my queer outfit—it looks so much like boys play—but I have nothing better to do.
Of your family—Mary is fast recovering. She is alway sick on her return from a visit to Bethel—so much so that it has become proverbial. Dudley begins to hobble about a little with some assistance. His hurt is not dangerous but it confines him to the house which is very trying to a lad of his age. Salmon is one of the most considerate and best boys I know. He has quite a reading turn and you can depend upon everything that he says—two very good qualities, but I presume not new to your observation.
Capt. Smith our neighbour has brought home his new wife—lately the widow Force of Barre—Mr. Murphy told me that he had made use of the recommendation which you gave him last summer. It is also whispered among the women that she is not one who will suffer the tea to be locked up. We shall call and see her soon.
The letter which you wrote to me enclosing a piece of poetry of Mr. Belding late an officer in the U. S. A. on the death of an Indian chief at Washington, I sent by the hands of Dr. Smith to Mr. Kimball’s family understanding that Mr. B. was related to them—I disclaim all that you say of me as being a judge of poetry and I had much rather confine myself to plain prose.
At present I think of nothing material to write and I shall therefore leave the balance of this letter to be filled after I arrive at your house tomorrow.
March 14. At your house
Aunt Chase desires me to say that she feels a great deal better, and since she has heard of your health, that you are recovering from the prevailing epidemic, her nerves have ceased trembling. Mary is not in my presence masticating a goodly piece of beef and bread—two very good signs of convalescence.
Dudley is able to sit at table with the rest of the family on a cushion—and I think he will be soon able to walk about without inconvenience, although maternal solicitude may confine him for a few days to the house.
Aunt Chase says that nothing has prevented her from writing today but her agreement with me yesterday that I should write by this mail.
Mr. Eddy lately hired one of the Jones’ Girls to assist Mrs. Eddy—but it has turned out to be rather of an unfortunate circumstance. The Jones girl herself is very unwell and all the family seem to be following her example. But I hope that it will not prove more serious than my own sickness which tho’ very severe lasted but a few days. Hiram Eddy seems to take hold of business this spring with a great deal of zeal—hope it may continue.
Dr. Burnham, probably you have learnt ere this has left this place for Williamstown, being invited there by the inhabitants of that place—a new doctor his name is Burbank from Dr. Dennison’s Diocese has arrived to fill the vacancy—Old Mr. Samuel Pember died last evening—his son [Reed] is also very unwell.
Have written all that I think of now [worthy] of your perusal. But a moment since I read a letter of my father’s published in the London Missionary Register for December and republished in the Boston Recorder relative to his visit to the remnant of the Mohawk and Oneida Indians on the Sandusky river—it is a most affecting letter—and why have we never heard of it before? My father in his letter requests me to ask you how you was pleased with Lord Kenyon and his daughter’s letter to him received while in Washington—pray inform me of every particular and oblige.
Your affectionate Nephew,
Geo. Chase