PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN SO LOW THAT THE FARMERS HERE HAVE HAD RATHER HARD TIMES, NOT MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT TO RAISE WHEAT FOR 47 CENTS A BUSHEL, PORK 2-1/2 CTS. PER POUND, AND BUTTER FOR 8 CTS. AND EGGS 5 CTS. A DOZEN

PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN SO LOW THAT THE FARMERS HERE HAVE HAD RATHER HARD TIMES, NOT MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT TO RAISE WHEAT FOR 47 CENTS A BUSHEL, PORK 2-1/2 CTS. PER POUND, AND BUTTER FOR 8 CTS. AND EGGS 5 CTS. A DOZEN

(Michigan) Converse, Harriett Jewett. A Lengthy Letter from Harriett Jewett Converse, Originally of Northampton, Massachusetts, to her Sister Martha Describing Life in Michigan and the Deceitful Heart, Medina, Michigan, 1846.Medina: 1846. Four page letter measuring 10 x 7 ½ inches. A few tears at folds but very legible, very good cond.

Overall an interesting letter with much detail, showing the development of a family and an early Michigan township.

(Letter in full)

Medina, May 17th 1846

My dear sister Martha,

I received your letter dated Dec. 9th with sincere pleasure and I feel verily guilty for not writing to you long ere this. I have resolved to do so many many times. My only apology is that I am a farmer's wife with a little of everything to tempt me to put it off, thinking it will be more convenient to do so at some future time. Selfishness has been urging me to write to you also, for I have earnestly desired to receive letters from you. Marion's letters are great comfort to me and I very often think of my little sister Martha, for I cannot realize but that you look like that same little girl I left in Northampton almost 11 years ago. Sometimes I indulge myself in the pleasing anticipation of meeting you there again before long and getting reacquainted with my own dear sisters. Marion wrote to me that Aunt Lyman was expecting Cousin Martha and her family to visit her this summer. Are you expecting to go with them? how delightful it would be if we could only meet there this summer, but when I give it a sober second thought I greatly fear that pleasure is not in reserve for me at present. Our circumstances will not allow of our visiting N. this season, neither can I tell when we shall do so. Amasa as well as myself is very anxious to go. He wants to see his mother once more. She is very feeble and Lucy writes she fears she will not live long. Lucy's health is very poor too. She has suffered a great deal for a few years past. We are expecting sister Ruth here from Illinois next month. Perhaps you may have heard that she has lost her husband. She was left with four little children on her hands, the eldest 6 years, the youngest but 5 weeks, but I don't know whether she will conclude to make it her home here or whether she will return to Northampton.

Marion has written me a little about her affairs, but not much. She is not very communicative on the subject. I should think she might tell us all about it, for she knows we 'won't tell any body' if we want to ever so much. I hope she will have a good home and enjoy as much happiness in this world as her Heavenly Father sees best for her Eternal good. I received a letter from her a few days since. She was well. She had not heard from Julia since last May, neither had she from Enoch. It makes me feel sad to think of him. I hope you remember him in your prayers at the throne of Grace. God can turn the heart of the wanderer. In him only is our help. Truly we are scattered north and south, east and west, but if we are permitted to meet in heaven, we shall not think much of the little trials of earth.

My health is not very good this spring. Nelson has had two fits of sickness this winter and spring. Taking care of him has been very hard for me. He is very well now, has got to be a great boy. Harriet M. goes to school. She is a very good scholar, taking into consideration the advantages she has had. We have no Minister now, but are making efforts to get one. We have a prayer on the Sabbath and Thursdays, and a Sabbath school. We have a small library that our friends in N. kindly sent us. There has been great improvements made here since we came. Then it was nothing but woods and we could say with Selkirk, 'I am monarch of all I survey'. Now there is quite a large clearing and we even see a number of buildings, but it is not a city here yet. Provisions have been so low that the farmers here have had rather hard times, not much encouragement to raise wheat for 47 cents a bushel, pork 2-1/2 cts. per pound, and butter for 8 cts., and eggs 5 cts a dozen. I think you will not wonder now that we have not visited N. yet, but we have not quite done hoping. We are building a Meeting House, but I am afraid it will be sometime before it is finished. It requires a great deal of energy and perseverance to get things established in a new country, there is so much selfishness, everyone wants to have things done so as to contribute to his own advantage, and the heart is so deceitful it is hard for anyone to see it in himself. I was rejoiced to hear that you hope you have chosen this better point which leads to eternal life and I hope you will not set your standards high so that you may always find the truth pleasant and full of peace. Sin is the cause of our sorrows. The Christian's life is rightly called a [..?..]. I find my own heart so full of sin, so strongly inclined to go astray, I often feel as if I never should make any progress. What a comfort is it to feel that there is a fullness in God and that he is more [..?..] to give than we are to ask; in us is no good thing, but Christ is all in all.

You asked me if I think Mother was prepared for death. My dear sister, I do not know, but we do know that she was in the hands of God, who doeth all things well. We must leave her there. May it lead us to realize the importance of being prepared for death, which must one day surely come.

Amasa and Harriet all send a large share of love to you.

I trust you will pardon my long silence and do me the favor of writing oftener in future. I prize letters from my friends very much (I know you realize in some measure how much). I will endeavor to do the same. It is getting late and I am very tired and must close. I hope you will excuse my letter. I have taken it for granted that you prefer one horribly written than none because I do.

From your affectionate sister,

H.J. Converse

My Dear cousin Martha. I cannot close without a line to you. I have not forgotten you. Amasa and myself often speak of you and I think it my own fault that I have not received letters from you long since. I assure you my dear M that it is not because I am not exceedingly gratified to receive letters from you that my pen has been so long idle. I trust it will not be so in future, but that I shall again have the pleasure of corresponding with you. How delightful it would be if we could but meet again, but many many miles separate us. I will hope that we shall do so. It is a great comfort to me to know that sister M. is with you. I feel that you are one of her best friends and I rejoice that she is a comfort and help to you. I was glad to hear that you were intending to visit your friends in N. this summer. I have never seen either of Mr. Hubbard's daughters since they have lived in Mich. I have heard that Sarah had gone east this spring. Elizabeth's husband is Lieut. Gov. of this state, but if reports are true, he is far from being a moral man. His name is Greenly. My husband wishes a kind remembrance to you and your husband. He says he has not forgotten old school days nor the many pleasant hours he has spent with yourself and husband. He says he hopes he is pleasantly situated and has the satisfaction of knowing that his labors are blessed to the good of souls. I recollect you were once much opposed to slavery. It would gratify us to know what you think of it after having the opportunity of seeing something of it. Do you find it as great an evil as you expected. Harriet sends love to her little cousins. Please tell me their names.

From your aff. cousin,

H. J. Converse

Addressed to:

Miss Martha Jewett

Charleston

South Carolina

Care of

Reverend George Sheldon.

Four page letter measuring 10 x 7 ½ inches. A few tears at folds but very legible, very good cond.