Letter from Sarah Forrer, Dayton, OH to Augusta Bruen, 1861-12-08
Dayton Dec 8th 1861
My dear Augusta Howard has just finished reading H.W.B.'s sermon, for which I thank thee heartily, It is a very soothing and delightful sermon, and I can verywell believe it must have been, a great treat and consolation to thee, I wish more than ever for the privilege of hearing him, I need something of that kind, He throws those hateful old dogmas to the dogs, where they belong, Father says, he is like the rest, we have to live by faith, which is true, But Father has unbounded faith in man, I cannot see why he cannot have the same in God, I think, after all we that is mankind differ because we do not understand each other, And if we could come to a clear explanation, we should find we differ but little in the main points, I feel as if I had seen you, and been with you during the delivery of the sermon, And as if I can trust again, And that, perhaps these great afflictions, will prove blessings, Thee knows something of my early education, And what entire trust in God I was taught, Something of the same kind I taught you, in your younger years, But, I seem to have lost all faith of late, Howard gave me a very severe reproof a few days ago, He said nothing ever astonished him so much as to see me "give way so", It is so different from what you always used to teach us"; I scolded away at the time, but it made me think, And I do hope I shall yet *alline* to a better state of mind. I thought Howard or Mary would write to day, but they do not, Mary cannot see by lamp light, and Howard will write soon, He received a leter from Luther to day, A very kind one He will send the box Tuesday morning, It will contain besides the things the sent for a little Christmas box, Mere trifles they are, but we hope you will value them according to the love which impells to the sending of them,
If thee has duplicate photographs of your Officers at the Fort, or away from it either, send one of each to Mary, She is trying to make a collection, Mr. Folten gave her his, And she has Luthers, Eliza, Howard has provmised her's, And these are all, She has not her Book yet, But I intend getting one some of these days, Mr Davis told Father there were cedar posts of Luther's at his shop, which were in danger of being stolen, Father told him to send them up to your house, and we will lock them in the woodhouse, I suppose they were for the fence, Mrs Follett says Mr DeGraff has made, within a few months, at least $70,000,!! I hope he will feel like making his part of it, I think the first wind will blow the part in front of the house down, Mary will write by the box.
I received yesterday, a No of the Demarest Book called the "Extra illustrated" One plate is colored, For the winter of 61 and 62, with 3 full sized patterns, And one no of a cheaper work I should think. for it is 15 cts and no colored plate, And .50 needles, They advertise .100. or "50 with the first volume of one Mirror of Fashions, hung the four numbers bound together," As I said we received 50 needles, The Quarterly for 61 and 62, And one number price 15 cts of the Mirror of Fashions for 60 and 61. I suppose, As Luther said we should have received five numbers in all, I do not know whther it is worth while to do anything about it, I do not wish to give you any more trouble.
Mary exchanged her victorian for a small muff, But she was only allowed $3.00 for it, The muff was valued at , 13.00, She paid 10.00 and the victorian It was so worn that it did not look well any longer The muff is mink, She thinks she can do without a collar I am tired of the Fitch, and would very much prefer a little muff of good mink, Mannie, and Mrs Follett each bought a mink collar in Cincinnati, They gave 11.00 each, but thee has seen Mannie's before this, I think a little good fur in much better taste than a full set of inferior, I will wear mine, because it is warm and comfortable, but I am nobody Howie says, What do you want with the Photographs? You do not know them, and they are not distinguished, Perhaps he is right,
Love to all, Sella Frank Robbie Father and Mother, Mary and I went to your house this morning and made four fires, it was so damp, and spent the day there, This evening about nine Father and I went down again to see that all was safe, We found all right, I took all the pictures down, and put them in the Library, I think it will be safer, There has been nothing disturbed, but Mrs Brady says Mr Cerwin's house was broken open, nothing taken that she can see Ever thy Mother
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December 8, 1861
Forrer, Sarah Hastings Howard
Dayton, OH
4 pages
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Forrer, Sarah Hastings Howard -- Correspondence
Catharine Mitchill '31 Collection of Family Letters, Wellesley College Library, Special Collections
MSS.6.345
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/345
