Trenton Dec 10^th 1836

My Dear Beulah,

Our letters and messages lately have been so confined to bonnets and cloaks that I feel as if I have I had not heard from you in a great while and I hope upon the receipt of this thee will conclude to get in the car and let us have thy company a little while in Trenton that we may learn what you have been about lately for we really feel as if we know but little about you this fall. As to our coming to the city this winter there is not at present much probability of it. Sarah has not been at all well for two weeks past and would not think it prudent to venture from home in the cold weather. We feel afraid to have her exposed much as we think she is liable to Rheumatism. She is very thin and pale and feels very chilly when exposed to the cold. It would be very pleasant to her to see thee here. My own health is so very good at present that I feel as if I must stay at home and do what I can to take care of those are not so much favored. Mother thee knows is not very strong and I could not feel satisfied to leave home for any pleasure of my own though it would really ## be delightful to you all once more. Now after all this explanation does thee not feel the propriety of coming to see us instead of adhering to thy rash resolution of waiting till we came to the city before thee could again honor Trenton with thy presence. Do not think it would be coming into the country in winter that horror of citizens for indeed we are getting quite civilized. We have the names of the streets put up in the corners, our neighbors opposite have mounted their door plates and cohen the street lamp burns brightly it requires but little imagination to fancy yourselves in the goodly city Penn. We have some neighbors too who I think might pass foe tolerably respectable and well bred people even in your city of ultra gentility and refinement.The week after you left Mother and myself called upon our West Indian neighbors and were received rather to my surprise by a young lady. I had scarcely thought of what the family was composed and only went as company for Mother. The old lady was not well enough to see us and has not been since but with the young one we are really so sociable as to be astonished at ourselves. Indeed considering the great difference in our characters it is wonderful how we take to each other. But there is something so winning in her gentle ladylike manners combined with the fact of her being a stranger in a strange land and feeling that desolation of heart which as she says such only can feel that she really has awakened feelings of interest which I thought I should never again experience for any new acquaintance. Besides this she talks to us a great deal about La ma#ca and England where she was educated and as she is observing though not bookish can give us a good deal of information about both countries. Our listening with interest and sympathizing as we really do in her regret at her being separated from her native land and all the friends of her youth makes her I believe feel some attachment to us or else we have not much to attract her. I am afraid she will begin to think we know nothing and nobody we neither dance, sing, play, draw or write poetry. We have no herbarium no paintings or fancy work of any kind to display to her. I have now arrived at a suitable part of my letter I think for thanking thee for thy kindness in purchasing the nebuct which suits us very well better than olive which though a good match for our cloaks was as Olivia observed too good a hue for our complexions. Sarah desires to express her gratitude for her share in the concern. And do thank cousin Rebecca Hornor for sending Buthis Analogy to me though between us I think it rather the dryest book I ever opened. The style is so very obscure that I have to read a sentence over and over before I can get at the meaning and after working through a long process of reasoning at last find it all establishes a probability only: don’t tell cousin R for I am sure she has given me credit for being very deep or she would not have sent me the book and I am strongly tempted to keep up the deception. I have yet read but little in it and perhaps shall get along better as I advance in it. Margaretta Potts is prepared for a journey to Middletown but is now quite uncertain whether she will get off . Mr. Holdich has written to her that he will not be obliged to come farther than New York and if she could find company he would like her to meet him there if not he could come to Trenton for her. She wrote in reply that if she could find any one to take charge of her she would meet him in New York if not it would be unnecessary for him to come for her. There is little doubt I think if he gets her letter that he will come but she seems quite willing to give up going and has almost felt sorry she promised to go so far from home at such a dreary season. We received intelligence of the death of our cousin Mrs. Therman and this week of the death of Uncle Re## father. Mrs. Sherman died a few weeks ago. Olivia was married at Norwalk quite privately the first of December. I could tell thee a great deal about Uncle and Aunt Tuttle’s visit here and cousin Joseph and Lucy and dear little Hannah who is really a very fine little girl and ## our visit to Caroline #orman and a great many other things if thee would but come up to hear them and Molly too for I always mean her when I write thee. With kindest love to all dear cos I must now close as the clock warns me that it is time for bed. Do let me have the pleasure of wishing you with my lips instead of my pen a Happy Christmas. How many recollections the name of Christmas awakens. Does thee agree with friends in discarding all stated seasons for the remembrance of particular events? As ever thy affectionate A.P.S.My letter is old but I shall let ## take it though my invitations will be of no avail as Ellen is to be marriedI understand on second day Sarah says thee must come up this winter I had a very satisfactory letter from E. Mallory a few days ago who appears very happy with her two little ones mentioned your agreeable but short visit, said she managed to command her feelings till you had left but was sick two days afterward. Margaretta has not gone and it is not probable she will go. Henry starts for Cincinnati on ##day. A.P.S Sherman

Transcribed by Meghann Noonan (2/16/2002)