SOUTH NEWBURY, VT., June 15, 1880. Hon. A. B. F. Hildreth: Dear Uncle: It is my turn now to offer you an apology for so long neglecting to answer your kind letter, which I received last April, I was very glad to hear from you and auntie, and I hope you are both in good health at this time. We thank you very much for the papers that you have sent us. Brother Philip likes to read them and so do all of us. My health is very poor. I fear that I have consumption. Mother is not well. But my brother and sister Lucy have good health. We have not heard from our Corinth relatives for some time, but incidentally we learned that uncle Lyman Porter has contracted to build a Catholic church at the Vershire copper mines. Occasionally I go to St. Johnsbury and visit the family of A. L. Bailey there. He is wealthy and is doing a large business selling music and musical instruments. St. Johnsbury is a pleasant place. Population 5000. Seven or eight churches, and the best school in the State. Miss Phebe McKeen is dead. She was the youngest daughter of Rev. Silas McKeen, D. D.. of Bradford. She died in the car while on her way home from the South, and was buried at Bradford. We are having delightful weather now and the crops are looking finely. Mother joins me in sending love to you both. Your affectionate niece, AMANDA L. HILDRETH. SOUTH NEWBURY. VT., Aug. 30, 1880. Dear Uncle Frank: I received your welcome letter about six weeks ago, and we were very glad indeed to hear from you and aunt Liveria, and learn that you both are enjoying life so well. Mother has been sick but is improving now. My health is poor. My lungs are so weak. I take pleasure in reading the papers that you send us and thank you for them. My brother, also, is much pleased with the papers, He is now eleven years old and resembles his father. He attends school and learns well. He has many crying spells, because he has no father to care for him, and feels so badly about it. The Congregational church and society of Haverhill have built a new house of worship and are to dedicate it on Thursday. I attend the meetings there and am a member of that church. I saw Mr. Daniel Hurlbut of Bradford a short time ago, and he inquired about you. He now owns the Asa Low paper mill at Bradford. Every one is busy looking after his interests in We are confident that your the coming election. old friend, Col. Roswell Farnham, of Bradford, will be elected Governor. He often inquires for you when passing this way. Mother and brother join me in sending love to you and aunt Liveria. Your niece, AMANDA L. HILDRETH. Miss Amanda Lovinia Hildreth was a most excellent young lady. The following notice of her early death is taken from a Vermont newspaper: DIED, at South Newbury, Vt., October 1, 1879, of typhoid fever, Miss Amanda L. Hildreth, aged 23 years, 8 months and 27 days. She was the only remaining daughter of the mother, who has within a few years buried her husband and another younger daughter aged 19 years. Miss Hildreth assisted her father in the business of the South Newbury depot for some time before his death, as he was in feeble health, and after he died for several years carried on the business alone. In all her duties connected with the Railroad she showed a thorough knowledge of business, and her books were kept with perfect fidelity and honesty. 1st Sabbath in May last, she united herself with the Congregational Church in Haverhill, N. H., where she has been in the habit of attending public worship and the Sabbath School for years, and was cordially welcomed as a member of the church, who have long regarded her as a Christian. Her funeral was attended at the bridge house on Sunday Oct. 3d, the services being conducted by her pastor, Rev. J. Q. Bittinger, assisted by Rev. G. N. Bryant, pastor of the Methodist Church of Haverhill. Her remains were deposited in the Cemetery at Newbury, and were followed by a large procession of friends and neighbors. The coffin was decorated outside and within with white flowers, and a profusion of flowers arranged in various forms was furnished by the many friendly acquaintances. All were very gratefully received by her afflicted mother but were powerless to assuage the grief she feels at being thus deprived of her chief companion and support, in her widowhood and feeble health. That the Father of the fatherless, and the God of the widow, may be to her and her young son a support and protection, is the wish and hope of A NEIGHBOR. But mourn not in sorrow dear mother and brother, When we cross the river, the beautiful river, Her toils are now over, her journey is done, LOWELL, MASS., May 14, 1854. Dear Brother: I was very happy to receive your letter of recent date, and with pleasure and many thanks I receive your newspaper, the "Holyoke Mirror," which you so kindly send me. I was glad to learn that your business is prosperous, and that your health and that of your dear family is so good. I should like to visit Holyoke very much, but do not think I can conveniently this summer. Brother Frank, I would have a finished education if it were in my power, but you know our father has done all for his children that he can afford to do, and I have not the means myself, so I try to be contented and improve the advantages that I now have. I often wonder why mortals should have implanted in their minds those ceaseless longings and aspirations that are never to be realized-or, it is so with me. I am ever wishing and striving for that which I do not possess; yet I doubt not I leave many blessings within my reach unimproved and unappreciated. We received a letter from home last week. They were all as well as usual, but I often think, as you remarked, that our parents are very old. Did they need my presence or care, gladly would I hasten to them. Mr. McCoy's people here are all well. I like them very much. They are thought of highly by the neighbors and are generally respected. Yesterday I saw your little Mary's baby cousin. He sends a sweet little kiss to his cousin Mary. He is a beautiful boy. I should like to see your little treasure. I suppose that she has grown so I should hardly know her. Please remember me kindly to sister Liveria and dear little Mary. I thank you for promising to write me often, and shall be very happy to receive your letters. Your affectionate sister, LOVINIA G. HILDRETH. LOWELL, MASS., June 18, 1854. Dear Brother and Sister: This beautiful Sabbath morning I will spend in writing to you. I should have written sooner, but my time is wholly occupied. I am taking lessons in monochromatic drawing. I have finished one piece, entitled The Parting of Mr. and Mrs. Judson, on the Isle of France." I think it a beautiful piece on account of the association. The piece I am drawing now is a view of Caldwell and Lake George." These are both large pictures. I think they will look well when framed. I have thought of the invitation that you and Liveria gave me to go to Holyoke and attend school. I appreciate the invitation and thank you for your exceeding kindness, but I cannot go this summer, and hardly think I can this fall. In your letter you praised my composition, penmanship, &c. I think you flatter me too much, for I myself see mistakes, and of course you would see some that I would not see. When you write I wish you would point out my faults and I will try to correct them. I have received a letter from brother Daniel, stating his intention to marry. I expect that he is already the husband of a lovely wife. I am glad that he has made so good a choice, for I know her to be a lady of good family. She possesses a sweet and lovely disposition-a kind and noble heart. I trust that they will both be happy. Charles and Mary send their respects to you both, together with an invitation to visit them. Please excuse me for not writing more, for I feel much fatigued. Write soon. Your affectionate sister, NOTE. This dear girl, the flower of the family. died of hemorrhage of the lungs in Lowell, Mass.. Aug. 21, 1854, only about two months after writing the above letter. Her age was twenty years. |