Monday May 12^th 1840

 

Dear Cousin R—

                        Do not look so supprised at my acceding so soon to your wishes, & favoring you with one of my long yarns, or I shall think you are sorry you requested me to write I know you said "either a paper or a letter" & as I thought the last would seem more like a visit from me than the first, I had the presumption to flatter myself it would be the most acceptable

 

                        Now I do not care much wether you wish to see me or no, but only ask you to place yourself in as comfortable a position as possible, being very careful not to sleep while I am talking, for it is extremely annoying when a lady makes so many sensible remarks as I do, (Ahem!) & remember I give you leave to shut the door after I have made my bow of exit & not before.

 

                        I will sit in dear grandmothers chair if you please & while she is kindly taking up those stiches I dropped in the toe of my stocking will tell you about matters & things in Milton. You must know somebody had the impudence to steal my heart after I returned from Easton and the hussey has run to the "jumping off place" with it and I warrant, I never see it again so you must not expect me to write as well or as feelingly as I otherwise might, for my brain is all I have to depend upon & that is so full of dust & rubbish that I fear those will be sad looking beings which issue from it. But this is not what I intended to tell you! I have really forgotten for you have done nothing but laugh in my face ever since I came, which / puts all my thoughts to flight I surely cannot look much worse than I did with grandmothers short gown & nice check apron on the memorable morning when I first saw you. Have you forgotten what a beauty I was? What then can you find to laugh at?

 

                        Tell grandmother I do wish she would let you gallant her to Milton this coming fall, for nobody thinks anything of me here and I want to be her "chick a [?] baby" once more. I will not quite smother her with kisses but will promise to be quite reasonable providing I do not frighten her by being so. And tell her to bring two of her fiddle back chairs, a bushel of chestnuts or so, some of that nice cake she used to make for dear little Mary, a dozen of my favorite apples, I believe that is all, oh no! I forgot the good old armchair! she may bring that. Ask her if she does not think I am very reasonable in my desires?

 

                        But I believe I began to tell you about things in Milton! Pray do not think me crazy! Jane Lake has been quite sick but is now getting better, she talks of calling it "Lusanna" after a friend of Anns. The green house looks beautifully & I would fain send you a bunch of flowers from it in this nice little sheet of paper, but their fragrance would be so much more attractive than their envelope, that I do not care much that I cannot favor you with the same.

 

                        Every thing in nature is putting on its loveliest garb, the trees are in full bloom, & give promise of a fruitful season. The weather has been rather cold for a few days past though previous quite warm. I do not think it can hardly be called Summer 'till June for May is generally more or less cold. I guess I shall make a new Almanac, will you subscribe for a copy?

 

                        When you see Cousin Mary tell her that I am / sorry it takes so much of her time to wait upon her loving spouse that she cannot find a few leisure moments to answer a letter written before she was married & ask her if marriage has a tendency to make us forget old friends? if so, may I remain in a state of single blessedness!!!

 

                        You must visit all my aunts uncles & cousins for me & by the time you go the rounds I will peep in upon you again & thank you for your kindness.

 

                        I should like to fill this sheet but sister Sue is so impatient for me to leave off, & accompany her on a walk to the Post Office, that if I bring this to a close I can take it with me, & save having my ears pulled by her for keeping her waiting, & be the means of your receiving it sooner. So I will take my hat if you please & after kissing dear grandmother Aunt R[?], Rebecca & the rest of the good folks (Col Roseland excepted) will [paper hole] to Easton for the present hoping I leave all well & happy. I should be very happy to receive an answer if you think this deserving, but will not compel you to write for I know your time is more occupied than mine therefore you are excusable. Give my love to all retaining as much as you would like for yourself, & believe me your

                                                                                                           

"Crazy head Cos"

Molly

 

PS

Susan sends a bushel of mud, excuse me I meant      Love to Roseland

 

She has none left for the rest I expect,

                                                                                               

Adria

 All send their love

 

[overleaf]

 

Single)                                                                        18¾

                                    Mr Rowland Robinson

                                                            Easton N.Y.

Milton Ms

            May 13

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