Searching for Susan

Lynn. Oct. 19th, 1866 Friday evening

Dear Edwin.

Perhaps the above will explain itself, a copy of which I carried to the committee this evening. On my way I called at the post office & finding no letter, I am under no obligation to write, but thinking that yours may be delayed till the morning I will write as I promised & should I hear from you tomorrow will mail this at noon, or not hearing, commit this to the flames.A little tongue in cheek humor follows.

Mr. Hills & Miss Brown have a proposition which they wish me to make to you, which is that you should take away Miss Breed & leave Miss Smith to her labor in the High School, & the resignation take effect for Miss Breed. They feel it would be satisfactory to those here & of course would perhaps be to you and I should be so placed as to have nothing to say.

Has not this been a beautiful day? I have thought of you & wished you could have been here.

Saturday A.M. 10.20.

I came home just before the close of school & find your letter, for which I do thank you, but now I have no time to reply, but will forward this & send a letter next time. I shall be very happy to see you next week & go as it pleases you. Another lovely day. I hope this will reach you this eve. If it does, may I hear from you on Monday? If it does not, on Tuesday? I fear another apology will be needed on my part. Think of me as almost running back to school.

With much love I must say good morning. Hoping to hear from and see you soon.

I am truly yrs.

Susan

Once again, Sunday is letter writing day.

Acton Sunday Evening Oct. 20, 1866

Dear Susie.

I cannot explain why there should be so much delay in my letters reaching you and must say that I am not pleased with it however much you may be, for it gave you a very good excuse for giving me a short letter for Saturday eve. I thank you for it even if it was short and hasty. What do you suppose my first thought was upon opening it and reading the address? But I soon found that you had made no mistake in sending me the wrong letter. I thought I was reading your resignation to the committee and perhaps they were reading your letter to me! Do you wonder that I had queer feelings till I came to the familiar address?Edwin continues Susan's little spoof as proposed by her boss, Principal Hills and her teacher-friend Miss Brown.

In regard to the proposition of Mr. Hills and Miss Brown perhaps, I ought to say I must have more time to consider the subject. I do not understand that they advise me to take such a course and perhaps Miss Breed will not consent to it but, you know that I feel an interest in the success of the high school of Lynn and if you think the change proposed would be more satisfactory and agreeable to your wishes, I shall depend upon you to give me a letter of introduction, explaining the feeling among the teachers in regard to your leaving and her staying. I suppose it will not be necessary to come to any decision till about the commencement of the next term as there will be but one vacancy to fill, and I will take the matter into very serious consideration and think I shall come to a decision that will be satisfactory to us both, whether it will be to the other parties' interests or not.

I thank Mr. Hills and Miss Brown for their interest and will not accuse them of being selfish as they do not advise me to make the change proposed, but only speak of it as a more pleasant arrangement for them, which leads me to infer that it would not be so pleasant to me.

What a beautiful day we have had and isn't this a lovely evening. If we can only have such weather Wednesday I am planning to be with you and I know we shall enjoy it but I think there is some prospect of a change.

The Ladies Sewing Society meets at my brother's Tuesday or I should be with you on that eve. I think I will call on you at Lynn at about the usual time or as soon as I think you will be through dinner and leave it for you to decide what course to take for you know I am not afraid to trust myself in your care. I shall be not a little disappointed if it should be stormy but I know you will sympathize with me in that case.

My brother's family took dinner with me today and two others also came in. My brother attended church in Lincoln this P.M., for the purpose of seeing and hearing their organ. He has not given up having one for our church and has met with so much encouragement that he feels sure we shall be able to get one. He has seven names of 100 dollars each which is a little more than half the sum required for such an instrument as we want. He went to Boston yesterday to obtain information in regard to it.

I wonder if I shall be happy enough to get the letter tomorrow night. Hoping to do so I will close this letter and bid you good night dear Susie and will anticipate much pleasure in meeting you on Wednesday if pleasant and if not I may conclude to come on Thursday. With much love I remain very truly & aff. yours.

Edwin

The couple met in Lynn on Wednesday. They are now engaged, even if the details or firm date of their marriage remain unresolved. They appear to await Susan's decision. There is no mention of an engagement ring.

Lynn October 26, 1866 Friday evening Dear Edwin,

I have just seated myself to fulfil my promise of writing to you, that you need not go in vain to the office when the Saturday evening mail comes in. Can it be that another week has so nearly ended? Is it also true that when three more weeks shall have gone, my school-days will be ended? I realize more fully as that time draws nearer, how much attached I have become to those who I meet daily in the school-room.

Applicants are already presenting themselves for the situation, & today I have had in my room a young lady who is very desirous of the place. When I considered that she was there hoping for my room, my scholar's interest, I must confess that for a few minutes I felt like yielding to the feelings which came over me. And when I tell you this I know you will not misunderstand me. You would rather I should have such feelings, would you not? I think I have said to you that I have enjoyed teaching; but I think there is also as much happiness in many other situations in life, and in them we may perhaps accomplish as much real good.

We are not riding from Ipswich this evening, & if we were I think we should need a covering from the rain. Did we not have the best time for our visit there? I enjoyed it very much & trust it was not so unpleasant to you that you will not wish to visit my friends again.

Our morning ride I always like very much but they cannot be repeated many times more, when you will have to hurry on our way to be on time at Lynn High School. I came from Boston last evening quite thoroughly tired; but I am some rested today. I trust you reached home safely & were not under the necessity of walking from S. Acton. I am glad you will not probably be troubled with such difficulties as you would had your teeth been removed.

Miss Brown is some better & hopes to be in school on Monday. I trust she will be for it is easier when we are all in our places. I called to see her this afternoon & there met the lady who I told you wished to take my place. If you should ask me my opinion of her, and if I thought you never would tell it to any one I should say, "she was too shallow" to suit my taste. She called on Dr. Drew & left with him similar impressions.

I think her chance small. Mr. & Mrs. Hills were in Danvers yesterday & called at your brother's. I presume they reported us as being in Boston. On more particular inquiry I learn that the tintype rooms for which we looked are Wing's, not far from 270 Washington St. I rather reluctantly disposed of some of my pictures today. Have you found a market for any of yours? I am writing in a cold room (but am quite well protected) & perhaps prudence would suggest retiring early. I suppose you are enjoying a warm room, all alone; if the distance did not prevent I would like to call upon you but in place of that will send my card. I shall hope to hear from you on Monday. Thanking you Dear Edwin for all your kindness & wishing you good night & pleasant dreams. With much love, I am aff. yours,

Susan