Burritt College Apr 7, 1854.

Dear Mr. Hill, 

Again at a late hour do I commence a reply to your letter which I received on Sunday. From it I learned more fully the state of your feelings than from any former one. You say I "never spoke to you in the language of love before". Do not actions speak louder than words? The mere fact of my consenting to be yours is enough to convince you of the state of my feelings toward you, for never would I have consented to give you unless you had possessed the affections of my whole heart.

Cousin Lizzie and Mr. Rasco are in correspondence on the subject, and are drawing pretty near the point. This however must be kept sub rosa. I do not know how it will terminate; but hope for the good of both as I esteem them very much. Cousin Liz is as kind, warm hearted a girl as I ever knew, and of a very domestic turn. You know Mr. Rasco better than I do.

We have moved on smothely so far in our session. I believe I love teaching better than ever. I some times feel as if it will be wrong for me to leave it off for I am certain I can do nothing else to so much advantage to my fellow beings.

Tonight as I sat listlessly in the moonlight before I commenced writing, dreaming with a panorama of air castles floating like fairy pictures before me, the familiar tick of the clock arrested my attention - it seemed to say, there is work for you to do - life is not an oriental tale as it is too often regarded in the dreams of youth, but a stern reality - the seedfield of time to be reaped in eternity. Not happiness, dreames, should be the angel to beckon them. And there is in man something higher than love of happiness alone. I wish ever to remember that the balm for healing lifes woes is to be found in doing good to my fellow beings. The girls are making preparations for a May day celebration. Miss I.C. Smith is to be the Queen. Mr. A.P. Seitz will honor us with an address on that occasion. There was a party in anticipation but father put his veto on it. It is late and I will finish tomorrow before the mail goes out.

Apr. 8; I am now enjoying a mossy seat at the root of an old oak. It is again nature's waking spring time - the genial sun has at last won a victory over the frost king and the face of the earth is resonant with conscious and happy existance. The birds, living lutes of heaven, are pouring forth their songs - all nature seems to have united in one anthem of joy. Many have written of this beautiful season and the theme is not yet worn, nor will it be while there is a heart that loves beauty. This world of ours is indeed the abode of beauty. Nature in all her changes goes only from beauty to beauty. How fast it changes - our hearts scarce know the hours are here till they have fled. Autumn scarce closes the flowers with its breezy reign till merry spring has come again to restore the roses and beautiful flowers, than summer winds are soon softy stirring and we have the golden twilight, which is ever a season of enjoyment to me.

Since Amanda has gone in to college and can be with the girls at the Bible class, I have consented to take a class in the Sunday School. I have not been yet, but will go to-morrow. Bro. H. says they have about fifty in the school and have not a sufficiency of teachers. Do you attend the preaching of the other denominations? Do you go to Bethlehem? How often do you go home now? I wish you would come up here some time but I expect it is best you should not. Write soon to your ever true

and loving Mary.


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

Archivists:
Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan