LETTER XXXIV.
TO MRS. RICHMAN.
Hartford.
DEAR MADAM,
The day after I left your hospitable
dwelling, brought me safe to that of my honored
mamma; to the seat of maternal and silial affection;
of social ease and domestic peace; of
every species of happiness which can result from
religion and virtue; from refinement in morals,
and manners.
I found my brother and his wife, with Lucy
Freeman and Mr. Sumner, waiting to receive
and bid me welcome. I flew with extacy to the
bosom of my mamma, who received me with
her accustomed affection, testified by the expressive
tears of tenderness which stole silently down
her widowed cheek. She was unable to speak.
I was equally so. We therefore indulged, a moment,
the pleasing emotions of sympathising sensibility.
When disengaged from her fond embrace,
I was saluted by the others in turn; and
having recovered myself, I presented Mr. Boyer
to each of the company, and each of the company
to him. He was cordially received by all,
but more especially by my mamma.
The next day I was called upon and welcomed
by several of my neighboring acquaintance;
among whom I was not a little surprised to see
Major Sanford. He came in company with
Mr. Stoddard and Lady, whom he overtook, as
he told me, near by; and, as they informed him
that the design of their visit was to welcome me
home, he readily accepted their invitation to partake
of the pleasure which every one must receive
on my return. I bowed slightly at his
compliment, taking no visible notice of any peculiarity
of expression either in his words or
looks.
His politeness to Mr. Boyer, appeared to be
the result of habit. Mr. Boyer's to him, to be
forced by respect to the company to which he
had gained admission. I dare say, that each felt
a conscious superiority; the one on the score of
merit; the other on that of fortune. Which
ought to outweigh, the judicious mind will easily
decide. The scale, as I once observed to
you, will turn as fancy or reason preponderates.
I believe the esteem which I now have for Mr.
Boyer, will keep me steady; except, perhaps,
some little excentricities, now and then, just by
way of variety. I am going to morrow morning
to spend a few days with Lucy Freeman;
to assist in the preparation for, and the solemnization
of her nuptials, Mr. Boyer, in the mean
time, will tarry among his friends in town. My
mamma is excessively partial to him; though I
am not yet jealous that she means to rival me,
I am not certain, however, but it might be happy
for him if she should. For I suspect, notwithstanding
the disparity of her age, that she is better
calculated to make him a good wife than I
am or ever shall be.
But to be sober. Please, madam, to make my
compliments acceptable to those of your neighbors,
whose politeness and attention to me, while
at your house, have laid me under particular obligations
of gratitude and respect. My best regards
attend General Richman. Pray tell him,
that though I never expect to be so good a
wife as he is blessed with; yet I intend, after a
while (when I have sowed all my wild cats) to
make a tolerable one.
I am anxious to hear of a wished for event,
and of your safety. All who know you, feel interested
in your health and happiness; but none
more warmly than your obliged and affectionate.
