University of Virginia Library

MARGARET TO ANNA.

Our house is finished, and what has been a long story to us,
I shall make a short one to you; which can be done the more
readily, since I hope you will soon come and see all things for
yourself. The expense within and without Mr. Evelyn says
has not been less than one hundred thousand dollars. We
have imported some things, not that Mr. Evelyn would not
have preferred domestic articles, but many we could not find.
Besides what matters it. I am made up of all nations, some
German, some French, some English, some American; and it
is only dealing with my countrymen, trade with whomsoever I
may. You should not have introduced me to your house unless
you supposed I was more or less than human. Our plate certainly
does not equal yours; our linen is home-made; our
curtains and hangings are very beautiful, thanks to your good
taste. Mr. Evelyn brought from Europe a valuable library,
some elegant maps and engravings, and a few choice pieces of
sculpture. We have since ordered more of these articles.
In addition, Rufus Palmer has been engaged on statuary for
us these two years. He is now in Europe, and when he returns,
we have promised him in exchange for his productions,
our Isabel; that is if they will consent to take up their residence
at Mons Christi. We have busts of the old Philosophers,
a copy of the Venus de Medici, Apollo Belvidere,
Antinous, Belisarius, a Psyche and Butterfly, a Prometheus
and others, and some excellent Paintings; we have a parlor
organ, a piano and guitar, in addition to my father's flute
and violin; also an excellent set of chemical, philosophical
and astronomical instruments. At the head of the Delectable
Way stand statues of Peace and Truth; under the trees in
front of the house, are Faith, Hope, Love and Beauty. Near
the Tree-bridge, in the Via Dolorosa, we design to put Penitence
and Fortitude. On the Via Salutaris stands Humanity.
A Ceres has been set up in our cornfield. In Diana's Walk
is her own Ladyship with the Golden Bow. On Feronia's
Isle and in Egeria's Haunt we propose to place something,
and if the white birches are not sufficient of themselves, we
shall add marble Muses. My Pantheon, that Mr. Evelyn
used to banter me about, still remains, and my bubbles
have taken marble forms. Between the Butternut and the
old house is a broad opening conducting to the foot of Mons
Christi, which we call The Avenue of the Beautiful. In this
is a Temperance pouring water from a goblet into a marble

trough. It is supplied from the same spring-head that has so
long furnished the water of our Cistern, and is designed both
for man and beast. On it hangs Pa's silver tankard, which
he himself put there, the only relic of his former prosperity,
and which he is glad to have diverted from its customary use.
This water, always a copious stream coming down from the
highlands back of Pa's, serves for a fountain in the garden,
where its jet and spray may be perpetually seen, and flows
thence to our house and barn in quantity sufficient for all
needs. When we formerly made our escape from Mons
Christi to the Ledge, Rufus showed me a figure on which he
had been hammering at his leisure, designed to represent me
as I was when I found the water; this he has since completed.
It is a perfect Molly Hart, in short gown, pinafore
and gipsey hat. Ma wanted it put in the old house, but
there seemed to be no room for it. We have it in our drawing-room;
and near it are the cherry plate, bowl and spoon
I used to eat bread and cider and bean porridge with, and
also the wolf's bone knife and fork Chilion made me. The old
Chesnuts, which were already in decay, have been cut down,
and the bounds of the Mowing enlarged, which gives us a
beautiful green lot in our front view. North of the Mowing
is an extensive young orchard of various kinds of choice
apples, pears, quinces and peaches. Our Aviary, which is
large, and well furnished with shrubbery, we intend to stock
with native birds. In the Conservatory we have some foreign
plants, and shall experiment more with the domestic. We
have a room called the Prophet's Chamber, which our Bishop
frequently occupies, and where he writes some of his sermons.
In the garden is a large Bee-range. The old house
remains as it was, saving repairs. There Pa and Ma live.
The loom and wheels have been restored to the work-shop,
and there sits Ma, in her short-gown and naked arms, smoking
and weaving us blankets. She cannot be induced to
forego any of her old habits. Pa, who never suffered from
what the Master would call a cacoethes laboris, loves and
enjoys his ease. He has made us some stout walking shoes,
which is the most he has done for a year. On the chimney
are my marble kitten and flower-pot. About the house
still grow my beans, hops, virgin's bower, eye-brights, blood-roots,
and other flowers Chilion helped me rear. Chilion's
clothes, fishing tackle, gun, powder horn, shot-bag, occupy
their old places on the walls of the kitchen. The suit in
which he was executed, his violin, a partly finished basket
with some partly finished spools, he was making, hang in
the work-shop; Ma will not allow them to be touched. Some
of his hair she has wrought into a ring, which she wears on
her finger. Margaret, my peach tree, is dead, but a young
Margaret is growing in the same spot. Dick, my squirrel,
and my birds are dead, their empty cages hang in the old
place. Bull, whose heart, as well as his leg, was broke, when
Chilion died, totters backwards and forwards from house to
house. So have perished some of the dear fellow-fixtures and
comrades of my life! Beyond Pa's, stands Nimrod's house,
and a little farther up the way live Hash and Sibyl. Grandfather,
who is exceedingly interested, and I believe pleased,
in all we do, divides his time between us and Aunt Wiswall.
Judah Weeks has promised marriage to Cousin Bertha.
Speaking of this reminds me to tell you, that Obed has married
Beulah Ann Orff. Mrs. Evelyn, the good mother of
Charles, has also come to Livingston, and lives with us for the
present.

You inquire what our household arrangements are to be.
Our regular family is composed of Mr. Evelyn, myself, Sylvina
Pottle and Dorothy Tapley. Then we have more or less of
our friends with us a good deal of the time. Mr. Pottle has
a large number of children, and at Mr. Tapley's they are very
poor, and those people were anxious their daughters should
come and live with us, and earn something. Our food is
simple; I never had any other, and what is bred in the bone
will never be out of the flesh, as Deacon Ramsdill says; and
Mr. Evelyn is not particular. I still enjoy a dish of bean porridge
with Molly. I always got up early, and could not easily
be taught new tricks. Then I have been out in the air so
much I must still be out. We have prayers every morning,
and Mr. Evelyn explains the Scriptures to us. We have
breakfasted this Summer at six and an half o'clock, dined at
twelve, and taken tea at five. So we are doing at present.
Our hired men board with Nimrod and Hash. Ma has woven
a working suit for Mr. Evelyn. We have both had our hands
full getting the house in order. I look for leisure this winter
to read more, and practice music more.