Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-03-31
To Fanny Fern,

MY DEAR FANNY :-Now don't say chat
antimonial," and throw away my letter becaus,
woman calls you her dear, and offers NJ
apology for addressing stranger, &c. Stranger
indeed! I'd like to know where there's
stranger to Fanny Fern! Don't she know u:
all through, from the cotton to the whalebone
Well, Fanny, I've just finished reading the
"Key to Ruth Hail." and / think somebody
tries hard to make you out an undutiful daugh-
ter. don't think that's all they wanted to
make out, or they need not have gone to the
trouble of putting book together to do it; for,
by their account, you have done it yourself II
true, It's very sad indeed. But am pleased to
see they say nothing else bad of you
| Now, l want, if you have anything to say
about it, come out and say it. Descend on
Messrs smalltalk & Co. like thousand of
brick; fatten them; put an extinguisher on
them; annihilate them; pull the roof over their
heads-but don't bury yourself in the ruins.
| have not read "Ruth Hail." Reason why,
| I could not get it. IT'S hard work to get a
dime out of Mr.. n to buy writing paper, and
as to book, he would as soon buy cargo of
| empty bottles as buy one. Newspapers do him
well enough.
And by the way, as have given you piece
of advice gratis, won't you return the favor
(How wish had sensible friend like you at
hand, to advise with.)
Can't you give me some idea how to make
money? You have succeeded admirably in
your endeavor, so understand. What shall
do? can't write for the papers; have no
time. What with keeping children clean-ditto
house; cooking, washing, ironing, keeping ac-
counts and sewing, have no time to perpetrate
any one would give two cents a column for my
ideas.
Take in sewing, perhaps you will say. Well,
do; but with my sewing there's no reaping-
that's the mishief. What's to be done? I must
have some cash. Young America consumes an
awful quantity of hats, shoes, and aprons, and
It's surprising how excessively short of change
their father (step) is when such things are in
demand. Come to the rescue, or send your ad-
vice, my dear friend; please do, and don't chafe
Mt having friends among the women-you
havn't anything else. The masculines are
afraid of you, though they won't own it; you
are too much like razor. But the women
you are their champion, and they love you for
it, only few of them turn up their pious eyes
in holy horror when your name is mentioned ;
but it is only when certain persons are present.
However I may as well shut up, for can't
teach you anything
You know the men-married ones in partic-
uiar-hate 10 see DOCK OF yours in the house;
it might prove torch of rebellion, and ignite
that frame Of submission they have taken so
much pains to form. But there are few green
ones left, by way of specimens. don't in
clude my husband in this category; he (bless
him) never interferes with my reading he is
pattern still weather; no storms of his making
ever disturb our moral atmosphere no tempest
brews in our teapot; we jog along like two
turtles each considering the other the gr(e)ater.
Cakes are burning! so in haste remain
Yours, womaniy, MATILDA NUTMEG
P. S. Please answer soon. Address Mrs
Matilda Nutmeg, New Orleans.-Delta.