Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-24
AN OLD LOVE LETTER.
The Delicate MiSsivc OF Yanke
PNrson to His AtIianccd.

The Delicate MiSsivc OF Yankee
PNrson to His Atiianccd.
The old parsonage in which Parson Will
liams lived in East Hartford for fifty-fve
years is well known to Hartford people, says
the Hartford Courant. This letter was
written to the young widow who became
tho old minister's second wife. His first
wife was his cousin, the daughter of Rector
Elisha Williams, president of Yale college.
The letter is not quite as aifectionate as the
old Puritan love letters OF John Winthrop,
but there is a delicacy and courteousncss
about 1t and enough love to make it inter-
esting.
HARTFORD, May 8, 1777.-Dear Madam
Never did time pats more fowly with me-
a Leaden age feems to roll on in every hour
till the 18th of June; when by the Divine
favor, G. thro' your obiging goodnefs, / look
10 be made as happy as the prefent state
Of things will admit. l would indeed check
impatient deires, and overeager expectation,
considering the e&tream uncertainty Of all
created Blifs, and as not knowing what day
may bring forth; Especially in this feafon of
public calamity, & dark and doubtful expec-
tion; yet with fubmifsive Difference, may
then hope the crowning my wifhes, and com
petiop OF my outward felicity, in being per-
mitted to call you mine, and becoming mott
intimately & inviolaby yours; than which
have no greater ambition. l laft
evening returned from New Haven, extreamly
fatigued, & exercifed with fome return Of
my late disorders owing to Riding hard and
in bad weather, but hope foon to recruit.
found your old acquaintance there family
WE'LL o, how happy for me that you went
not tbiher; referved by kind heaven, !
truft, to Blefs me G. my family; and l hope
not UNHAPPY for you; not TO, to be fure. If
all the Little in my power, can contribute
to your comfort and fatiffaction.
Expect to go to New Haven again, the Laft
week in this month, to attend another meet
ing of the corporation, il able; and mean
while to be employed in providing for the
scholars in the neighboring Towns; TO that
l am like to have very little time to attend
my own concerns at prefent. Will
q gracious Creator give you health and every
blessing. whatever others tell OF
blind being that difpofes their hearts,
defpife their Low Images of Love; and to
adopt the words Of Andromache's Gal
liant, have not thought that re-
lates to you, which cannot with confidence
befeech the all-seeing power to blefs me in
may he be your perpetual guide and
director. and ftill lead you on In the bright
paths of unfullled Virtue & peace
this Is an uncommon way of talking to La
dies; but you have noblenefs Of Spirit,
which exalts you above being moved by the
batteries Of parafites Whole tongues are like
jugglsrs' hands, and their brlghtnsfs OF ad-
drefs ufed to gain attention G. admiration,
while they pafs falfe play upon the fair Sex
my efteem is fold rational,
my pafson diflnterefted,i which will make 1t
my conftant endeavor that the object thereof
may be as happy as pofsiblsJG
wrote you immediately after my return
from you which ! Truft you have received
and add no further Now, tho
have thoufand things to say
pleafe to prefent due refpeets to your good
mother and Brothar and charming Sitter,
Mrs. Gushing not exrlufiye of her worthy
partner & family n and II you would
favor me with Line, Iacqusinting me with
your ftate Of health &c,eH would lay an addi-
tional obligation on HIM whip is (my deareft
madam in all fncerty,y & with utmoft ardor
of affection, ever your'sofi
ELIPHsT WILLIAMS. -
To Mrs. Sarah Parfons, dWaltham.