The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-01-09
AN OLD LOVE LETTER
Yankee Parson Williams to the Widow
Parsons In the Year 17s1.

/ --NO
Tho old parsonage in which Par
son Williams lived in East Hartford
for 80 years is well known to Hart
ford people. This letter was writ
ten to the young widow who became
the old minister's second wife. His
Iirst wife was his cousin, the daugh-
tor OF Rector Elisha Williams, pres;-
dent of Yale college. The letter is
not quite as affectionate as the old
Puritan love letters of John Win
throp, but there are q delioacy and
courteousness about it and enough
love to make it interesting:
HARTFORD, May 8, IVY.
DEAR MADAM-Never did time PATS more
nowly with me; Leaden age feems to roll on
In every hour till the 18th Of June; when b1,
the DIVINE favor, g. thro' your obliging good
NETS look to be made as happy as the prefent
state Of things will admit / would indeed
check impatient defires, and overeaeer exnec.
tatlon, considering the extream uncertainty of
all created Bl1fs, and as not knowing what
DAY may bring forth; Especially in this feafon
OF public calamity 81 dark and doubtful expec-
tatlon; yet with fubmifive Difference, may ]
then hope the browning my wifhes and com.
PAN'AO4A VI my ou9Ndiu lSliClUy, IN DG1ng
mitted to call you mine, and becoming mott
intimately g. inviolably yours; than which
have no greater ambition. Ilaft
evening returned from New Haven, extreamly
fatigued, & exercifed with fome return of nv
late disorders owing to Riding hard and in bad
weather, but hope foon to recruit. Found your
old acquaintance there & family WELL o, how
happy for me that you went not thither: sc.
'ferved by kind heaven, l truft, to Blefs me 6;
my family; and hope not unhappy for YOU:
not TO, to be fure, if all the Little in nv power
can contribute to your comfort and fatifaction
Expect to go to New Haven again the
Laft week in this month, to attend another
meeting OF the corporation if able; and mean
while to be employed in providing for the
scholars in the neighboring Towns: TO that
am like to have very little time to attend my
own concerns at prefent. Will cra-
clouS Creator give You health and every blefs-
ing whatever others tell of a blind
being that difpofes their hearts, defpife their
Low Images of Love- and to adopt the words
of Andromache's Gallant, l have not thought
that relates to you, which I cannot with conf
depce befeech the all seeing power to blefs me
IN may he be your perpetual guide
ana director, and fill lead you on in the
bright paths of unfullied Virtue g. peace
this Is an uncommon way of talking to
Ladies; but you have q noblenefs Of Spirit
which exalts you above being moved by the
batteries of parafites, Whole tongues are like
IuSSiSiS uehluS, anu Unelr Dr1BntnefS and adj
drefs ufed to gain attention g. admiration,
while they pats falfe play upon the fair Sex.
my esteem is fold s. rational, & my
pafsion difinterested, which will make it nv
constant endeavor, that the object thereof may
be as happy as possible.
wrote you Immediately after my return
from you, which 1 Truft you have received
and add no further Now, tho have a
thoufand things to say 4 pleafe to
prefent due refpect5 to your good mother and
Brother, and charming Sitter, Mrs. Gushing
not executive Of her worthy partner g. family
and if you would favor me with a Line
acquainting Inc with your ftate of health &C.
1t would lay an additional obligation on him
who IS (my deareft madam) in all fincerity, g.
with utmost ardor of affection ever yours,
ELIPH'T WILLIAMS
To Mrs. Sarah Parfons, Waltham.
Hartford Courant.