A more definate understanding between us

Be seated near me whilst such a fine opportunity is given for a short conversation. I know we cannot but enjoy it for everything around us is so very free to contribute to our enjoyment. It does appear as if I never knew the external world so very delightful. Only see how like a forest our campus appears. What a vying among the trees to excel in beauty and then the beautiful clusters of shrubbery composed of the sumac flowering abound &c., but above all the beautiful hedge of lilac on two sides of the grounds so very heavily loaded with blossoms and emitting a fragrance so delightful that most certainly we should prove recreant to all the finer feelings of our natures should we fail to be truly happy. What a change our short vacation brought upon all the vegetation about. From skeletons, the trees have become graceful and beautiful, the short grass has nearly attained its full height, but is greatly crowded by the innumerable buttercups and dandelions so anxious to display their gaudy colors. Yet after all, how we should feel a solemn and awful stillness creeping over us did not God send to fill and enliven these scenes of delight [His] swarms of insects and birds, which true to their nature, never refrain either in almost unheard strains, or with their utmost powers, pouring forth united songs of praise to their maker. Oh how it ought to shame our ingratitude and lead us to be more abundantly grateful. Can it be possible that intelligent beings like ourselves surrounded with such an array of blessings, will allow our nature to surpass us in acts of worship and praise to our great Creator?

Time has passed quite pleasantly since I bade you “Good bye.” You know what a fine day we had when I left. Well that fine weather in connection with a visit among my old scholars whom I had not seen for a long long time added very much to continue my vacation visit very pleasant. I did not find so much change as I expected. Only one new house had been built in the district and but one of my scholars had married since I was there. No death had occurred in the district. The greatest change I could perceive was in the height of my younger scholars – some of them I scarcely knew, they had grown so. They appeared quite glad to see me and I am sure I was to see them. A few had connected themselves with the church and I hope will make active, consistent Christians. I found just time enough to call about and see them all. [1]

Wednesday evening I took the cars for Middletown. A large number of students were on board just returning from their vacation trip. Among them was [Charles T.] Ransom, from whom I was very glad to hear from home. He said he went over and called at mothers and found her enjoying usual health and all our people well. We talked about many things but remember now of nothing that he mentioned either new or strange. My chum [Gorham Walton] came down in the cars that evening from Hartford.

The ordinance of baptism is to be administered to five in the morning by immersion. My chum [Gorham Walton] is to be among the candidates. He says he can make no other method appear to his mind anything like baptism. I have often talked with him upon the subject but just like John Nesbit in this respect, if he gets his mind fully made up, he is entirely unyielding. However, “Let everyone be fully persuaded in his own mind.” I do like my chum the more I become acquainted with him. He is so very companionable. He possesses so much soul, such an obliging kind disposition, and seems so willing at all times to contribute all in his power to make the passing moments happy and agreeable that we are permitted to spend together. I am afraid I shall never again on earth enjoy his society after we part here. His parents live in Maine and already the Maine Conference have employed him, as soon as he graduates, to teach the languages and mathematics in the Maine Conference Seminary for a salary of four hundred dollars a year. He is a good scholar and will eventually make something of a stir in the world.

Have you seen friend [Octavius] Perinchief [in Hartford] as yet? If so, how do you like him? We miss him much at our Betrian meetings [here at Wesleyan University]. He always took such an active part in the exercises.

Enclosed I send you for transcription a few verses written by an intimate acquaintance of mine upon the death of [my] dear sister Lydia. I would send you his name but I am confident he would not like to have you know it as he lays no claim to a possession of the ____ art. I merely send them thinking perhaps you would like them to help fill out your new transcription book [and] also to make out a letter.

Notwithstanding the great length of my visit with you, we did not have that conversation to which we had previously alluded. I was almost fearful it would be so. It was not because I forgot it, but because for some reason I could not bring my mind to it. And yet after all, I hardly think I did right for it does seem as if we ought not to let much more time pass without having a more definite understanding between us. If so, it does seem that if anything unfavorable should transpire to blight all my fond anticipations, it would seem like tearing away my own life. Oh when you bow the knee in prayer, Dearest A, pray that our kind Heavenly Father may direct every event concerning us for our own best good and the promotion of His own glory.

Saturday morning. I have just returned from the baptismal consecration. It was truly a solemn time. It seemed so good to see young persons more entirely consecrating their lives more fully to the service of Christ through this Holy ordinance. It seems just like saying to the multitude, “Hereafter will I devote my powers to Christ and live for His glory alone.” Oh I do wish I were a far better Christian, more humble, meek and lowly, and far better qualified to do good. And Oh! if my God will but make me the honored instrument in the conversions of some souls, how shall I rejoice…

P.S. The Methodist Conference “New York East” convenes its session next Wednesday in your city, I think. If so, you will have an opportunity to see and hear preach some of the most able men in the conference if you wish. I should like much to be there myself next Sabbath but do not much think I will.

I received your letter only last night but thought I would answer it tonight. I expected this morning to put in this [letter] a note from Hancie [Abbey Dayton] as she has been here on a visit, but her husband [James] came for her this afternoon and she could not write. She was sorry that she could not write and sent her love. She came up last Thursday, but we did not think she would go [back] until tomorrow. I have enjoyed the visit very much and we have been walking [all around Hartford] ever since she came. This morning we went up to the cemetery on foot, came back rather tired, but started again this afternoon to make some calls up [the] street and met her husband coming after her. When they left, I went up to Miss Webb's and came back very tired, but feel rested since tea. If my writing is unintelligible, you must not be surprised as my hand is not very steady for some reason or other -- probably from drinking cold water.

I will give you a little history of the past few weeks or since you left [here]. Wednesday after you left, at seven o'clock we started with two fine horses for Glastonbury, [Connecticut]. It was a lovely morning and I think I never enjoyed a ride better in my life. The country from here down never looked so well to me before. And it was just after the leaves had put out and everything did look so beautiful that it seemed as if one could but look "from nature up to nature's God" and praise Him for His goodness. We all enjoyed it very much. Our first call was where Aunt Lydia was staying and then [we called] on Cousin Maria [Hollister]. We called here and there all day long, I believe on a dozen families, and in some places making little visits. We left Freddy [Goodrich] at Mr. Rankin's, one of the Congregational ministers in Portland, who married a cousin of ours. We have heard from him and he appears so far to like it very well. I hope he will continue to [like it]. We found Aunt Rachel at Cousin Maria's to make a visit and I should not be surprised if she came up here this summer.

We did not get home until after eight in the evening and were very tired. [We] found Miss Webb had walked down here and she [was] not well at all, which made me sorry. The next day I was very tired and Uncle [Elizur] too. On Saturday, Aunt Clara Tryon from Glastonbury came here and stayed until Monday. James [Dayton] & [his wife] Hancie were here a short time that day also. Monday night, Uncle [Elizur] went to New York and did not come back until Friday night. And he expects to go next Monday for a few days and will probably come home in the new boat [he has purchased] as that is one reason of his going down. Fannie Talcott staid with me a day and night while Uncle was gone and Hancie came before so that I had no time to feel lonely. I received a letter from home a few days ago. In it they write Mrs. Sackett, daughter of Mr. Hand, died at Hornellsville [New York] and was brought to Owego -- also a daughter of Mr. Garland who was married and living in Aurora was brought home a corpse... Uncle [Samuel] Rockwood's father at the West was very sick... My sister Rachel had been sick but was better. I am afraid she will not be able to walk so far to school this summer. [2]

Here we are all pretty well. Jamie goes to school and loves dearly to play when at home. They have been tearing up the street to lay the gas pipes but Uncle [Elizur] is not going to have it come in here this spring. The reservoir upstairs is not yet filled with water so that it is not in operation. [3] Our garden looks very well and those violets that you brought [from Windsor] are yet alive although they have not blossomed since. We are to have any quantity of roses before long... While Hancie [Abbey Dayton] was here, we went into the diguarian room where your class had their likenesses taken and saw them. We knew two or three [of your classmates]. We also saw the [1850] class in which is Mr. [George] Stillman's picture, which is very natural. [4]

One reason why I write so soon is that I expect to unite with the church (Dr. Hand's) next Sabbath with many others. We were propounded a week ago last Sabbath. I had not really decided to [join] when you were here [or] else I should have told you. My friends here have for a long time wished me to do so, but not until within a few months have I thought that I was a Christian. Now I almost fear to join the church, fearing that I may bring reproach upon religion; that my daily walk may not be such as a professor of religion ought to be. But I know of mine own self, I can do nothing -- that in Jesus is my only hope. Will you not ask of the hearer and answerer of prayers that I may be a whole hearted Christian?

Uncle has returned and it is quite late. Therefore good night, Yours, -- Augusta

[1] James probably is referring to the village of Kensington where he first taught a select school in the winter of 1846-1847.

[2] Rachel Tryon Goodrich, younger sister of Augusta, born in August 1836, died December 30, 1852. She is buried in Tioga Cemetery.

Gravestone of Rachel Tryon Goodrich

Sampler made by Rachel T. Goodrich about 1848

[3] Uncle Elizur Goodrich was a relatively wealthy man. The conveniences in his home described by Augusta were considered luxury items in the middle 1800's. The gas lines were being laid to fuel the street lamps, but wealthy homeowners could pay to have the gas piped directly into their homes for lighting and boiler-heated water. A water reservoir was often sited near the roof of a home where it could supply gravity-fed water for domestic purposes. Since the reservoir was not full at the time that Augusta was writing this letter, her Uncle had decided to wait to install the gas lines and the boiler.

[4] The Wesleyan University graduating class of 1852 had their pictures taken at a daguerreotype studio in Hartford, Connecticut.

The Betrian Society was organized at Wesleyan University in 1847 from an older organization, Alpha Psi. This literary society united with another society, the Lebanian Society, in 1856 to establish the Alpha Delta Phi chapter at Wesleyan University which survives to this day.