[Letter of 1867 March 5]

[Letter of 1867 March 5]

1867-03-05

Cousins

African Americans -- New Jersey -- Medford

Anderson, Caroline Still, 1848-1911 [recipient]

image/jp2

Correspondence

This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. For access to the original letter or high-resolution reproduction, please contact the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (blockson@temple.edu; 215-204-6632).

Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

William Still Collection

Blockson manuscripts

William Still Collection

Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Libraries

blockson@temple.edu

BMS010X0042

Medford N.J. Mar. 5th” 1867./ Dear Carrie,/ The winter has bast[sic]:/ and the many pleasures that were/ enjoyed by us all, (though perhaps/ some more than others have passed/ away with it: and only certain memen-/ toes are left with us to enliven our/ minds of the past!/ Perhaps little did/ we notice times’[sic] fleeting moments when/ we were so near each other; you in/ the City of Brotherly Love and I/ about twenty miles do East of you in/ the Jerseys! Now I look for a/ moment and fancy our dear Carrie/ away in the west! Hundreds/ of miles doth separate us!/ When but a few minuts[sic] would/ have brought us into hearing or/ speaking distance, now hours/ and days could but execute the task!/ Such is time and its swiftness!/ But a few days ago and I thought/ of seeing you soon in Phila”!/ Day after day I applied myself to/ my task and would not let up./ I was called away to teach for our/ friend two days, came home and/ found that I must scease[sic] from/ my mental labor, else fearful might/ be the consequences. For about/ a week I have been quite ill:/ but by skillful treatment I am/ today much better than I have been/ all winter. The people of Mt”/ (the colored population) have had quite a/ revival within the last month./ Though there are many who pro/ fess tho to have found favor in the/ sight of the Lord, yet I was sud-/ denly impressed with the idea that/ things were not quite as they should/ be. One evening I received a/ programme for a tableaux, having/ my name attached to a committee/ of arrangements. O[?]cource[sic] this/ phenomenon caused me to think/ many strange thoughts./ I had at a time quite [?] previous/ heard that such an [Exhibition?] was/ to come off: had been invited/ to assist: but did not consent to/ take part. About the time/ that the programme came I got a/ note from Miss C. V. H. speaking/ about her school: telling me when/ she thought of giving another concert &/ Both her concert and their tableaux I found/ had been announced for one of the same/ nights. Here I immediately/ discovered a discord between the/ parties. Angie Creek and I/ went the next day and to see about/ things in general. I soon learned/ that my inference in regard to con-/ tentious feelings was founded upon/ too sure sure a foundation./ Indeed some of those very converts/ feeling indignant toward Miss C./ about her [the?] concert held some time/ ago; had heard of her intending/ to repeat [?] so[x?] the Elder about the cp. and/ hastily made out part first[sic] of their/ programme put my name to it/ had a number printed and sent/ me some the same day: thinking/ to conflict with the arrangments[sic] of/ Our[sic] friend Carrie. Of course/ she was somewhat put out but I believe/ has become reconciled. I saw the/ parties; told them that I was sorry that/ they had gone so far as to use my/ name without concent[sic], and let them know/ that I should be unable to attend/ the grand humbug. I am sorry to/ think that such feelings of strife continue/ to exist among “our people”! I felt/ much like giving the young teacher/ some advice about such a people;/ [but?] perhaps she might think she/ understands them: so she may. I think/ you will be so wearied by this lengthy epistle/ which may seem trifling that you will not desire/ to have another from me soon./ Your [&c?]/ J. T. Still/