Letter From Sarah
E. Scrape
To Her Sister
Susan M. Scrape
Submitted by: Michael
Scrape
This letter written by Sarah E. Scrape to her sister, Susan M. Scrape on
January 5, 1854. Sarah & Susan were the daughters of James D. Scrape
and Sarah D. Elder. Sarah E. Scrape was married to W. C. McGee and then to
W.W. Harrison. She is buried at the side of W.W. Harrison in Oakland
Cemetery. Susan was the wife of Samuel Hatchett. This letter was sent to
me by Matthew Hatchett, a descendant of Susan and Samuel.
Jan. the 5th 1854
Dear Sue
As I have finished writing a letter to Lizzie Jones, I will
before stopping write a short epistle to you, although I have little to say. We
have been here but a short time and consequently have seen very little of the
city as yet, but we intend going out soon, perhaps tomorrow if the day is
pleasant. I have been quite low-spirited since I have been here, but are now
getting over those bad feelings. We are going to take an evening walk, this
evening for the first time. We intend visiting all the places of amazements
before long and then I will have something to write that will
interest you. We moved to our boarding house on yesterday, and now we are better
contented. We live on Chestnut St. boarding with a private family; Mrs. Bower is
a widow and a Yankee. She is very pleasant indeed and we all like her very much,
she has a great many flowers, and offers me a box of slips to take home with me,
of which I accepted very madly, thanking her for her kindness. And sister you
must take good care of our cuttings and when I get home we will fix up our yard
city fashion, I have taken that walk that I was speaking of and I saw some of
the most beautiful yards that I ever saw in my life. Oh they were lovely, they
are laid off so pretty, and more roses of every variety, and cedars and
arborvitaes as high as a house, trimmed up in every shape you could think of. I
never saw such yards in all my life.
The this night I had a very bad headache and something, and was frighten almost
to death, and brother & Fran laughed at me so much that I was ashamed of
myself, but it was caused from eating mackerel for supper and eating supper very
late. We are very fashionable here indeed; we dine at three and tea at 7. I did
not like it at all at first but I don't mind it so much now. Tell sister
that little cloak pattern she has is all the fashion here for little girls made
____ of white worsted, children of Ann and Emma's size, they are very pretty and
they have for children Little hoods made of satin inside and out and they are
pretty that is all that I know of at the present in the way of fashions. Those
little cloaks are trimmed in narrow white satin ribbon two or three rows around
the shirt and cape. Now I have written to sister on the 1st and you on the 5th
and if I don't get a letter from
someone of you soon I will almost go crazy. Write and write and write a long
letter
For it will be a great source of satisfaction to me. I can assure you, I have
been looking for a letter for some time from Ms. Hatchett but have not received
one word from home yet, now if you all were placed in my situation I would keep
you busy reading letters from me. Do be kind enough to drop me a line or two. Ms
Hatchett to write I know you will if no one else will. I believe I have written
you all this that I have on hand. Tell Gentry I have just missed the Banner of
the 21st , but have not made it yet as I was writing this letter when brother
gave it to me. Give him my respects and tell I would like to see him very much.
Is Preston gone and where to? Has Mrs. Sharpe moved? And Sue how do you come on
are you well or sick, though I expect your health is betwixed and between.
If you let anyone see this letter, I will not like it, except sister. I
want her to read it. Who is clerk in our store, and who has left and who has
come to Trenton since I left there, who is in Mr. Hatchett's store. Sue write me
word everything that has happened
big or little, young or small. I want to know all.
Sister you must write to me soon, and Sue please do write, for I know one word
from home would almost kill me. Don't be uneasy about me, we are all doing
finely, there is no _____ no hear that we know of. Kiss Ann And Emma for me for
the gracious knows I want to see them. I tell you there is no place in the world
like home and if were I get there I will stick to it like the bark on a tree,
but don't tell people that I am so dissatisfied for I expect I will be better
satisfied after while. Tell Eliza I want to see her too, and Jim, and Kissiah,
tell them all ______ me. Tell Mr. Hatchett not to sell his place for the world.
____ Nancy sends her love to you and says see all of his children and send
her word how they are, she is have dead to get to get home to the ____ house
once more. Sister send me one side of ham and a piece of corn bread. Give Mariah
a shake of the paw for me. Miss. Martha if you don't write to me I never
will forgive you in the world, send me a great big pack of letters from you all,
give my love to Mrs. McGee and tell her I would like to hear from her
occasionally. You all may have every bit of my love, so good by write soon.
Your devoted sister
Sallie E. Scrape
Every one of our family are gone to bed but me, and I am going to read the
Banner yet. Has Col. McGee come home yet?
