Sallie Darlington to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 4 August 1860

[From Sallie Darlington in West Chester, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She responds to Elizabeth's questions about the possibility of her daughter Georgiana attending Sallie's school in West Chester.]

West Chester
August 4th 1860

My dear Mrs. Bowditch,

I have only waited for my leisure day to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and lest I should be interrupted before finishing, I will proceed at once to reply to that part of it which most requires an answer; your questions with reference to Georgiana.1 I assure you I feel very much flattered by the confidence you place in me, and should be very happy to be able to meet your wishes in every respect. My recollections of G'a are very pleasant, and it would give me pleasure to have her with me if you think she would be happy and contented here. I feel there is an immense responsibility resting on anyone who has the care of a young lady of her age, still my regard for you is such that at your wish, I would be willing to assume that responsibility, and endeavor to discharge my duty as faithfully as possible.

At the request of many of our best citizens, we propose commencing in the Fall (as a separate branch of our Normal School) a female Institute (not a boarding school, but for young ladies of the town), which we shall endeavor to make all that it should be. It will be conducted by competent teachers under my immediate supervision and with my assistance in some branches, among others the languages, and should G'a be here under my care, of course I would prefer having her attend a school where I could control her studies and actions generally. You ask as to when she had better come. As regards climate I do not suppose it would make any difference with her whether she came in the Fall or Spring. At the schools here there are at all times students from the extreme southern states and the West Indies, and they appear to suffer no inconvenience from climate. Our town stands high and dry and is proverbially healthy; we attribute it partly to that, that our schools have always been so flourishing.

And now, my dear Mrs. Bowditch, I believe I have replied to your question fully and frankly, as you know is my manner, and you must be guided by your own judgment and wishes in the matter. I cannot exactly make out G'a's age, though I suppose she must be about fourteen, is she not? Is she musical? We hope to have good advantages in our school with regard to music.

How much I was interested in hearing concerning all our Tarboro friends; I can close my eyes, and in my mind, see every thing and everybody as plainly as though I had left there but yesterday. I was indeed surprised to hear of Mr. Owen's2 change of faith, for I thought him a man firmly fixed in all his views.

As I feared, I have been interrupted in my letter, and wishing to send it by today's mail, I must conclude hastily, with kindest regards to Mr. Bowditch3 and G'a and a kiss to my boy.4

With much love,

Yours sincerely,

Sallie

I forgot to say that our school session opens Sept 17th, but of course pupils enter at any time.

  1. Georgiana Abbot Bowditch (1848-1927), Elizabeth's daughter
  2. Thomas Robinson Owen (1809-1882)
  3. Joseph Henry Bowditch (1818-1900), Elizabeth's husband
  4. Frederick Darlington Bowditch (1859-1920), Elizabeth's son