Letter To Mary Bruce from E. L. Gray

BRUCE, GRAY, SQUIER

Posted By: Rebecca Stewart (email)
Date: 7/29/2005 at 08:21:04

**Mary Bruce moved from New York to Floyd County Iowa.

Meridian Cayuga ?? April 1858

To: Miss Mary E. Bruce, East Salem, Wash Co, NY

Ever Remembered and Cherished Friend,

Mary I would much rather sit down by your side and talk with you ?? to express my thoughts with pen and ink but circumstances alter courses sometimes and as there are so many miles between us at present I must resort to paper. I am very sorry to hear such news of your Mother for she was bad enough afflicted with her wrist but to have her arm broken is quite so bad. Now Mary I think some of coming home although it will be very hard work for me to get away from ? ? people, they are very anxious for me to remain here but if I want to come back I can. I like living here very much have some firstrate good times. Some very nice people here very friendly sociable ? but give me the good old times even to think of rather than now. and the friends the ?tried and love for all the new acquaintences. I am informed by Allen that you have moved and probably in your ? this you will be all settled. Mary no I would like to stop in at your house some time just as you may expect to have me do at some future time if I am spared to each my home. Shy? it is so long since I have seen you that I should not know what to say first to you but should think of something probably in the course of a couple of hours. I am just as though ?raged? and so say the whole of the ? just as saney as ever. I think some of the camden people are getting to be very good. the last I heard from them was written on Sunday and reads like this – I have taken my pen to write although against my principle to write Sunday, I wish she might think as much of the principle she is acting upon when she is slandering somebody. I don’t know what I have done to her or as I have done any thing I ?imagine? her any way ever; And, I only wish she had half as clear a conscience herself of what she is charging one so falsely as I have. I have a clear conscious myself and trust may ever of any such a charge as that. Mary you waited so long before you wrote to me that I began to think you had got so foolish as to believe the camden ?? and still I would not really believe it for I thought you ?? one to well. I have a chance to find out now who are my friends; and who are not, I received a letter from ?? person the same time I got yours and when I meet you again you can Penn? you would not ? by the way it sends. I had a better friend in the world bu tthinking of this puts one in mind of some poetry I once read, it such this:

When in the worlds expencse we look
His foes we once for friends mistook,
And see them use the Slanderer’s arts
To wound our names and grieve our hearts;
And coward envy slyly this
To back the slanderes ?? her,
Mary Tis men a faithful friend is dear
Who will not forsake who’s ever near;
Who’s ever ready to uphold
The truth before a frowning world

Now when I come home you will see me at your church about the first Sunday expecting to see Mary Bruce there and hope to realize my expectations; ?? understand who you mean by ? I please explain yourself more fully your might cap? full of love I took all to myself as the one you told one to share it with I have not seen when I see you I will tell you all about it. I think perhaps I may come home in May and then if you don’t come and see me just as likely as not I shall come and see you so you had better shose the luck fo the two evils and come and see me. Give a whole heap of love to your brother and father give a great pile for yourself and ?? the rest with Ann and Joshua. Tell your mother I am trying to be just as good as person but think I shall have to come and get some more good advise before long as I have uswed that she give almost ? . I have said it over and over so many times. She will have to tell it over to me have you had any maple sugard this spring? if you come across any just eat a little for me, I am very glad you have got out of camden but never shall I forget the many hours spent in your company while there. and I still hope to have the pleasure of ? now. I think by this time you will be quite tired of such nonsensical mess but hope you will excuse both writing and composition and if you write again write immediately after receiving this and write a long letter but I think I shall be home by the first of June perhaps, If you get this in time ? without fail. Yours in friendship and as ever your friend E. L. Gray?

Though distant lands diide us
And you no more ?
Yet Mary let friendship
Remind you of me

Good Night
Good Night