[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, October 15, 1815]

Princess Anne. October 15^th '15.

My dear Elizabeth

I wrote you by last mail and was disappointed in not hearing from you. Tomorrow I hope I shall be more fortunate. However, I tried to account for it by supposing that having returned to Germantown the afternoon I left you, your letter cou’d not find a conveyance to town in time for the mail, so then I hoped to get two by the next mail. Feeling as I do, the loss of your society most heavily, your letters are the next best source of comfort I have. Therefore, my love, be punctual in writing, either to me or your father. I will not impose on you by requiring you to write to me when you write to him.

I said nothing in my last about the money I was to send you, because I thought I cou’d do it, when I remitted to your Aunt for your use. Since when I have thought that I might buy your

[inserted on the left margin] 16^th Still no letter by this mail. What has happened my dear child, that you do not write. I trust in God you are not sick!

silk frock and flannel here as cheap as in Phil^a, as there is a new store coming to town in a few days, of fancy goods. Therefore, I think the money I left with your Aunt will pay for your bonnet and trunk and I will endeavour to send the other articles by cousin L. Dennis when he returns to Princeton. If I see any thing else that may be useful to you I will send it. Today I shall enclose you 4 dollars for your little expenses, which you will lay out, no doubt, properly. You shall never want money for prudent uses; I will not suffer your mind to be degraded by a sense of dependence or by the want of means to be liberal. Yet, my dear, there is nothing mean in honest poverty. The only difficulty is, to be placed in a situation where others have a right to expect certain things of you, without your having the power to answer the demand. There are certain liberalities expected of certain people which are by no means look’d for from others in a different line or station of life. Thus it is expected of a young lady, brought up by

liberal minded and genteel parents, holding a respectable station in life that she shou’d be liberal minded, genteel and respectable. The fruit is known by the tree.

We have n[othi]ng stirring here that is particularly interesting. My time is fully occupied in my family affairs, and I thank God that I have health to attend to them. Tomorrow I look for your Uncle and Aunt Upshur on their way to Northampton. When does Mr. Eyre return home with your aunt? How are all our friends? Give my sincere love to them all.

I have begun your Aunt Bancker’s handkerchief and also little Anna’s stockings. I am likewise working you a very pretty ruffle, which I hope to finish by the time Littleton goes up. It is intended to be worn when you wear your pelisse. You must not have it starched. It is to be worn turn’d over, not to stand up. When it is wash’d, you must take out the gathering thread and have it wash’d plain and instead of ironing, it must be pinned down on a pillow as you have seen me do fine work. I have great