Quinby, Upshur Balderstone, 1841-1898Boston, June 15th 1871.
Dear Mrs Quinby,
On my return from a Journey to Washington some days since, found a letter from Mrs Rice, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Austin awaiting me.
Enclosed, was one from yourself to Mrs Joshua Blake her Grand Mother. When I wrote you some years since, I did not mention (supposing that you had heard through our friend Mrs Austin) that her Mother was no longer here. She died a
year previous, and I think Sarah never recovered from the shock, for she was devotedly fond of her Mother, and justly, for she was a truly noble woman.
Mr Austin passes his winters generally in New York; in summer he is with his Sister in the Western part of the State.
Gertrude the eldest daughter, is still unmarried and makes her home with Mrs Saml. Lawrence at Staten Island.
Sallie has married a relation, Mr Francis Blake Rice of Worcester Mass, and is very happy.
With regard to the miniature of which you write, Mrs Rice says she "regrets she cannot give any information as to its whereabouts" Probably, it is among her Mother's things packed in several trunks, and stored many miles from Sallie's place of residence, but "ungetatable until the place is cleared out," as S. writes me. She says "I am very sorry I cannot send it at once, for I am sure it will be of great value to Mrs. Quinby's Son. I presume in course of time it will appear and then Mrs Q. shall have it.
I remember, myself, seeing it
