[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, to her daughter Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, January 1, 1816]

Mentioned in this letter

Business, Economy, and Travel: Travel
Education, Religion, Literacy, and Culture: Christianity; Gender roles; Music; Schools - Madame Grelaud’s French School
Home, Health, and Social Life: Fashion; Food - Meat
People: Dennis, Henrietta, 1800-1829; Eyre, John, 1768-1855; Grelaud, Aurora, 1792-1878; Grelaud, Marie “Deborah” Claudine D’Espaigne, 1765-1856; Quinby, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, 1801-1875; Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1836; Teackle, Littleton Dennis, 1777-1848

About this letter

Description: Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle while she was attending Madam Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia.
Creator: Teackle, Elizabeth Uphsur
Creation Date: January 1, 1816
Subjects: Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1837; Quinby, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, 1801-1875
Item Type: letter
Identifier: MSS 2338, 2338-a, 2338-b Box 1
Institution: Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Collection: Voices of the Eastern Shore
Place Names: United States - Maryland - Somerset County - Princess Anne; United States - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia County - Philadelphia

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New year's Gift! - 1816

My dearest child, what will it be? Now if you had caught me, I cou'd have found an easy mode of paying you in those said pig's tails, spare bones, or sausages. Well I will be satisfied with a pretty sonnata or french song to be play'd and sung when we meet. Oh, what a thousand pities that I can't send you some of our superb saddles of Mutton, and exquisite boil'd turkies as fat as butter! No one here to partake with us of all these goodies and many more, as your uncle John says, "too tedious to numerate."

I am beautifying your frocks in a high style, if they do but fit you after they are done. In fact I [hope?] [small hole in page] my labours will not be in vain, and that the result will prove an agreeable surprize to my dear girl. I have no greater delight than to work for you and am constantly thinking of you

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as my needle whips through and through so sleekly. The frock I am about now is amazing in Henrietta's opinion. Not withstanding all this exertion to adorn your person Elizabeth, yet I hope your own good sense will shew you, that to dwell on, and spend too much time in dress is both ridiculous and sinful: but on the other hand I think a female shou'd always be well dress'd and give just so much thought to the subject as will enable her to wear the external marks of a lady. Which are appropriateness, and neatness of attire; and once she is attired, she is to forget it, and turn her mind to those reflections and pursuits which are but calculated to emblazon the excellence of her understanding, and to enhance the beauties of her heart. Let these remarks, my love, find a home in your memory, and you will see the day when they will appear of greater magnitude than at your age, you may attach to them.

Your dear father, who loves you more than he tells you, is to leave home again tomorrow,

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for Annapolis. Wou'd that the time were past, and well pass'd, that in its [course?] will restore you to your mother's society. God knows what a privation it is to me to lose your society for 3 years, but cheerfully, most cheerfully, I can bear it, and much more too, to procure you those advantages which every parent shou'd give their child when their circumstances allow it.

Give my love to all my good brothers and sisters. Also to Miss Gale. Mrs. G and her accomplish'd daughter.

Your father's love to you with the prayers for your welfare of your mother.

E.U.T.

You much make your silk frock tell as the saying is 'till I can [page ripped] your others.