Mary (Chapin) Burt - April 24, 1870 - Orange Prairie, IL

Orange Prairie Apr. 24, 1870

Dear Mother and All,

It is a long time since I have written to you and some time since I have heard from any of you. I am thinking, that you have long ago considered me among the selfish, inconsiderate - un-mindful, that perhaps there are those who may be waiting to receive some word from poor me, - thinking that I am forgetful of the dutry I owe those at home.

Full well do I know that I am deserving of a denial of forgiveness in so doing and will not beg for pardon. I will not attempt excuses, for it would be but mockery.

I will now introduce another sub-ject. - I am now about nine or ten miles from Peoria teaching, ‘a country school marm’ I suppose you would call me. The school numbers about 23 - that number enrolled. perhaps there will be about 25. One week of teaching has passed, and the scholars have been so far very docile. But perhaps they may turn me out of the school for inefficiency before I have taught very long. I do feel as if I had not a very good tact, or lack head knowledge or something; perhaps experience may assist me some. It is a sphere for which as yet I feel illy prepared. Because instead of gaining information and acquiring such (information) as is necessary, it seems as thought I had for-gotten even the little I did know. Some-times I feel as if, that through all the trials, fears, hopes, anxieties the senses were benumbed and heart and brain have lost their action.

Nora is still in Galesburg. How long she will remain there I cannot tell, her home is uncertain. She feels the separation homeless as she is, sadly. Lizzie is in Perrys-burg but I have not heard from her for some time. Willie is in Peoria with Grandfather - all separated, and what lies in the future for them I cannot tell - God only knows. ‘He doeth all things well,’ although his ways are not discernible to us. Sometimes I feel as if the burden was almost too heavy, often my heart sinks, but the Lord will not inflict more than we are able to bear. Then too I know I have many things to be thank-ful, for strength to labor, for health, and trust that He will endow me with capac-ity to work wherever the task may be assigned and hope I may prove faithful in all that I do.

Mrs. Gleason is dead, she that was Mary Cooper I have not yet learned the circumstances of her death. She had never been well after I left there. I suppose I have distant relatives living in Galesburg. Nora says there is a boy by the name of Willie Chapin that attends school; he said his parents had a Chapin Genealogy so I conclude they belong to the Chapin family Do you hear from Hannah often? Give my love to H. McNeil and Louisa. Mother Burt’s health is quite poor; she does not seem to recover from the fatigue, the result I presume of moving and work that she did before coming out to Peoria. Welling’s family were well when I left them.

I was at church and Sabbath School today The sermon was so lengthy, after sitting in Sabbath School, the walk of nearly a mile that I really felt so weary that made me somewhat doubt my physical strength to endre so much hardship. but that is an accompaniment of teaching country schools. As it is time that I must retire I will close this unin-teresting epistle, presuming you will be willing to acknowledge that the end is welcome. Write soon and direct to Peoria Ill. Care R. W. Burt. Box 498.