Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
S1837 |
Title |
Letter from Sarah Haven Foster regarding Sunday School anniversary, 1838 |
Scope & Content |
Two-page letter from Sarah H[aven] Foster in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to her cousin Ellen [Eleanor Wardrobe Thacher] regarding the twentieth anniversary of the [South Parish] Sunday School. Dated July 5, 1838. Describes her family, including her parents and aunt Abby; the weather; running through the woods with her sister Mary; the landscape along the coast; the anniversary activities and refreshments; and a desire for summer travel to Saco, [Maine]. She says Mr. Shores and her father [John Welsh Foster] spoke at the event. She also mentions Mr. Hayes. She includes a postscript saying she enclosed a copy of the odes sung during the ceremony [not included, but see MS039, box 24, folder 12, for a broadside listing the odes sung]. Transcription: [Page 1] Portsmouth July 5th 1838. Dear cousin Ellen, As mother thinks that you would like an account of our late Sunday School celebration, I will give you as good a one as I am able. It was a beautiful day, not very warm, nor cold, as pleasant as anybody could wish. We all came together at our school house, at half past one. As soon as a class was formed it set off. We had to wait a long while before we could go. Some barouchs [barouches] and chaises went down, and many of the children rode. We then all went down to the place prepared. It was a beautiful place, rocks and hills and woods all round, and a fine open spot for the benches, which were a little way from the tables. We all waited on the benches till a hand bell was rung, when Mr Shores began to speak to us on the occasion. We then sang the first ode and then dispersed for about an hour and a half. Mary and I took a run in the woods. We did not find many flowers, but some pretty mosses, and a hillock covered as thick as it could be with ants. We did not know what they were after. The boys found a turkey's nest. We then scrambled up a high rock, from which we had a fine prospect. We could see all round, the sea and ships and the lighthouse on one side and woods on the other sides. We brought father and mother and aunt Abby up there afterwards. As mother was walking in the woods she came across a party of ladies and gentlemen singing. We found another party afterwards. We then went and looked at the tables. There were two in this form. They looked very pretty indeed. They were long enough to accommodate almost three hundred children. [Page 2] Their edges were hung with festoons of oak leaves, with a bunch of flowers at the top of each festoon. The table was covered with cake and fruit of all kinds, and pots of flowers. Every large cake had flowers in it. One plum cake had a rose bush in it. At the head of the tables was an arch on which was written "The twentieth Anniversary of the S. P. Sunday School," in pine leaves. At the other end of the table was a bank for the speaker. The bell now rung, and we all formed a procession, the boys first and Mr Hayes at the head. The teachers walked side by side. We marched round the table and then stood round it, and sung the second ode. Father then spoke a few words, and asked a blessing, and then the teachers handed round the cake and fruit to the children. Water was the only drink, and very good water it was. The visitors all sat on the rocks and benches, till we had done, and then they came to the table. We then sang the last ode, and at some one's request, the first one, and [sic] Old Hundred. We then formed [a] procession 'till off the grounds, and then were dismissed. We got home soon after seven. It was a lovely evening. I suppose your mother will send this to Portland. I should like to go to Saco, very much but do not think we can this summer. I am glad to hear that you like your school, and that Miss Cross is kind to you. Good bye, give my love to aunt Thacher and cousins. Your affectionate cousin Sarah H Foster. P.S. I thought you would like a copy of the odes which I send to you. |
Admin/Biographical History |
According to the meeting minutes of the South Parish Sunday School, the twentieth-anniversary celebration of the school was held on June 19, 1838. The event took place on the farm of Abner Greenleaf at Sagamore Creek in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Odes were written for the occasion by James T. Fields and Louisa Simes. |
Creator |
Foster, Sarah Haven, 1827-1900 |
Collection |
Single Items / Small Collections |
Object Name |
Correspondence |
Date |
July 5, 1838 |
Extent of Description |
1 item |
Language of Material |
English |
People |
Foster family Foster, John Welsh, 1789-1852 Foster, Mary (Appleton), 1788-1878 Foster, Mary Appleton, 1829-1913 Foster, Sarah Haven, 1827-1900 Thacher, Eleanor Wardrobe, 1823-1891 Thacher, Elizabeth Haven (Wardrobe), 1798-1879 |
Search Terms |
Portsmouth (N.H.) Sagamore Creek South Church South Parish Sunday School (Court Street) |
Subjects |
Anniversaries Cakes Celebrations Children Churches Correspondence Farms Lighthouses Nature writing Odes Portland (Me.) Saco (Me.) Schools Sunday schools Teachers |
Related units of description |
South Church records, 1714-1976 (MS039). See box 23, folder 8, for a description of the twentieth-anniversary celebration (in meeting minutes). See box 24, folder 12, for the odes sung at the twentieth-anniversary celebration (broadside). |
Relation |
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