This letter continues their May 20 “discussion” about friendship. We find out that what seems to be banter about Chester’s letters “trying Emma’s patience,” was caused by the secrets that Chester and Emma were keeping from each other.
Walton, New York June 12, 1876
Friend Emma,
As my last gave a pleasant surprise and terribly tried your patience, likewise I hesitate a little in answering so soon. But as that pen to which you ascribe all the faults may have been laid aside, I venture to write a few lines hoping that they may reach you before you leave Pike St. on the 15th of June—is the time set for leaving I believe.
The weather seems very warm here at present but perhaps it is quite cool and pleasant compared with the atmosphere of the city.
Since I wrote you last I have made a short trip to Sull. Co. on a fishing excursion…Four of us left Walton one week ago today and came home last Friday having had a good time…
First tell me a little more of cousin Addie—who her parents are…
I believe I told you that I formed my judgement from things that coincided with that which your own words said.
One of those things was a sentence quoted in my last, signed by one of your own family, and sealed by the same seal of that letter of which we have had so much talk.
Furthermore I found these words in the same letter, “don’t tell Emma.”
I have not told you all yet and of course had not ought to have to, as much as I have been requested not to tell by one of your own family, whom you expect and want me to believe, of course.
The quotation was found in that envelope of which you have inquired so much. There seems to be something—something connected with it that you don’t tell me and also something that I don’t tell you.
In every one of your letters I imagine there is something devised by you to bring light upon this one point as you might think that by asking me fairly and straight out that I might decline giving you the desired information.
Then again I think you must know all that is so closely joined with any of your letters therefore I remain undecided looking for the secret in the future.
The sentence quoted is what I saw and not what I heard. In court every thing is supposed to be the truth until proved to the contrary.
Write soon, but save your patience.
Yours etc.
Previous Posts
1. Is that the New Teacher?
2. The Math Tutor
3. Chester Beers to Friend Emma, Correspondence Continues
4. What is the News? October 29, 1869
5. The Merry Laugh of the Village School
6. Teaching Advice in a Poem
7. I Would Not Wait for Erie’s Train
8. 1870 Highland
9. Mrs. Prindle’s Soliloquy
10. February 28, 1870, What Is the News?
11. Who Teaches in the Village, April 1870
12. Fair Hagan’s Pool, June 1870
13. Shades of Night, 1870
14. Deposit, New York, 1871
15. Dear Father, January 1872
16. Emma Attends Albany Normal, March 1872
17. Lumberland Schoolhouse, 1872
18. Verdant Meadows, June 1, 1873
19. I Have Been Very Busy, August 30, 1873
20. 1874–1875
21. 1876, A Challenging Year
22. Impossible To Be Your Friend, 187623. The Old Schoolhouse, May 1876
24. Centennial 1876
