Emma Austin contracted tuberculosis (known as consumption). Emma must have written Chester that her brothers Lon (and Ell) left for the West to find work. At some point they settled near Solomon, Kansas.
It was hoped that the dry air in Kansas would help cure Emma. Lon was preparing a house for Emma to live in.
Walton, July 28, 1878, to Miss Emma E. Austin, Eldred
Friend Emma,
Yours of the 17 is at hand to which I’ll try and answer now, but it must necessarily be short, as my time is much limited to day.
I might grumble at your long silence if I did not know that one is not always expected to be in humor to write. The warmest heart perhaps only feels by fits and is often as insensible as the coldest. This at least is frequently the case with mine and oftener than it should be. But the mercy that can forgive iniquities will never be severe to mark our frailties…
Ida has been silent for a long time now, but I have the satisfaction of being perfectly sure that as long as she remains indebted she will think of me twice as often as if the account were clear.
Then Lon is going West. It may be a good idea but I never got the fever. I have a brother in Iowa who I think is as poor there as I be here.
I suppose you expect to improve in health before you keep house much. I can not tell whether I shall visit Sull. this year or not. I am very busy in harvest now. Can’t get away before the last of Aug. if I can then.
As Ida remains in N. York I don’t think I have any promise to meet but without doubt could enjoy a visit should I feel like spending the time.
Where is Miss Brunett this summer? I would like to get a little more acquainted with her. When you see her you can give her my address and tell her if she is found of writing she may enlarge her list of correspondents by adding to it my name.
Tell the girls to practice croquet for I may be there yet. Miss Kelso I would like to see her and have a game. And what is Maria’s beau’s name? Do tell. Where did she find him? Has Maria got over being mad at me? I want to know that before I come.
Write soon and tell me what you wanted, too.
Yours truly, Chester Beer
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, 1876
23. The Old Schoolhouse, May 1876
24. Centennial 1876
26. Save Your Patience, June 1876
27. More 1876 Centennial Images
28. Old Acquaintance, February 1877
29. New York Visit? 1877
30. Fall 1877
31. Letter to Miss Aida Austin, October 1877
31B. Aida Receives Another Letter, December 1877
32. School, January 1878
