[Lydia] Maria [Child] ALS to Anna Loring, January 9, 1844

Gibbons thought that Sarah, the
oldest daughter, better have it first,
and so bequeath it to Lucy bye and
bye. Accordingly, I sent it to her
on the 1'st of January, with hair,
cheeks and lips newly painted,
and bearing the inscription,
"From Louisa Loring, of Boston."
It gave great delight.

I have all your presents laid up;
even to your first effort in worsted
work; the little holder with red and
yellow squares, which you sat up so
late to finish for me, when I was
going to Northampton. As for
"forgetting" you, I should as soon
think of forgetting my swallows,
or the patty-pan pie my dear
mother always made for me at
Thanksgiving. The idea of forgetting

{written perpendicularly in the right margin}

John sends love, and thanks you for your nice little note,
and present.

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