Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

740

PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAMr COUNTY

school in this district but the Rolfe school, for my mother in her
letter farther on speaks of the school house being one mile away.)
"The whole vicinity are crazy about mesmerism, Millerism,
end of the world, and every other 'ism that can be known or mentioned. Yours, &c Morris."
A postscript is dated April 4th, 1843, in which he says: "Since
the date which stands at the head of this letter we have had 18
inches of snow, but it is thawing today and although the snow is
two and one-half feet deep in the woods, I think 'Old Sol' will
soon drive it off.
"Your letter of lMarch 19th received yest clrday and we unseal
our letter to reply ro some of the matters therein. I hlave made
David an offer for his land, both lots, but I see from your letter
that he has sold one to Mr. Marshall. You can say to Mr. Marshall for me that this is no place for him, he would starve to death
here, I am sure, as he can raise nothing next season if lie does not
come until spring, and he can get neither money nor victuals for
work. Yours as ever, Morris."
Then comes that part of the letter written by Charlotte Chapin
(to her sisters who remained at home) as throwing some light on
the social activities of the times, she writes: "Dear Sisters-I
did not intend to write again untill I heard from you, but I have
waited untill I am tired and conclude to try again. I would like
to know in what you are so much engaged to prevent you from
writing-perhaps, like the people hereabouts, you expect the
world to come to an end in the spring and do not think it worth
while to write, but we should like to hear from Lakeville once more
first.
"I suppose you would like to know what we have for society
here in the woods as they call it. We do pretty well, Jane goes
one day (or rather night, for their calls are made from dark untill
2 o'clock) and I go the next, and we both stay at home the next
to receive company, for that is the fashion and of course we must
follow it. About 11 or 12 o'clock we have some pork and 'taters'
and tea and then we dismiss after singing a few psalm tunes. I
wish you could be here one night, you would laugh enough to last
you one month I reckon.
"Our first company consisted of four couples and one odd onea kind of Methodist exhorter-as we had no chairs, except those