Emily Dickinson - 9 lyrics

Amherst, Jan. 12, 1846. Abiah my dear, Since I received your precious letter another year has commenced its course, & the old year has gone never to return. How sad it makes one feel to sit down quietly and think of the flight of the old year, and the unceremonious obtrusion of the new year opon our notice. How many things we have omitted to do which might have cheered a human heart, or whispered hope in the ear of the sorrowful, and how many things have we done over which the dark mantle of regret will ever fall. How many good resolutions did I make at the commencement of the year now flown, merely to break them and to feel more than ever convinced of the weakness of my own resolutions. The New Years day was unusually gloomy to me, I know not why, and perhaps for that reason a host of unpleasant reflections forced themselves opon me which I found not easy to throw off. But I will no longer sentimentalize opon the past for I cannot recall it. I will, after inquiring for the health of my dear Abiah, relapse into a more lively strain. I can hardly have patience to write, for I have not seen you for so long that I have worlds of things to tell you and my pen is not swift enough to answer my purpose at all. However I will try to make it communicate as much information as possible and wait to see your own dear self once more before I relate all my thoughts which have come and gone since I last saw you. I suppose from your letter that you are enjoying yourself finely this winter at Miss C[ampbell']s school. I would give a great deal if I was there with you. I dont go to school this winter except to a recitation in German. Mr Coleman has a very large cla** and father thought I might never have another opportunity to study it. It takes about an hour and a half to recite. Then I take music lessons and practise 2 hours in a day and besides these two I have a large stand of plants to cultivate. This is the principal round of my occupation this winter. Abby stays at home & I must stay to keep her company you know. I have just seen a funeral procession go by of a negro baby, so if my ideas are rather dark you need not marvel. Since I last wrote you there have [been] a number of changes in Amherst. In the first place Mr David Parsons has taken a wife to be the solace of his old age. She is a very superior lady. She has been a widow this number of years. Mr P. found her in Hartford. She has a daughter about 20 years old, who is going to set up a dress makers shop here. I am glad he has got a good wife to take care of his children. A. Tyler has gone to Bradford to school for a year. Mr and Mrs Carter have moved to Boston and their little charge, Lily Baker, has gone to Ashfield to live. Mr Baker has gone to Northampton to live. Mr Holland has been to the west, & brought home a niece just Sophias age whom he has adopted as his daughter in Sophias place. She resembles Sophia very much & Mr Holland seems happier than he has for this long while before. Jane Houghton has gone to the south this winter to remain until her sister comes home. Martha Gilbert has gone to Pittsfield to school. Dr Gridley has gone representative to Boston, this winter. I believe now that I have told the principal things which have taken place here since I wrote you last. Some persons have moved into town and some moved out. I think there are more strangers than usual in town this winter. It would really be remarkable to call opon a lady who has not a sister, Niece or cousin spending the winter with her. The Ladys Sewing Circle is very large this winter. I do not go though most of the girls near my age do. Mother thinks it not best for me to go into society so soon. They met at our house last time, and it was as much as we could do to wait on them as there are about 50 who attend. They had a sale the eve before New Years, so that all might purchase presents for their friends could have the privilege of so doing, and they had a fine time. Oh! Did you hang up your stocking Christmas. Old Santa Claus was very polite to me the last Christmas. I hung up my stocking on the bedpost as usual. I had a Perfume Bag and a bottle of Otto Rose to go with it. A sheet of music, a China mug with Forget me not opon it from Sarah Sears, who by the way is as handsome, entertaining and as fine a Piano player as in former times, a Toilet cushion, a Watch case, a Fortune teller, and an amaranthine stock of Pin cushions and Needlebooks which in ingenuity and art would rival the works of Scripture Dorcas. I found abundance of candy in my stocking which I do not think has had the anticipated effect opon my disposition, in case it was to sweeten it, also two hearts at the bottom of all which I thought looked rather ominous, but I will not enter into any more details for they take up more room than I can spare. Haven't we had delightful weather for a week or two. It seems as if Old Winter had forgotten himself. Dont you believe he is absent minded. It has been bad weather for colds, however. I have had a severe cold for a few days and can sympathize with you, though I have been delivered from a stiff neck. I think you must belong to the tribe of Israel for you know in the bible the prophet calls them a stiff necked generation. I have lately come to the conclusion that I am Eve, alias Mrs Adam. You know there is no account of her d**h in the bible, and why am not I Eve. If you find any statements which you think likely to prove the truth of the case I wish you would send them to me without delay. Have you heard a word from H. Merrill or S. Tracy. I consider them lost sheep. I send them a paper every week on Monday but I never get one in return. I am almost a mind to take a hand car and go around to hunt them up. I cant think that they have forgotten us, and I know of no reason unless they are sick why they should delay so long to show any signs of remembrance. Do write me soon a very long letter, and tell me all about your school and yourself too. Your affectionate friend Emily E. Dickinson. Viny wishes not to be forgotten in her share of love. Now if you dont answer this letter soon I shall - I shall do something dreadful. So if you wish to save me the commission of some terrible deed you must write me very soon. Are you not coming to Amherst this winter. I wish father would let me go down to Springfield to see you - and then we could talk over old times. I suppose you are getting along finely in music. I had forgotten to ask after your adorable Mr Eastcott. There are a number of additions to the society of girls my age this winter. Mrs S. Mack has a cousin staying with her, a very pretty girl. Emily Fowler has a cousin with her, Kate Hand by name, a very fine scholar. Then there is a Mrs Sawtelle spending the winter here whose husband is at Washington, who has a daughter Henrietta who attends school. But I would give more to have Harriet Sarah and yourself back than all the new comers. How is your friend Elizabeth Smith this winter. I hope better, though this season is bad for persons who are consumptive. You cannot think how delighted I was to receive your letter. I had almost feared you had forgotten me. I carried it up to Abbys the same day that I received it. Abby sends a great deal of love to you and says she shall write you very soon. Nancy Cutler too sends a great deal of love to you and wants much to hear from you. Why do you not ride over to A. this beautiful sleighing. I should be delighted to see you. Sabra is well and sends much love to you, or would if she knew I was writing.