I often think with satisfaction of the quiet, healthful and pleasant time I passed at Litchfield, and feel a strong desire to know something of the friends and acquaintances I made there. After your own family, no one recurs to my mind with so much interest as Miss Sheddon. I felt myself peculiarly fortunate to find in the same house so amiable and intelligent a companion—if she is near you this winter pray present my best regards to her, and tell her I shall take it very unkind of her if she ever came to New York without giving me the pleasure of seeing her at my house. [Illustration: PL. LVIII.—MARIA ADAMS (MRS. HENRY TALLMADGE), PUPIL, 1802 From oil portrait ] Aunt Sally is in the full enjoyment of all her faculties and of her health, which is uncommonly good this winter—I hope you are as much delighted as she is with the life of Hannah Moore. I remember you were very impatient for its appearance; she is most enthusiastic in its praise—it ever lays open on her table. I want to know your opinion of it, though I think it cannot but be favorable, but my paper admonishes me to have done, and I have more messages than I have room for from Pendleton to the Miss Braces, and from Edmund to the little Abbeys—I would fain send some myself to my kind Dr. Buel—do, if you see him, tell him his little patient is grown a fat robust fellow, nor would I omit Mrs. Talmadge, Mrs. Wolcott and her family, and Mrs. Harrison—I hope Mrs. Jones too and her son are well. If circumstances permit I hope to find myself under her roof next summer, though I fear I shall have to go another way—Edmund is very desirous to go to Mrs. Jones for he wants to go again for Dr. Abbey’s cows, & Phil thinks he will by that time be old enough to be of the party, and besides he thinks Mrs. Jones has got no little boy now to read to her in the bible—and help her pick cucumbers— I hope that your health, (never very robust), has at least been as good as usual this winter, my dear Miss Pierce—present my warmest regards to Miss Mary Pierce and your excellent Brother, together with all the good wishes of the New Year for a continuance of your present earthly happiness—I hope you will occupy some leisure half hour in giving me the gratification of a letter from you— believe me your sincerely attached— ANNA P. ROGERS. MY DEAR AUNT:[75] It has been my intention for some time to address a letter to you, but circumstances have hitherto prevented, and as nothing very interesting has occurred it has seemed almost useless for me to attempt to amuse or interest you. The desire to write to one I so highly esteem and dearly love overcomes every obstacle, and the anticipation of its being acceptable to you inspires me with confidence to proceed.