Hart, Catherine to Sister and Mother, April 16, 1848- Key West, Fla. (1 sheet, 4 leaves)

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[Written at top in different handwriting]
When Anna & Emma were in New Albany 1848


Key West, April 16th 1848

My dear Sister

Some time has elapse[d] since I received your little letter, and as it was the first, should
have received an immediate reply, but circumstances have compelled me to defer it. I
know my dear little sister the embarrassment and many obstacles in the efforts of a young
letter writer and consequently I will excuse all but I must say you have done very well
and your letter was well composed and you must write often and a great deal and try hard
to improve and you will do so. I can remember when Emma first commenced to write,
she did not do as well as this letter you sent to me, and now she can write a beautiful
letter such an [sic] one as I am proud to acknowledge came from a sister of mine. I
received a long letter from Anna about a month ago, they were all well. I suppose you all
feel lonesome with Anna & Emma away. You must miss Emma very much, how has Ma
got along during their absence? You must write me the very next day after you get this,
do not neglect it and tell me all about home, and about Newark and every thing you
know. What has become of Charly? I suppose he never thinks of his sister Cate, it seems
impossible for me to get out one word from him. You cannot imagine how much I want
to see you all it is now nearly five years since I left home, that is a long, long time to live
without seeing my Parents or brothers or sisters, do you remember brother Ossian, he
remembers you and often speaks of you and how much he would enjoy a trip North, but it
will probably be some years yet before he will visit home, talks strongly of sending me
on next summer, his business is so he cannot leave. You must give my love to all who
remember me and do not forget to write me soon as you get this, if you do not and I
should visit home this summer I would be on my way before it arrives. The book markes
[sic] you sent me are very pretty and I prize them as pledges of affection from my Little
Sister Charlotte. I have many little presents laid up for you and which I would send if a
good opportunity offered but if not you must wait until [sic] I come and in the meantime
do not forget-

Your affectionate Sister
Cate


To Miss [C.J.?] Campbell

My dear Mother

It has been so long since I received a letter from home and so long since I have written,
that some times I almost forget I have any other home than this I see around me, but now
and then I am arroused [sic] from the lethargy in which I have fallen by Ossian informing
me a mail has arrived, of course my next question is any letters from home, his usual









reply is, no and adds how can you expect any [if] you never write, this I know in some
respects is true. I do not write as often as I might, but if, when I do write I received a
speedy answer I should feel the more encouraged to write again, but you frequently allow
my letters to lay months unanswered. Ossian is talking strongly of sending me North this
summer, the climate here is very debillitating [sic] in the summer and every one forbodes
a sickly season, but I cannot say whether I will go or not. If I could enjoy a tolerable
share of health I would prefer staying and particularly since the Key will be sickly.
Ossian's business will not permit him to leave and if he gets sick my place is by the side
of him. I have had one trial of his being sick away from me and I do not want to try it
again. Thus you see how we are situated and what I shall do remains for time to decide.
My own health is anything but good and it appears the more I try to obtain relief the more
the sym[p]toms are aggravated. I have been under a doctor's hands for more than a year
until Ossian and myself are completely disgusted with them and their nostrums [?]. My
throat is a constant trouble to me, has inberated [?] several times severl[e]y. I begin to
think it may result in something serious, unless a sea voyage and change of air and diet
will do what everything else has failed to. The diet here is such as I have never been
accustomed to and it does not agree with me, such a thing as vegetables cannot be bought
for love or money, in fact the people never have any and those who have lived on the Key
a long time I suppose have forgotten that such things are fit to eat. We live altogether on
salt meats and rice hommony [hominy] and flour for breadstuffs. It is true we have many
privations to under go and much to bear, but of course it is not without its recompense. I
have heard Ossian say for the practice of Law it is the best place in Florida. The
Law[y]ers here frequently make from 6 to 7 hundred dollars on one case. Ossian has
done very well since he has been here and has a prospect of doing much better the
coming [sic] summer. I am sorry he did not come here three years sooner. The climate
and buisness [sic] agrees with him very well, has increased in size until he weighs 190
lbs., is constantly studying and writing which does not seem to pull down his fat any. I
think you would hardly know him he has altered so much. You must feel quite lonesome
with Anna and Emma away. Anna has written me a long letter and given me a full
description of the West and our Western relations many of them I have never seen. Your
only sister and our Aunt Anna says is not the least like you. I have always thought so,
she says she is very dressy, not so plain as our mother. Anna's letter is really a beautiful
one, and I do feel proud to see so pretty a production from Anna. She used to be so wild
and giddy I feared she would never apply herself to learn, but how happily has she
disappointed my fears. It gives Ossian and myself great pleasure to receive their letters.
Emma is also improving very fast and bids fair to be an intelligent woman. I hope they
may do well and be the instruments of doing much good in the world. I think the greatest
accomplishment a lady can possess is the art of writing a pretty letter. Oh! How often
and sadly have I lamented not improving [sic] the powers and opportunities I have had
for excelling in this accomplishment. I find I have much taste for composi[ti]on, but I
have neglected my handwriting so long and have become so careless about it that I take
but little pride in exerting my powers, for a letter may be very prettily composed and if
badly written it looses [sic] the greater part of its beauty. I will not say I am coming, do
not look for me. Uncle & Aunty visit you this summer when I last heard from [them]
they were all well do answer this soon love to Pa & Grandma and all & the folks at
Morristown. Remember me to all who enquire after and believe me to be your










Affectionate Daughter
Cate S. Hart

Tell Pa we have an order of the Sons of Temperance here and Ossian is the Worthy
Patriarch. We have a mail every month, do write and send us some papers any kind will
be acceptable.


Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009

PAGE 1

[Written at top in different handwriting] When Anna & Emma were in New Albany 1848 Key West, April 16th 1848 My dear Sister Some time has elapse[d] since I received your l ittle letter, and as it was the first, should have received an immediate reply, but circum stances have compelled me to defer it. I know my dear little sister the embarrassmen t and many obstacles in the efforts of a young letter writer and consequently I will excuse all but I must say you have done very well and your letter was well composed and you must write often and a great deal and try hard to improve and you will do so. I can remember when Emma first commenced to write, she did not do as well as this letter you sent to me, and now she can write a beautiful letter such an [ sic ] one as I am proud to acknowledge came from a sister of mine. I received a long letter from Anna about a mont h ago, they were all well. I suppose you all feel lonesome with Anna & Emma away. You must miss E mma very much, how has Ma got along during their absence? You must write me the very next day after you get this, do not neglect it and tell me all about ho me, and about Newark and every thing you know. What has become of Charly? I suppose he never thinks of his sister Cate, it seems impossible for me to get out one word from him. You cannot imagine how much I want to see you all it is now nearly fi ve years since I left home, th at is a long, long time to live without seeing my Parents or brothers or sisters, do you re member brother Ossian, he remembers you and often speaks of you and how mu ch he would enjoy a trip North, but it will probably be some years yet before he wi ll visit home, talks strongly of sending me on next summer, his business is so he cannot le ave. You must give my love to all who remember me and do not forget to write me soon as you get this, if you do not and I should visit home this summer I would be on my way before it arrives. The book markes [ sic ] you sent me are very pretty and I prize th em as pledges of affection from my Little Sister Charlotte. I have many little presents laid up for you and which I would send if a good opportunity offered but if not you must wait untill [ sic ] I come and in the meantime do not forget— Your affectionate Sister Cate To Miss [C.J.?] Campbell My dear Mother It has been so long since I received a letter from home and so long since I have written, that some times I almost forget I have any other home than this I see around me, but now and then I am arroused [ sic ] from the lethargy in which I have fallen by Ossian informing me a mail has arrived, of course my next que stion is any letters from home, his usual

PAGE 2

reply is, no and adds how can you expect a ny [if] you never write, this I know in some respects is true. I do not wr ite as often as I might, but if when I do write I received a speedy answer I should feel the more encour aged to write again, but you frequently allow my letters to lay months unanswered. Ossian is talking strongly of sending me North this summer, the climate here is very debillitating [ sic ] in the summer and every one forbodes a sickly season, but I cannot say whether I will go or not. If I c ould enjoy a tolerable share of health I would prefer staying and particularly since the Key will be sickly. OssianÂ’s business will not permit him to leave an d if he gets sick my place is by the side of him. I have had one trial of his being si ck away from me and I do not want to try it again. Thus you see how we are situated and wh at I shall do remains for time to decide. My own health is anything but good and it appears the more I try to obtain relief the more the sym[p]toms are aggravated. I have been under a doctorÂ’s hands for more than a year untill Ossian and myself are co mpletely disgusted with them and their nostrums [?]. My throat is a constant trouble to me, has inberated [?] several times severl[e]y. I begin to think it may result in something serious, unl ess a sea voyage and cha nge of air and diet will do what everything else has failed to. Th e diet here is such as I have never been accustomed to and it does not agree with me, such a thing as vegetables cannot be bought for love or money, in fact the people never have any and those who have lived on the Key a long time I suppose have forgotten that such things are fit to eat. We live altogether on salt meats and rice hommony [hominy] and flour fo r breadstuffs. It is true we have many privations to under go and much to bear, but of course it is not without its recompense. I have heard Ossian say for the practice of Law it is the best place in Florida. The Law[y]ers here frequently make from 6 to 7 hundred dollars on one case. Ossian has done very well since he has been here a nd has a prospect of doing much better the comming [ sic ] summer. I am sorry he did not come here three years sooner. The climate and buisness [ sic ] agrees with him very well, has in creased in size un till he weighs 190 lbs., is constantly studying and writing whic h does not seem to pull down his fat any. I think you would hardly know him he has altered so much. You must feel quite lonesome with Anna and Emma away. Anna has wr itten me a long letter and given me a full description of the West and our Western relatio ns many of them I have never seen. Your only sister and our Aunt Anna says is not the least like you. I have always thought so, she says she is very dressy, not so plain as our mother. AnnaÂ’s letter is really a beautiful one, and I do feel proud to see so pretty a pr oduction from Anna. She used to be so wild and giddy I feared she would never apply he rself to learn, but how happily has she disappointed my fears. It gives Ossian and myse lf great pleasure to r eceive their letters. Emma is also improving very fast and bids fair to be an intelligent woman. I hope they may do well and be the instruments of doing mu ch good in the world. I think the greatest accomplishment a lady can possess is the art of writing a pretty letter. Oh! How often and sadly have I lamented not improveing [ sic ] the powers and opportunities I have had for excelling in this accomplishment. I find I have much taste for composi[ti]on, but I have neglected my handwriting so long and have become so careless about it that I take but little pride in exerting my powers, for a letter may be very prettily composed and if badly written it looses [ sic ] the greater part of its beaut y. I will not say I am coming, do not look for me. Uncle & Aunty visit you this summer when I last heard from [them] they were all well do answer this soon love to Pa & Grandma and all & the folks at Morristown. Remember me to all who e nquire after and believe me to be your

PAGE 3

Affectionate Daughter Cate S. Hart Tell Pa we have an order of the Sons of Temperance here and Ossian is the Worthy Patriarch. We have a mail every month, do writ e and send us some papers any kind will be acceptable. Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009