Letter, Susan B. Anthony to Louise and Dannie Anthony
A letter from Susan B. Anthony to her niece and nephew, Louise and Dannie Anthony. Susan tells the children she is happy they enjoyed their Christmas presents and reminds them write and thank everyone who gave them gifts. She encourages them to think about those who are less fortunate than themselves and not to be envious of people who have more than they do.
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[Letterhead: National Woman Suffrage Association]
St-Charles. Minn – Dec 20th 1877
Dear Niece and Nephew
Louise and Dannie
I found dear Aunt
Mary’s letter here, on arriving, yesterday
P.M – telling what jolly times you
had with your presents from
far & near – & how she
didn’t see any way but to
build on extra to house them –
Well I am glad you had a nice
time – & wish every girl & boy in
all the land had had just as
happy a time. But you must
remember after too, how many
many more poorly folks there are
who are suffering for enough
to eat & drink & keep warm – even
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of the coarsest and homeliest
kind – we should try & think
& feel for those who have less
than we do – rather than be
longing for the more & better
things a few people have, than
we do – How I should love
to have been there at your little
party in your little parlor –
– And Aunt Mary tells me
too how nicely you both
have learned in dancing – I
am glad she thinks best for
you both to attend another
term – because that will
get you thoroughly familiar
with all the rules not only of
dancing of polite manners – &
I hope you will not forget a
single nice thing Mrs Wood teaches you.
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Wasn’t little darling Gula’s
Quaker doll visitor cunning?
Do tell me what she said about
it – when she first saw it – and
Dannie I had one sent to little
Annie, just like it – and wont
she chatter over it, with her
little bright eyes, like a black bird –
and so little Susie B. gets one
too – the three tiniest little girl
nieces all around –
Now dear Louise & Dannie
you must write letters to all
the dear friends you thought
of you so lovingly on Christmas
and thank them for their
presents – & tell them you hope
to grow up to be worthy of
all their kind regard – even
the smallest token of love – is
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worth ever & ever so much – for
many times the friends who have
least money & give us the
least valuable presents in cash –
are the best & truest friends to us
really – So don’t make the
mistake to think those love
you but whose presents cost
the money – it is the fact
that our friends remember
us & send us a token of their
love – if it is no more than a
kind word – that makes our
happiness – well – I am so
glad you two young people try to
make each other happy – as well
Grand Ma & Aunt Mary – & all
around – for it is by trying to make
those around us happy that
we really make ourselves so –
Affectionately your Aunt
with a Happy New Year to all
Susan B. Anthony