1776: While visiting Boston, Judith plans her small pox inoculation

 

2 June 1776
Judith Sargent Stevens to Esther Sargent Ellery

 

Letter 45   To my Sister   Boston   June 2d 1776

My Dear Sister

   

Perhaps you never saw a more pleasing situation than the present residence of my Uncle — Although in the midst of the Metropolis it yet in a great degree combines the beauties of the Country — It is in a retired part of the Town — the parade of military arrangements reach us not, and of the progress of hostilities we hear much less than at Gloucester.  

 

This dwelling is entered through a neat gate, shaded, on either hand, by tall trees, cloathed with the most beautiful verdure, which, uniting at top, form over the head a delightful shade — you are first introduced into a long entry, the extremity presents an avenue, leading to a garden, abounding with fruit trees, flowers, and vegetables, at the bottom of the garden you have a handsome summer house, neatly finished, and enchantingly shaded by woodbines, honey suckles, &c &c [—] 

 

The atmosphere is highly perfumed, and we are ready to fancy ourselves in one of the bowers of Elysiums so fancifully described by Swedenborg — Seats erected in various parts of the garden are highly ornamented and umbrageous.  The Parterre is in great perfection — the whole plat laid out in serpentine walks pretty little knots variously displayed, and fringed with box — 

 

The apartments of the Mansion, in which were left many valuable pieces of furniture, are very elegant. I sigh for the original Possessors, and my heart bleeds for four sweet innocents, whom the Parents have left in this Town, and who, it is too probable, will be subjected to every hardship which caprice, and ill Nature can induce.  

 

My Aunt and her sister Harriot, are in fine spirits [—] they suffered very little from the Small Pox, and are earnestly solicitous that I should submit to inoculation — Would it please heaven to carry me through this disorder, how useful might I be to my beloved parents, to my sister and many other dear friends, who might chance to receive, by accident, this cruel despoiler — you know whoever is known to have caught the small pox is dragged from his or her dwelling, without respect of persons, and rudely conveyed to some inconvenient, desolate spot, nor is the attendance of any friend, who has not passed through the small pox, permitted — how comfortless, how forlorn the idea — a Father, a Mother, suffering agonies beyond description and surrendered to strangers, to mercenaries — The idea is truly shocking [—]  

 

Say, my sister, can I be censured for wishing to purchase liberty to watch around the suffering authors of my being — should they be thus tried? — you know many persons, much less exposed, have been suddenly seized with this calamity! — Let me whisper you — but you must be silent — It shall not be my fault, if I do not quality myself to share the sorrows of my friends —

 

Notes:
• JSM had herself inoculated in Boston in complete secrecy. She wanted to be able to care for her parents in case they caught small pox. Her father, Winthrop Sargent, whose frequent travels to Boston for political work, did, in fact, catch the disease and Judith was able to nurse him back to health.