Sunday Evening May 21. 1820
Lovely is the evening. Fair is the soft-eyed queen of night. Sweet is the whippoorwill’s song in the woods. Mild is the zephyr of spring. ‘Tis the season of love. Then let us meet my friend when the eye of suspicion cannot perceive us.- but no more of poetry- What say you Orra, to professing to wish to make Charissa Dickinson a visit-this evening. Friend John understands the plot. He will speak of Charissa- you can say you have scarcely called upon her since you came to Dfd. He will then invite you to go this evening. I will meet you say at H.D’s.- yours-E.
P.S. do not be in fear of another all night interview.
In 1820, when this note was written, Edward Hitchcock and Orra White were courting and would wed in 1821. Here, Edward craftily suggests a late night meeting with a cover story: if Orra is willing, she can say that she is visiting Charissa Dickinson, for "Friend John understands the plot" and will deliver Orra to Edward instead. Orra must have cherished this note, as she saved it for the rest of her life.