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of one, I have not seen the [?] The [Poem?] was good - I am sorry to hear that Thy health continues poor - I am about as usual frequently complaining. I am trying to rest more. our family is small, next month our busy season will commence - sewing circles schools &c - we are to have two of Mary Slade's daughters to board with us and go to school to Professor Lincoln - Joseph joins me in love to Thee and all Thy family - including Horace and Mary - I remain affectionately
They cousin
Hannah
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Providence 8th mo 18/64
Dear Cousin Rachel
Thy letter of the 7th inst. was duly received, and we were pained by the inteligence of the death of Thy dear William, when I was reading of his being wounded I never suspected that it had proved fatal - we do indeed sympathyse very deeply with Thee in this affliction. It is the more keenly felt no doubt on account of his absence from home and the peculiar circumstances in which he was situated - but I have ever and must continue to trust and believe, that those who feel as sincerely as William did, that they were doing their duty in taking up arms in defence of their country and for the release of their fellow creatures from slaveery will be accepted. Sybil Jones I think expressed in Yearly Meeting
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last year, the belief that many souls had ascended to Heaven from The Battlefield - poor Sybil she has passed through a similar affliction, her son James who was an officer in a Maine Regiment was killed in the battle at Fort Stevens near Washington during the recent Rebel Raid - We must all expect to participate in the sufferings and anxieties which are inevitable in this fearful struggle. The attack on Mobile causes us a good deal of anxiety but we hope that the city will surrender without much fighting - and if our forces get possession I hope communication will be more regular. We are just now without a child at home. Elisa has been in Newport a week, and Josephine has gone to spend a day and night with a friend in the City - Susan appears to be enjoying herself in Brattleborro, has found some acquaintances, and I wrote her that I hoped that she would meet with Ann when the latter returns to B. I believe I wrote Thee that
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E Meader was with her daughter Phebe, she had expected to have been at home before our Quarterly Meeting but Phebe is so very feeble she did not think best to leave her. Moses Beeder is also very feeble - our meetings are small as usual at this season of the year so many are out of town. Sarah Toby and her daughters have been at the White Mountains, and are stopping at Lynn on their return to attend Quarterly Meeting - after that is over I suppose we shall have a visit from Elisabeth Comstock. I heard the other day that sister E. Chase had had one of those attacks of illness that she is subject to, it was quite severe but she was getting better. I was intending to make them a little visit this summer but they have a number of boarders and I shall defer it. We have had a good deal of warm weather this summer. some very oppressive, but we are having refreshing rains and vegitation has revived. I am going to send Thee an Alumni Report when I can get hold
