p.

[4/9/4 4/11/4]

East Montpelier 3rd of 4th mo. 1864

My dear William

I had the pleasure of reading four letters
from thy hand last week - one to Mary, one to Thomas & 2 to myself
it is indeed a great blessing to us - though some of the statements
are calculated to awaken the keenest feelings - I forbear comment
can only say it is a wonder of wonders that thee is still in
the land of the living. Spared, I believe, for some noble purpose
& may the forming hand of the great Artificer, so fashion &
mould thy future course that his good pleasure may not be
thwarted - Hast thou been able to keep a bible through all this struggle?
I might have sent thee one in the box - If we had had faith that
it would have gone so directly we should have put in cooked victuals
& several other articles - but I was afraid that they would spoil &
also injure the other things - I was not at all satisfied with
the sugar, but it was the best we had - & if it tasted good I am
very glad - No letters came to us of thine except one
that Lt. Hatch sent us, enclosed in this from me & as it contains
some items of news that may interest thee I enclose it though
it does not seem worth it - The water has
stopped today & Thomas has been at work at it & does not yet find
the trouble - Charley is not very well but has gone after Dorcas
Bliss to work for us - I told Jane I did not feel able to do what
I knew she needed - My health has rather failed since thee went
away - yet I do not remember as I have kept the bed any whole day -