p.

"Oh!, cousin Rachel, what should we have
done without thee? we have all looked
up to thee as a mother -" I found
the family will - Thomas had gone to
Middlesex to attend the funeral of Pau-
lina Gallison as bearer with J.C.T. uncle
[Abial?] French was buried the day before
Estelle Southwick's funeral was also atten-
ded at the East village & O. Ormshe's at
the center while I was abscent only
three weeks - So the grim messenger
visits all [underline]places[/underline] - "Thou hast all [underline]seasons[/underline]
for thine own oh, Death" - "To live, that
when our summons comes" - we may
be "sustained & soothed by an unfaltering
trust" - Will it not then be joyful to say
"farewell conflicting hopes & fears" -

James came home smart &
well last sixth day - he expects to go
back next week - I hope & believe he is
a pretty good boy - though he had a little
fuss with Mc. [I?]. with some of the other
boys - but Fanny expects to go back this

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spring & he anticipates much from
that - Thomas's eyes are much
better he is drawing wood to the village
works, as usual, very industriously but
finds some time to ride about - while
I was gone they went to three funerals &
three lectures - once to the village & he
brought Jane to a lecture & after she visited
at Eben's, Loren's &c. &c. he carried her home
& last week he & Orlana & G.D. & Carny
went to pay the visit - Ann wants to
know if he & Jane have had a flare up-

I hear that Charley P's Riker
girl is making a long visit at Reuben's -
they think that Sophia is improving -

Of course I could not want thee to stay
in the hospital when thee found it too
hard for thee - I should think thy pres-
ent imployment was very arduous -
all I can do, is to hope thee will be dis-
creet & prudent of thy health - discharge
thy duties faithfully but not grasp too
much - no one will ever thank thee for