Letter from Rachel B. Stevens, dated 1862-07-06

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Uncle Timothy is quite deranged & at times rather violent - aunt Paulina looks much worn - she seems to think very strange of my being gone so long - Aunt Mary was displeased at my staying at Ferrisburg last winter - perhaps I shall not dare to go any where again -. Freeman West has got his new house raised & in a good state of progress - has a cellar under the whole, walled up with granite -

He seems to take it coolly & intends to go thorough - Fanny is not very smart.

Wilson Winter's folks have lost their 3 eldest children with dyptheria - An Irishman in the village lost the same number - all dying in one night. I do not know of any other cases - Abraham Putnam arrived home on 7th day - we have not seen him, Isaac does not get well enough to go back - Levi & Mary have just rode by - I have not seen him to speak to him yet. News came to the village that the Mississippi river is open & that McClellan's plans are working to his mind - by oh! what horrid blood shed & destruction follows the train of war - & whle I am writing this a fear often makes me almost tremble that thy eyes may not read what I have written

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East Montpelier 6th of 7th mo. 1862

My precious boy

Mary called at Charles Templeton's this morning & heard by a letter from Charley that thee is again worse - but did not tell what was the matter - I knew thy long silence must have some meaning - Horace says "tell him to get a discharge & come home & recruit up & then if he wants to go back, there is no fear but what he can enlist again" - I told him I should not wish to add the last proviso - but he told me I might say so for him - I am very thankful to hear thee is having good care - but how much rather I would have it in my power to do for thee myself - I can but hope if thee again gets able to travel thee will conclude to come home - thee will surely get worn out there by these frequent relapses -

Last edit about 2 years ago by catslover
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The [underline]rumors[/underline] of the past ten days have filled the nation's heart with untold anguish - but the facts as they came to us yesterday seem altogether different yet it is all, oh so sad, so agonising.

I reached home last 4th day - having been absent 5 weeks & a day - was favoured all the time without accident or detention & met very many more kind recognitions & attentions than I had ever anticipated - it would have been a great comfort & pleasure to me to have had thy company - I had thy likeness & that was some satisfaction - 2nd. day I had a very pleasant visit & met many old acquaintances & friends & kinsmen that remembered me much better than I expected & treated me with great kindness & hospitality - I left Providence on 2nd day the first of the month & came to Brattleboro' - Ann met me at the depot - I staid two nights at the school and was very much pleased with the place & with the inmates - & with the order & neatness & general happy appearance of the whole establishment - Ann seemed to me a little

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anxious & tired - examination comes on next week - she expects to come home on 6th day the 18th - Levi Persons went to the village with Thomas this morning & told him he had a letter from Charley P. who said that thee & Charley T. went to Alexandria the day after he left - so it is since that thee has been worse again - I do desire as soon as thee gets this, if thy reason is spared, thee will get Charles or some one to write to me & give the particulars of thy present condition - & will thee not, my dear boy, if thee again gets able to travail, come home to us - the weather here for a few days has been extremely warm - though the season has been generally cool & dry here - it was quite wet in R.I. & cool - there having been there & here a frost every month - It nipped the vines & beans in the garden so that with the depredations of hens, there is not much that looks well or promising except the sage but the hens are now shut up

Last edit about 2 years ago by catslover
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Do let us know the whole & tell me if thee wants me to come to thee - & if thee is better & able to travel, let me repeat it, do come home - Last news from Timothy, he was pretty well & wondering why he did not hear from thee -

[Marin?] Taber rides out & walks about with a cane - Bill Farewell was married to Jenett Chamberlain on the 4th. He takes charge of David Fuller's affairs while he is gone to the war - Caleb Ormsbe, Austin Arns - Edwin Templeton & several

Last edit about 2 years ago by catslover
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others, have gone to work for P.P. Pitkin.

Royal Wheeler has got quite badly injured by the fall of a tree -

Avery Cummins is married - had a powerful [?] for which he had made provisions in a large supply of rum - which was taken to excess by some of the party - Charles was quite out of sorts because Thomas did not let him go - but I am thankful & I guess he is satisfied now -

James is at Horace's & has been I guess half the time since he came home - Jared Taber is married to a George girl -

Farewell my dear - Thy Mother -

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