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Ferrisburgh 12th Mon. 17th 1859
When thy very welcome and interesting letter was received, I did not reply immediately because I hoped that [underline]long talked[/underline] of visit would soon be made - as our hay-making was over, and other things looked favorable (to me) for its completion, - and I cherished this hope week after week, until thy cousin was taken quite poorly, he remained so several weeks. - after which he found many things needing his attention, and our journey was [underline]indefinitely[/underline] postponed, - [underline]then[/underline] I ought to have written, if for nothing else but to tell thee, that I felt [underline][sore?][/underline] and ashamed that none of our house-hold had visited you, - but I did not for two reasons, I did not like to say those words, and did hope to see thee at the time of your Quarterly Meeting, - but thou came not to us, and we were all disappointed, and served just as we [underline][diserved?][/underline] to be, for our remissness: but I trust thou wilt forgive and love us, still, and visit us when convenient; and far down in my heart I keep alive the hope that some fine day we shall find ourselves on the way to Montpelier, - and I do not intend to relinquish this unless we become unable to travel that far: but it will not be in [underline]cold[/underline] weather, for that [underline]I[/underline] dare not attempt now, the cold affects me so much: I will now turn to other subjects, having made a very long preface; - first our health, - the children - [underline]Ann's[/underline] I mean, have all been affected by something like canker-rash, - Rowly has been very sick - tho' not alarmingly so, - the baby very much amiss for several, and Aggy quite poorly, - the worst of her sickness was while they were in New York whither she and Rowley had gone with their father - to visit their relatives and consult a physician on her account, as she had been drooping all the autumn nearly, - they were absent only a week as she was so unwell. 25th Rowly continues to mend, tho' still confined to the house, - keeps up all day.
and [underline]distressingly[/underline] home-sick poor child! they reached home on the afternoon of the 22nd of 11th Mon. and that night Rowly was taken sick and is still confined to the house; - little Fanny was attacked the night of the 24th and for two weeks was quite sick, - so that Ann has had a wearisome [deleted] time, [deleted] as they were obliged to be up a good deal at night with the children. - Dr. May was sent for, and thought it first that Rowley was threatened with Typhus fever, - but after staying nearly two days, he felt hopeful he would get along without that, - and he has thus far, - for altho' feeble and appetite poor, his fever has passed off and he is [underline]slowly[/underline] gaining strength: so that now we feel quite encouraged to hope he will soon be better. - Aggy and Fanny are quite smart, and their Mother can rest well at night: we are now pretty well assured that they have all had [underline]canker-rash[/underline], in a rather mild form, as other children in the neighborhood have been affected in [underline]some[/underline] degree similarly.
12th Mon. 25th. This letter was begun several days ago - but could not be finished at the [underline]first[/underline] sitting, and until to-day I have had no leisure to resume my pen much as I have wished to do. - My thoughts have often turned to thee and thine - my dear cousin, in the interval, with an earnest wish that our meetings could be more frequent than is now the case, - or that we would at least [underline]write[/underline] oftener, - I am aware of my delinquency, and ask thy forbearance or rather forgiveness.
We have all been deeply interested - as you have probably been - in the imprisonment, trial and death of John Brown, - for altho' [underline]we[/underline] cannot say his [underline]measures[/underline] are such as we could unite with, yet we must be [impress?] with admiration of his firmness, his unflinching adherence to what he believed [underline]right[/underline], and the christian spirit manifested by him, - truly he was a brave, a noble man, and his death will inflict a blow, which will
be [underline]felt[/underline] - upon that system which is truly "the sum of all villanies" - and makes us a bye word and marking amongst the nations, - and Oh! how fearful is the consideration of the transgression against the Eternal Father, who created of one blood, all His poor dependent [underline]children[/underline]. I suppose you take the Tribune, and if so - you have seen the interesting account of the journey to North Elba - performed by the little band who accompanied the [?] Mortal remains of J. Brown to the last resting place, amongst those stupendous mountains - which stand forth as emblems of Freedom: but my pen can do nothing for [underline]such[/underline] as man, and I will leave the subject, well knowing how much thy heart will sympathize with the bereaved and lonely ones in their [?] abode.
Dear Charlotte has had a severe trial since thou and thy beloved Mary were here. - her father has married again, and though they endeavor to make the best of it - it has been a bitter draught to all his children, - for it seems to alienate him very much from them, - and he is with them but little - as her home is in the opposite side of the Lake, - where she will probably remain until Spring; - what arrangement will [underlne]then[/underline] be made is uncertain, several plans have been proposed, but nothing decided upon; - I wish we could have C. and the children with us, - but circumstances [underline]now[/underline], render it impracticable, - perhaps it may be so, if Lloyd and Ann [deleted] move on to a farm as they talk of doing. - he has been to see several but as yet has not been able to procure one that quite suited him, - they wish to be very near the Lake, if they settle in Vermont: thy cousin R. went over to see them last Sixth-day found them well except slight colds: we hope they will be with us this week - the last of it.
In the early part of 10th Mo. cousin Eliza made us a very pleasant visit, - she was here nearly a week - seemed much more cheerful and
quiet in spirit than when she and her mother-in-law were living together, - they have moved on to a [underline]small[/underline] farm and greatly enjoy the change: she enquired affectionately after thee, would have liked very much to visit you - but thought best to hasten home, - fearing her husband would be lonely: wished me to give her love to thee when I wrote. - Maria is gone [west?] - to Mary - but I fear she will not be happy even [underline]there[/underline]: she cannot flee from [underline]herself[/underline] go where she may.
A short time ago, I had a very welcome letter from dear [Huldah?] - her little boy is much better I infer, - and she pretty smart, [driving?] on with her school and house-keeping. - she says Mary teaches her own children and a [underline]few[/underline] others, - besides attending to a good deal of farm business, - and I am puzzled to know how it can be done, - it seems to me rather too much for [underline]one[/underline] head! From H. and others - we learn that Thomas's wife is very feeble - thought to be in a decline, - My heart has often been sad on his account, and were it not for her dear children I should rejoice to hear her pilgrimage was ended, - for I have no doubt it would be a [underline]very[/underline] happy change to her: it has always seemed to me, that [underline]her[/underline] feelings and comfort were too much sacrifice to the hope of [underline]gain[/underline], - and now poor Thomas is far from prosperity - we hear; - we are told too by W. Dean that Henry M has lost a good deal in his late purchase, has been obliged to give up the [farm?] and his father and mother are expected back here either this month or next [underline]minus[/underline] considerable of their means: I am [underline]very, very[/underline] sorry for all of them, and wish they had been satisfied where they were eight years ago.
We hear from sister Ann pretty often she is quite as comfortable as can be expected at her age, and still feels satisfied with having gone to [C?] tho' at times she is very lonely. - I intended to mention ere this, the death of Loren Orvis - which occurred on the 6th of 10th Mon. and also that of Elizabeth Wheeler on the 10th of the same - both passed away quietly - with very
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little perceptable change. - their minds had for a long time seemed much [weaker?] and - tho' very child-like - and in that state - apparently - they passed away.
little perceptable change. - their minds had for a long time seemed much [weaker?] and - tho' very child-like - and in that state - apparently - they passed away.
