(seq. 1)

Northampton, June 8, 1803.

My Dear Friend.
I can hardly realize that ten
days only, have elapsed since we parted, to me they
have appeard as so many weeks, had it not been the
ardent hope I indulge, of being restored to perfect health,
no considerations could have induced me to visit N. without
you. I bore the journey better than I expected, the morning
I left home, we reached Smiths in Weston by nine, waited
an hour for Mr Lucas - while there Mr Whitney of North-
borough, Mrs Joseph Foster and son from Boston arrived -
and we had the pleasure of their company at Howes in
Marlboro' where we dined. Mr Lucas without letting me
know his plan - went to Cap. Eddys. Mama had the child
and was some ways behind, they insisted on our all spending
the night there. the next morning it rain'd, and our parents
came on to Worcester, concluding it would not be safe for
me to ride such weather - they had not been gone more
than an hour when Mr L- proposed going - it was so warm
he said I could not take cold - When we got to Barkers