Letter from Jane Ann Clark to Eliza A. Fisher, Dec. 26, [?]

My Dear Neice Eliza My heart was made glad the last week by the reception of your kind, wellcome letter the more so, as it had been so very long since I had heard from any of you, begun to feel that you all had again croped me from your list of corispondents but the reception of your letter has done away with that feeling, so now I take this early hour to reply, I wish your mother had added a few lines to yours if she only knew how very much I should have prized it I think she would, I often think when I neglect writing to dear absent friends. I know not how long the privelege will be granted me to do so either one or the other may be removed before the reach of our

mer is as smart as a cricket was down last week having her winter bonnet fitted. JAC

expression of love and good will for each other. I was glad you mentioned each member of your family I could almost see you as [you] were on that still Sabbath, your grandmother and two oldest brothers away, which infered that they were still at home, and the little boys seated by their mother, learning some usefull lesson, and you pennine lines to us. I suppose Anna has kept you informed of all the important events of our family connections, or up to the time of her leaving home I was there just before she left, she seemed pleased with the prospect of going, which seemed strange to me after their sad experience in poor Ellen's sudden removal in so unlooked manner, but Anna had long wished to go, before the uncertainty of [Mr. S's?] where abouts, it is my opinion that he come to his death by the indians in crossing the Plain, or would have been heard from before this, [Carra or Carrie] is to give up her school at the end of this term, and be with her mother, till her marriage which may be in the Spring, your aunt Kempton keeps up and keeps doing around her home till it looks really beautiful the

[Written in margin: Benjm says he dont know what he is done that he is not remembered]

Trees have grown which has added much to its beauty, she seems hopeful for the future although she has met with so many disappointments. you think we most enjoyed your aunt Hawes visit very much that is but a faint expression of the real comfort it afforded us, me in particular, coming at the time that I was so sick that my physician gave no hope of my recovery, knowing she intended to visit the East the past summer, your uncle wrote her of my illness and her ready response was that she would leave the next day and be with us, O how my heart went out in gratitude to our Heavenly Father when that letter came, I was expecting your aunt Kempton the same evening they came with in two hours of each other neither expecting to meet, you may be sure it was a happy meeting, my nurse, said it would be too much for me to see them both I told her no I must see them both that night and from that time I begun to improve and now am comfortable by taking care of myself can keep my room in order, do a good deal of sewing for our little ones, go out but little as the cold wind affects my lungs, and I feel the old trouble

your aunt Hawes visited N. Hampshire was gone there seven weeks then came back and stayed [five or two] weeks. Then to N. Bedford I went with her there stayed ten days I came home and she went on to the Vineyard, returned here the last of Oct'r, and left for her Western home three weeks since, where she arrived in safty, I think she had a pleasant home with Shubeal he is a good son to her and does all he can for comfort, he is of a happy cheerful temperment that makes all happy around him, and your aunt likes his wife, and their little Lillie is a pet with her while in N. H. Mary Jane was there visiting her husbands connections, they were fearful of the [cholera] in Chicago, they remained there till Oct'r then returned home, when the [cholera] broke out affresh and her husband started her and baby [off] for Iowa, where he has a sister living, a letter from her the same day yours came saying she was there, and uncertain when she should return home for her little one had the whooping cough but she was in a hurry to get home for Capt Crocker had writen her that he and Joanna expected to be in Chicago soon to establish an agency for a sewing machine of which he is interested in. you ask about Jennie Morse I think she is all she promised to be when you saw her as she matures she growes more lovly and companionable but time makes its impress on her looks, she is not as fresh and rosy nor as fleshy as she used to be has many admirers, but I hear of no engagement of marraige, a letter from your aunt Morse not long since reported all in good health there. She had Joanna's two little boys with her this winter the little girl is with her mother