p.

North Ferrisburgh 1th Mo 9th 1844.

My Dear Sisters, Most welcome letter reached me on the 3d inst a day or two later
than it would had it been directed to our P.O. But it came, and I will try to acknowledge
its receipt as speedily as may be. The account of thy journey was very interesting and
gratifying to all of us, and we were truly glad that it was throughout so agreeable to thee. For one
I am well pleased with the accomplishment of this so long-desired object, and I sincerely
wish that nothing may mar thy enjoyment of this social-sojourn with thy kindred.

Do not be anxious about us, we are getting along quite comfortably, as much so - for aught
I know as we ever do: I miss thee very much in many ways, but still do make out to keep
the machinery moving, the work-drawer gives full proof of thy absence, but we are
comfortable, my health is much better than it was last summer, so there is one favor thou seist: have
had a hard head-ache only twice since thou left, and been confined to my room only one day. Ann
has been to Peru, staid nearly two weeks, the two E's. have been most of that time, indeed all of
it at brother N's. cousin E. is still there, and I know not when she will return. Susan is
gone to Williston, and I expect will not return as she has been very unwell, and has engaged
spinning to do. We have Sarah Freeman, to help us, Mary Ann Henry, washes, irons and bakes
she will be here all the time after her jobs of house-cleaning are done. Sarah is a quiet, good
girl, and does nicely, her mother is gone to Whitehall: Sarah and Clarissa went too, but
returned the same week. Polly Brown is gone from T's, and there is another young woman
from Huntington there. My spirits are quite good, and I feel much less burdened than is
often the case, so thou must think of us as doing pretty well; our family is quite small, and
we have less company than usual: the house has been new shingled, also the portico and
slaughter-house, so the carpenters have been with us, thou will discover.

Since thou left poor Jermiah Griffin has had a severe trial in the death of her nephew
Henry; he and another young man were drowned while bathing in the creek at
Vergennes: his aunts were both quite unwell, Fanny unable to attend the funeral: his brother
William is very feeble, is thought by many in a confirmed decline, he and his wife are
at F. Barber's, have been there for some time. My intelligence of our neighbors is rather sad
Poor Mary Webb, has a little babe which is doing well, but the mother is not likely to remain
with it long, I cannot tell thee just how she is, but her friends think she is failing very fast
Her sister Eliza has been with her - I understand - sometime, whether poor, poor Abby has
been here or not, is more than I know. Doctor Ealls has been called to Mary, and Lillis Orevis told
that she heard they had carried her through a course of calomel. Oh! what an error! a grievous one.
but their prejudices I suppose are such that the Thompsonian course would seem like madness
if not murder, to them. The rest of our acquaintences, as far as I know are in usual health. The
weather has been rather cool most of the time since thou left us, with frequent rains; we have
had a few warm days, and just now rain would be quite grateful: the crop of hay will be light
it is thought, yet the pastures are very luxuriant: cheese is quite low, but we must be satisfied, I
suppose, and "hope on, hope ever." We have sent cheese away twice, make two a day: do not smile, dear sister
at this medley, I wish to tell thee about all the things, and the notice goes down with little order.