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Battle Creek 4th m. 20th /62
My esteemed friend
Thy kind letter of the 25th inst was duly rec'd and appreciated. Such messages of love are as "beacon lights" to the mariner. They renew our courage and cheer us on our way to the desired port, particularly if we are deprived of both first and second mates, thou seems to truly anticipate my loneliness, in the absence of my pet Sarah as thou terms her whose filial tenderness and buoyant spirits has done so much to lighten the task of life, yet I feel rebuked if I give utterance to a murmer of even a sigh for the probable temporary absence only of my dear children, because it is certainly a very light thing compared to what thousands of mothers in our nation are at this moment suffering. The picture thou draws of camp life & the Battle field, bad as it is, I apprehend is a very true one, and how grateful any reasonable mother must feel that her sons can be spared the participation in such a conflict. But when and what is to be the end? seems to be the great question. If this is retributive justice and the natural result of our great national Sin Slavery can we expect a final and peaceful termination without a change of policy? That of establishing the time and professed principles of Justice and equality. Then we might be brethren and love one another
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My son would willingly and I think gladly have come home this spring, so ^as to^ have been company for me in his sister's absence, but there was no opening here for business in his line, therefore he decides to stay in Albany for the present, and to give a clue to my daughter's prospects, I will give thee a paragragh from her last letter dated the 14th She says, "I am getting on very nicely here, as busy as a bee. I would like to go to on with the work I have begun & as the three months, is nearly expired which was to be the trial time, I spoke to the Dr's this evening about staying, & they wish to continue the engagement for six months longer at least, seem to be well satistied with my performance of the duties that fall to my lot, and next winter I wish to attend Lectures either at Phil or Cleveland next if thee can spare thy baby so long, I am sorry thee missess ^me^ more instead of less, Thee does not wish me to give up the study does thee? If I should, I should have to teach again, and altho I have a good deal to do I feel better than when I was teaching. All is well that ends well, Mother dear, and so I mean to keep up a good heart to the end", I of course shall not dissuade her, from her undertaking as long as she feels it to be her mission altho it is a laborious task, therefore thou sees I shall need fortitude to nerve me up to my fate, my stepchildren seem not to be
[left margin] 2 day morning Francis Titus has just been in. She wished me to ask thee in thy next if thee would not do her the favor to give some more particular account of the departure of her much loved friend Rachel Robinson and how her husband is [??] and whether Ann King remains with them if not where she is she feels much interest in the family
[upside down - top of page] Please also to receive [illegible] kind love We are having a very rainy day with cold chilly air
[right page] lacking in sympathy, I also have kind neighbours and friends, I now have the company of two young women who are attending the Union school who are very good society, and rooms in the chamber, are also rented to a widow lady and her son and my garden work is just commencing which gives plenty of healthful exercise, but with you I suppose snow banks are yet in the way, Why not leave that cold snowy bleak mountainous country and, emigrate to this rather more generous climate- But then after all to you who have been reared there, there is much to endear and attach and very many redeeming qualities, It seems to be a wise provision in our natures to have a love of home
Now as relates to the other branches of my family they at present are all enjoying usual health & prosperity Mary Barker and her family have been quite afflicted but are comfortably well now; her husband during 2nd and 3d month had a violent attack of neuraglia, the most obstinate and severe case I ever knew, it lasted some six or seven weeks during the time their children all had the measles Mary thou may judge had a wearing time, still she kept up (altho in delicate circumstances herself) Since they have got well she has been making hay carpet house cleaning &c. Daniel Chase, Betsey's boy has enlisted and gone into the army, we were very sorry
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to have him go, but he seemed to think it a duty to go he has corresponded with one of his cousins since he left but she has had no letter from him since the great Pittsburg Battle, in which the company was engaged to which he belonged; we are feeling anxious, tho his name is not included ^in the list^ among those who fell or were wounded still it is not probable that every name is recognised.
I saw Joseph Merritt and most of the family at Mtg to day but Joseph told me his wife was quite poorly he feared it might prove one of her attacks of liver affection which are generally pretty serious. Prudence Kingsley and Sarah Stringham are both evidently verging as near the shores of time, and according to the course of nature it cannot be otherwise expected aunt Prudence I think has numbered her four score years, aunt Sarah some ten years less yet is more infirm.
Richard Titus and wife are at present enjoying pretty good health for them they took a family in to board through the winter, but are alone now, with the exception of his sister Esther Titus whose company has been a rich treat to them for the few past weeks, she expects to leave soon and return to New York state. In the early part of summer they expect his sister Berniece and her husband and his two other unmarried sisters to spend some time. Their son Sammy is grown to be a noble boy in whom they may justly anticipate much enjoyment should they all live.
I am glad thou hast found such a kind daughter even at this late hour of life which I trust thou merits and also appreciates. Such blessings are never ill timed or more needed than in smoothing the downward path of life.
[right margin] Thy friend as ever Grib'eline Kind regards to thy husband and to thy dear widowed sister who has my sympathy in her many trials
