p.

I regret to hear of dear Mary's continued ill health
please give my dear love to her, and tell her I dont
know but I owe her a letter, if so, she must accept
the will for the deed; and am sure she would, if she could
see the pile of unanswered letters laying on my shelf.
I do not write this boastingly, but only to show what a poor
dilatory correspondent I am, many of these - tho' excellent
will never get answered, merely because I have not
the capacity of do it as they deserve, Mary's among the
rest- if it is so - that I am indebted, she must forgive
and write all the same, if she feels at all inclined
dear girl I now remember my impressions of her
that if she proved faithful - she would have
a commission in the gospel intrusted to her, and I
believe now she is under the preparing hand for future
usefulness in His vineyard, may nothing be allowed
to mar the work upon the wheel - let no discouragements
prevail. The same power that raised up her grand-
father to be a light in the world - and her father
to be as a landmark to his children, and to the people
around - is able to provide a succession of faithful
standard bearers - from among your little flock.
I would encourage you all to increased dedication & faithfulness

[in left margin:]

Our poor distracted country - presents in some places the scenes of a
charnel
house
how
the
heart
is
de[?]
with
sadness
at the
thought
of
man's
inhumanity
to
man
and
every-
days
report
of wrong
and
out-rage
write
when
convenient
for
thee
to do
so.

[page break]

Now it occurs to me while writing, that if those who
are Elders among you were a little more stirred up
to the importance of interesting & instructing young people
on religious subjects you would all gain thereby.
I dont mean to censure - only to encourage - for I thought
there was much goodness to be felt among you, only
dont dwindle, and let quakerism [run?] out - where
the principle is so much respected as it is with you.
Our mtgs are small - and yet there is life to be felt
our young people dont like; much to take up the cross
yet they love to see quakerism flourish & increase
still we have some among that class who are willing
to show on whose side they are - two quite young
men not looking older (tho' they are) than thy son
Thomas, & his cousen George were engaged visiting
the families of our Quarter - and a part of the two
adjoining [qrs?] both of them acknowled[?] ministers
when they visited us, it was cheering to witness two
such youthful disciples. the fact itself was loud preaching.
may some among you take up their cross with
renewed confidence that His power is the same that
ever it was, and that He will arise for their help
and obliterate the mountains of opposition that rise up before them

[in left margin:]

We have had very good sleighing for the past [1?] week, tho' not much snow
& quite mild [now?] [down?] to zero this
winter.
This
morning
down
to 12
above
and
windy
it seems
as
cold
as at
any
time
this
season
how
many
[destituted?]
there
are
in
the
world
who
suffer
now
from
want [!?]