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I met with Isaac Gifford & Phebe - they were on Long Island - on a visit to her Friends. They have quite recovered since their long journey last summer - Isaac dont like to travel as well as P. I received a letter from Dorcas Tucker the other day. She reports new Bedford Friends pretty well excepting colds which have prevailed every where. their sons none of them gone to the war - says Dr Tobey's youngest son was in the battle of Fredericksburg since it was 5 days before they heard one word and then news came he was not hurt. Oh what long days & nights they must have been for them all. The Drs youngest daughter they fear has consumption a lovely girl, and one they almost idolize. Dorcas says her sister Sarah is trying to feel resigned to whatever may occur to them - They have their peculiar trials as well as the rest of us. wealth does not exempt them from being chastened. I hear Sarah went to Boston with Sybil Jones the latter had an appointed mtg - and then they visited the sick soldiers. Eunice [Boza?] has been on and made us a very pleasant visit just before winter set in. She and Thou and Sam'l & Elisa are coming on to New Bedford to attend their approaching Qrtly Mtg. Elizabth Meader is on East making a visit perhaps she has been to see thee & thine. I remember you all with much affection. I hope dear Mary's health is better - give my love to her and tell her for me not to omit doing known duties of whatever nature they may be - a path of dedication closely followed now in the morning of Life will secure the greatest amount of true enjoyment - Affctly P A Sands
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our winter has been mild - our Spring thus far cold and uncongenial. you must have had a good winter for sugar.
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R B S
Sing Sing 4 mo 1st/63
My very dear friend
It is a long, long time since thou and I have communed together in this way. I have rather been waiting for thee, and possibly I was in debt already and thou has been waiting all this time for me to do my duty towards thee. Well if so I must bring in all the excuses I can muster - such as houshold cares &c and any quantity of letters to answer. when I have been from home awhile I get quite an addition to my correspondence all of whom must receive some attention. Last summer's journey added largely to my list - not that I forget thou already wrote [there?], far from it, yet the attention each loved one receives, is necessarily lessened. I have thought of thee much and often since last we parted in Dr Tobey's parlor have heard but once from thee, and then thro' Almyra Greene - who had visited your
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Our River has kept open all winter, vessels passing many times during the day
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as our Yearly Mtg approaches I naturally present the inquiry whether we shall have thy co again this Spring, and whether Thou cannot make us a visit going or returning or any of Thy family. Almyra Greene mentioned in her letter that a young girl who was living with thy syster Davis proposed to come down with thy sister if she came to yearly mtg - and stop here, and remain if mutually agreeable. She says I remarked while there that I would like just such a girl to come live with me as a daughter. I suppose I did say so, not thinking any thing would come of it - but if thy sister is willing, and thee can recommend her as being every way worthy, as well capable to fill such a station, or any other in our family, I should be glad to have her come. I have but one daughter and her health is very poor, she requires a great deal of care - and our domestics here are mostly Irish - some no dependance which makes it difficult for me to leave home
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Please give my best love to all Friends in Montpelier - write when Thou canst find the time - Thy letters are always so valuable to me.
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I will leave this matter with Thee & thy sister altogether, you can best judge of it. I have an American girl now who has been with me 2 years - and has given pretty good satisfaction - she however has poor relatives living in the village, and during this season of high prices, which makes it hard for the poor we find we cannot trust her as formerly - yet I have just been absent from home for 2 weeks on a visit to the mtgs of [N?] York [Q?] and a part of the families of the same was favoured to get thro' with the labour assigned me to pretty good satisfaction I believe, in the city my visits were mostly to the sick and aged - there are quite a number of that class, whom I felt to claim my sympathy & regard some among the poor of our own society and neglected ones, which gave me great peace of mind. I would not exchange the real pleasure those visits gave me - for all the evanescent happiness the votaries of Fashion enjoy.
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Please direct thy letters - P A Sands - Sing Sing New York. My husband is pretty well & would join me in love to thee if he were at home.
