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Farewell my dear cousin, and think of me always as affectionately thine,
R. Robinson
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My dear cousin,
Thy kind and very welcome letter was received last Fifth-day evening and I hoped then to answer it on First-day, but was disappointed, and yesterday too: but I will not waste time in making excuses, - had I been as well as usual, it was my purpose to have written some time ago, as I knew thou wouldst be a little anxious to hear from us, - I did think myself thy debtor in this line as thy last had been replied before thou wast here, - yet that would have made difference between us, - for thy letters are ever truly welcome. - and I feel assured that mine are [but?] burdensome to thee: thy last was answered 10th mon. 13th. After thou left us, I remained about as comfortable as when thou wast here, until the 27th of last month when I had severe attack of pain in my bowels, such as I had several times eight years ago this winter, it came in early in the evening, and I suffered a good deal all night,- the morning found me much weakened, so that I could only sit up to have my bed made. - Sixth-day night I could lie upon my back as well as my right side, - sat up nearly two hours on Seventh-day, that night could lie a little while at a time on my left side, and on First-day sat up about four hours, - we sent for R. Orvis on First-day, she came and staid with me all night, bathed me spirits and gave me catnip Aniseed and [Lakelia?] tea, which soothed me nicely and quieted my cough, - she has attended to me since, and now I sit up all day except two hours after dinner, [us?] to [pretty?] [well?] and night, and can walk about the room considerably, sew some and write to Ann, do some little at putting things in place and feel that I am gaining the rest rapidly: - My appetite is pretty good, tho' I do not crave food very often, - drink neither tea nor coffee, - am allowed cocoa and sage tea, very pleasant substitutes,
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will be acceptable. - We had a very quiet, lonely Thanksgiving - no one of our kindred to come and share with us, - there were two besides our family - a friend of Rosaland's, and Roxy C. - I dined alone. We made little preparation, as there was no one to oversee it, but we had sufficient to excite our gratitude, both in quantity and quality.
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so that there is [no?]t a great deal of self-denial required. - yet if a comfortable condition of body could be the result - there is no sacrifice of this kind, that I would not be willing to make: well this is a long story of self, - and yet I have seen no way to make it briefer - and give thee a satisfactory detail: thy cousin has been quite poorly for a few days, but is now much better: G. and R. too, have been unwell with colds, and dear R. feels very heavy hearted just for his favorite - Trump - died yesterday morning after a short sickness, something like lung fever we think, - I sympathise very much with Rowland, for he was very much attached to his canine friend, - and the attachment was fully reciprocated. - Trump was a very pleasant affectionate dog, - and we all feel his loss, his death makes quite a vacancy in the family, strange as it may seem to some. Rowland took a capital likeness of his head, ere he buried him, and we really prize it, I assure thee: - to some this would seem like a very foolish item to communicate, but I cannot help it, - and believe thou will appreciate our feeling.
Cousin David passed away very quietly about 8 o'clock, on the morning of the 27th of last month, and was buried the 29th: thy cousin R. was not well enough to attend the funeral, but went up the day before, and staid a while: Sarah told him there was little change, - she thought he was conscious that the end was nigh, tho' he said nothing: none of his children were there at the close, which to me seems very, very sad: to me, there is something inexpressibly painful in the idea of a death bed [unsathed?] by affection and kind ministrations from loved hands, - and what amount of wealth can be an equivalent for the tender acts and words [prompted?] by loved and loving hearts? I could far rather be poor, and enjoy the soul's richest treasure, [underline]love[/underline]. - It is thought by many, that the settlement of [underline]this[/underline]
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My petticoat, which thou so kindly offered to quilt for me, is ready for wearing, except the shoulder-straps are not sewed on, - and two of my comfortables are made, - Roxy Champ has come and sewed for me a few days, - she had to work alone as I was unable to help, she is a good hand, and did me a great kindness, - could not stay any longer as she had
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attendiing to me, - and I believe try to do the best they can, in household affairs, with my advice, so I endeavor to feel quiet, hoping all will be well, if we endeavor to do right. I should have told thee that Lloyd's cough and knee are troublesome, the others are in usual health except precious Fanny, who took a bad cold, when their first snow came, she went out to play in it; - their new teacher has been there a month, - they get along nicely and "aunt A." feels relieved from a burden.
Thou asked after Fanny Cram, she remains quite feeble, but rather variable in condition, - at times comfortable, and then in a day or two, suffering very much her sister Wills - a widow in easy circumstances - has been with her for some weeks, and Mary Ann Noonan is still there. - We were all glad to hear of thy family - scattered as they are - that none are really sick, - yet we should feel joy in our hearts, could we know that all the dear ones of your household were again a home-band, enjoying each other's society, the best of all [underline]earthly[/underline] blessings. I feel much sympathy for thy dear Ann, it must be no small trial to remain away so, - from the loved ones, and that dear spot, home, - yet she has I hope some compensationn for it, in the acquisition of knowledge and the interchange of kindness with others less favored than herself. - I am glad thy William still feels as if he was in the right place and strength to perform its duties, - yet I know well that thy heart be filled with anxiety and fear on his account: life has very many trials for most of us, - and blessed are they, whose hopes and desires are not centred in [underline]this[/underline] world. 11th I could not finish this in time for to-days mail, the hour for closing is much earlier than some weeks ago, so it is often quite an inconvenience to us. The weather here is almost spring-like, tho' to-day the wind is in the north. We have had no sleighing but considerable snow, it soon left us, and the ground is bare.
