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working beyond thy strength - I am very thankful Horace sent thee those boots - can thee keep thy feet dry -
I was surprised that Henry left the place he was so well suited with, but suppose he sighs for military advancement - but oh! those dreadful Picket duties - my very soul shrinks from them.
I found a long letter from Moses when I got home - he thinks if war was ever justifiable it is in this case - I can not yet think it ever is - for christians to rush upon each other like the wild beast of the forest can never seem right to me as long as I remember the golden rule - Wm. Dean & wife had gone to [a?] meeting to Farnham when I left - I was in hopes to see thy letter to him but did not think it best to stay from home any longer.
I brought some buckwheat from F. & the clock now warns me that it is time to bake some cakes for supper - so with kind regard to Henry I will close this very poorly written letter, having a poor pen & hands stiff & trembling with washing - Uncle T's Folks are pretty well and P. not very smart.
Farewell my dear boy - mother
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East Montpelier 16th of 2nd mo. 1862
My dear Willie
Thy letter to Howard is the last inteligence we have had from thee thee sent him a very nice letter - & I am very thankful to hear of thy comfortable health - I should think your mud must cast a gloom over every thing besides being most unhealthy -
2nd P.M. I had written thus far last evening, when John & Maria came in so had to delay till after washing to-day. Aunt Mary & I have been most sick with colds for a week - I am much better, but I think she has added to hers - I came home on 7th day a week ago - on reviewing my stay there I feel well satisfied that I was in my place - The kindness & liberality of my friends went far beyond what I deserve. Ann Minturn said to me at one time
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I hope for a letter from thee tomorrow, did not hear all last week
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"Oh!, cousin Rachel, what should we have done without thee? we have all looked up to thee as a mother -" I found the family will - Thomas had gone to Middlesex to attend the funeral of Paulina Gallison as bearer with J.C.T. uncle [Abial?] French was buried the day before Estelle Southwick's funeral was also attended at the East village & O. Ormshe's at the center while I was abscent only three weeks - So the grim messenger visits all [underline]places[/underline] - "Thou hast all [underline]seasons[/underline] for thine own oh, Death" - "To live, that when our summons comes" - we may be "sustained & soothed by an unfaltering trust" - Will it not then be joyful to say "farewell conflicting hopes & fears" -
James came home smart & well last sixth day - he expects to go back next week - I hope & believe he is a pretty good boy - though he had a little fuss with Mc. [I?]. with some of the other boys - but Fanny expects to go back this
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spring & he anticipates much from that - Thomas's eyes are much better he is drawing wood to the village works, as usual, very industriously but finds some time to ride about - while I was gone they went to three funerals & three lectures - once to the village & he brought Jane to a lecture & after she visited at Eben's, Loren's &c. &c. he carried her home & last week he & Orlana & G.D. & Carny went to pay the visit - Ann wants to know if he & Jane have had a flare up-
I hear that Charley P's Riker girl is making a long visit at Reuben's - they think that Sophia is improving -
Of course I could not want thee to stay in the hospital when thee found it too hard for thee - I should think thy present imployment was very arduous - all I can do, is to hope thee will be discreet & prudent of thy health - discharge thy duties faithfully but not grasp too much - no one will ever thank thee for
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East Montpelier 16th Of 2nd month 1862
My dear Willie,
Thy letter to Howard is the last intelligence we have had from thee. Thee sent him a very nice letter and I am thankful to hear of thy comfortable health. I should think you mud must cast a gloom over everything besides being most unhealthy.
2nd P.M. I had written thus far last evening when John & Maria came in so had to delay until after washing today. Aunt Mary & I have been most sick with colds for a week. I am much better, but I think she had added to hers. I came home on 7th day a week ago. On reviewing my stay there I feel well satisfied that I was in my place. The kindness and liberality of my friends went fat beyond what I deserve. Ann Minturn said to me at one time, "oh! Cousin Rachel, what should we have done without thee? We have all looked up to thee as a mother." I found the family well. Thomas had gone to Middlesex to attend the funeral of Paulina Gallison as bearer with J. C. T. Uncle Abel French was buried the day before. Estelle Southwick's funeral was also attended at the East Village & O. Ornish's at the center while I was absent only three weeks. So the grim messenger visits all places - 'Thou has all seasons for thine own oh, Death.' 'To live, that when our summons comes' we may be 'sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust.' Will it not then be joyful to say 'farewell conflicting hopes and fears.'
James came home smart and well last sixth day - he expects to go back next week. I hope and believe he is a pretty good boy, though he had a little fuss with Mc. T. & with some of the other boys. But Fanny expects to go back this spring and he anticipates much from that. Thomas' eyes are muhc better. He is drawing wood to the village. Works as usual, very industriously but finds some time to ride about. While I was gone they went to three funerals and three lectures - once to the village and he brought Jane to a lecture and after she visited at Eben's, Loren's etc. he carried her home - and last week he and Orlana and G. D. and Carny went to pay the visit. Ann wants to know if he and Jane had a flare up.
I hear that Charley P's Riker girl is making a long visit at Reuben's - they think that Soppia (Sophia?) is improving.
Of course I would not want thee to stay in the hospital when thee found it too hard for thee. I should think thy present employment was very arduous. All I can do is hope thee will be discreet and prudent of thy health - discharge thy duties faithfully but not grasp too much - no one will ever thank thee for working beyond thy strength. I am very thankful Horace sent thee those books - can thee keep thy feet dry?
I was surprised that Henry left the place he was so well suited with, but suppose he sighs for military advancement - but oh! those dreadful Picket duties - my very soul shrinks from them.
I found a very long letter from Moses when I got home - he thinks if war was ever justifiable, it is in this case. I can not yet think it ever is - for Christians to rush upon each other like the wild beast of the forest can never seem right to me as long as I remember the golden rule. Wm. Dean and wife had gone to meeting to Farnham when I left. I was in hopes to see thy letters to him but did not think it best to stay from home any longer.
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I brought some buckwheat from Th and the clock now warns me that it is time to back some cakes for supper - so with kind regards to Henry I will close this very poorly written letter, having a poor pen and hands stiff and trembling with washing. Uncle T's folks are pretty well, Aunt P is not very smart.
Farewell my dear boy ---- Mother
**I hope for a letter from thee tomorrow, did not hear all last week.
