18

Oaklawn Friday 19th May 1837
I seem to have awoke from a slumber of six weeks
not without the sensibility of acute pain. yea severe
all this time Much precious time all this at least, I have
lost forever and can never regain much valuable reading
and several important things I hoped to have a [?]
during this time thus lost in consequence of my
affection. But so it is. The spring is in full bloom,
all the attractions arising from fishing which
was a great business this year, having past wi-
thout my participation in the pleasures. While men
were busy and pleased worshipping the Mammon
of this and that wordly project, I writhed in
pain, no doubt forgotten by most of them professing
to be my friends when I was well who visited cons-
oled and sympaththised with me while I was sick par-
[ching?] with fever and tortured with pain on my
bed confined. One, two, three, no more I should liked
to have been visited by my select neighbourhood fri-
ends. I discover by experience however that the
neighborhood peasantry are the true friends
to the sick. These in future shall share more
of my regard in addition to the [?] I have
ever entertained for them. The affluent and
gay forget a friend so soon that it is a demonstra-
tion that there are no true friends without inter-
est. A few weeks absence either by death or tem-
porary exile alienate friends. After a little absence
meet your old acquaintance why he seems not
so glad to see you as if he had been in your company
nearly every day previous especially at a [?]
-no [?] the of reception but cold formality.
Such is the case in this neighborhood, as war-
m hearted friends and the people are to one another
while well & minding their business. Why is it so?
this I think ill breeding arising from shall-
ow education and but little knowledge of
the world- of human nature and of man's
duty either from reading or travelling. In telli
gent persons who love to expatiate on knowledge
in conversation feel and know the value of intelli
gent acquaintances, love their society and regret their
absence. And when sickness or death intervenes real
concern and sorrow follow as certain as they love
knowledge and accomplishments.