folder 17: January 1856

you would send me your bonnet before you come so I can have it cleaned & trimmed- & The fethers died I do want you to come so much-

I look every day for my beloved Father & shall do all I can to make him comfortable- The [Everglade?] [leves?] here on Friday- If you wish your things sent by her you will have to write your trades people- & order them to that effect- John says he promises you prompt & faithful attention- These other boats are acting abominably- the St Johns with Capt King- & St Marys Capt Freebon will be out in about a month or 6 weeks- & then there will be better conduct- I am told that this [Everglade?] is a splendid boat- do come on in her- God grant dear Tips soar throat may pass off- I feel very anxious about you all- with this Scarlett fever &c. Sulaman says Beladona is no preventative- that even the [Horndpathest?] say [rest?]

Now- & that it only poisons the blood & begs that I will give the children nothing but pure air exersise & warm cloths he says he thinks it a very singular disease as it will be in a [Famely?] & not half of them get it- he says he has seen a [Famely?] of 5 children all in one room 3 get it & 2 escape- that there is no accounting for the Fever- That the Patient should be kept quiet and moderately warm not hot but comfortable gargle the throat- & take as little med icin as possible just enough to keep the bowels [guilly?] open- rub the throat with sweet oil & a very little hartshorn & be very carefull not to take coldOh may God in Mercy keep it from both of us- Did I tell you that he said yes that her infants Cord should not be cut for 25 or 30 minuts & that he thought that often the cord was cut too short- that it had better be 5 than 3- fingers long - he has been

with great numbers & never lost one I think if God Blesses me in allowing my dear ones to continue to improve I will now be able to attend to any thing you wish- so call on me I must stop now- William joins me in fond love to you all-

Susan & John send love- William says he thanks you one and all for your kind & affectionate [anx?] [iety?] he will do all men can to get well- The children all join me in many kissesto each of you beloved onesMay God bless you each & every one - Kiss each dear sister &brothers for me & let each one kiss you my own beloved Mother for your own [d?ed] child [?]

Christian Middleton Becky and Ellen all send howdy to all their Friends- Tell all the servants howdy for me- my dear [Maum Pussy Yind?] & [?ah] in particular &Maum [Bulty?] & [? [Ruthy?] & one & all

Metropolitan Hotel NY. Jan 6^th 1855 (T856?]

My dearest Mother

We have just arrived here, after a passage of 96 hours the longest, and I suspect the worst that has ever been made. You may judge therefore how sick I was and how very badly I now feel, as I have not been on shore more than three hours, and the whole house seems to be turning summersets. I will not take up time and paper in giving you an account of my trip, suffise it to say, that if it had not been so very [exe?ly] a ship that your younger son would most probably been be now taking the high chances for land on some old piece of [ro?ck].

I am as well as I can expect to be, after not eating anything for four days, and will [?a?] for West Point as soon as I can have my [?eath?] attended to

I hope the girls and Brother enjoyed them selves at [M^rs Bourks?] party, I thought of them on Wednesday night and must say envied them not a little.

I will write to Brother tomorrow or the next day.

Tootee Florence & Tommie I will write to as soon as I can find time.

And now my dearest mother if you will excuse this misserable scratch I will bring it to a close, for I feel too good for nothing to write any more.

The snow is a bout two feet thick,which makes it very cold and disagreable,

Love to all and write soon to your most affec Mallory P King