folder 17: January 1856

Sunday 27th January 1856

My dearly beloved Georgia, Flo, and [Appy} I have just been having a little talk with our darling Butler who got home through rain and storm about two oclock last night. His cough is very bad but he makes lightof it. Oh my children in what a state of painful anxiety I am kept. Just to think your dear father far away alone among strangers- dear Mallery and Tip also far away alone among strangers. Your beloved daughters and sons and grandchildren my precious Appy confined to her bed- have had fever and may be getting measles- dear [Tooter's]? children all exposed to the infection. My poor Floyd now down with it- Butler with a bad cold- I only free from bodily ailment but far rather would I have all you could all suffer than have either of you feel a finger ache. I very much fear for my precious Appy. I know you will all watch over her with as much care as I could and then you can get medical advice which I can't were she here. I do hope and trust you will neither of you think it your duty to come to my assistance. Virginia if she has not already taken infection from Floyd would be thrown again in the way of it. You my Georgia can be of most service to Appy sick or well than toFloyd. And my precious Florence is so capable and so willing to help you take care of Appy. No do not think it your duty to return home first now. Dear Floyd has had little or no fever since yesterday morning- he complains of nothing now but his cough which at times is severe but no worse than before you left us. He is of course impatient of confinement. I was alarmed about his throat -the second ? on Friday night- but that no longer troubles him. The eruption is disappearing sooner than it does

in ordinary cases but it must be taken into consideration the ? backs it has had. But for his natural strength of constitution his case may have been a very serious one. If please God, dear Appy does well, try and enjoy your visit, only do not neglect to write me by every mail and let me know exactly (mind you no concealments from me) how she is and how each of you are. You my Geo- you my Flo- you my Appy, my poor Tooter her children- Lordy- William-Clem and Bell. It is always best for the mind to be prepared for the worst. And if after dear Floyds nine days are over- any one of you should be ill. I could leave him and come to you- God! grant I may not be called on to do so. That my poor Appy may soon be well again and no other of you loved ones be sick. I am glad you are so pleasantly supplied with ( I forgot the ?) I mean that you are in the same house with Mrs. [Blinch] ? Maggy and the ? If you are all well you ought to enjoy yourselves- it would be paying you no compliment to say I do not feel your absence. I most asuredly do- but that must not prevent your enjoyment. You may never again have so good an opportunity to do so. " Make hay whilst the sun shines" If please God dear Floyd gets on as well as he now seems to be doing- if dear Butler gets no worse, if I can hear of all of you dear absent ones doing well I will and can manage to get along very well. The weather since yesterday has been very trying to the well as to the sick- The rain a second ? and I suppose afterwards will come another freeze. Will you believe it- that trifling little fellow left- his overcoat and the poor boy how he must suffer for the want of it-