1837-07-19_Letter-A_Alvord-to-MrsCPAlvord

Oberlin July 17, 1837

My dear Sister Clarice

You shall have a letter. I think it must be you are mistaken about not recieving any letters from us. I am sure I have written you more than once. If I have not written you please forget, and forgive. I assure you this neglect has not arisen from want of interest. I have usually meant you all when I have adressed you individually. We received your precious letter last week. And it came just in time. I was glad so glad to hear from home that I hardly slept or ate for several days. Your letters by Miss Crales were destroyed as you already know. The little box from Charley came safe. It came alone, nothing by which I could tell to whom I was indebted. In concluded it was from some such friend. Give him a thousand thanks and a dozen kisses. I ate them, and thought of home, sweet home. John has been here for several days—I was glad to see him. He is quite well and will write a part of this letter. How kind and good God has been to us while we have been separated one from the other. All has gone on well with us here and you at home have enjoyed health and prosperity. I could not just feel greatful when I read your letter. My own heart condemmed me. I felt that it was infinitely more than I deserved. But so it is—I was glad to hear of most you wrote—but was distressed read such bad things of Harriet White—I have not

heard anything of it before. Poor Girl. What a curse to herself, to her family, and what a reproach to the religion of Jesus Christ. I have see [?ania] in a few days but shall not dare breathe it to her. I think it must be that she has not heard of it. She is quite ill, very nervous, and I fear it will seriously affect her. I dont know but her piety would sustain her. I think it would. She was very near to God. When I heard from her last she was not able to study—How do her friends and the church hear it: I hope it will prove salutary, and make them up to see that the cause of Moral Reform is a righteous cause, and one that God solicits them to aid. Once and again that church has been smitten. And are they now ready to come up to this work? If not some heavens judgement will come upon them. O what masting desolation. And how is the enemy coming in like a flood. I hope the sisters in the church will at last do what they can to wipe away this reproach. Have they a Moral Reform So. there yet? If not, will now this be a good time to form one? Do Clarrissa have something done. Why none of us are safe. If God should with draw from us the restraining influences of his spirit we could not keep ourselves, and we might soon be among the fallen. And another thing—as Ma says, our little Brothers will soon be young men, and who knows what they will make. I beg God to have mercy, and restrain them from evil. There is no safe-guard save his grace. I have come to the end of my last page and must save the rest for John. I have not said half what I wish to say. I would cross my letters if I thought you would have patience to read.

it—About coming home. John will tell you all. If he says we shall not go tell after the close of the Fall term, don't be disappointed. And tell Ma not to trouble herself. If the Lord wants us to go he will take us safely over the hiy waters & long to see you all. My kind and best love to my dear Father for his dear letter. And to his Ma also. Kiss her and tell her my heart beats to see face once more. But I must stop—If possable will find some [unclear] with and write a word or two to Larson. My love to the [unclear]. To Charles with Amanda. I hope Charles will be a Christian. Tell him to look at poor Charles [unclear] and see what the weekend worker will do. Who ever thought that he would come to this. He was once an amiable consecrations boy, as much so as our dear Charity, [unclear] perhaps most lovely in his disposition.* My dear Faithe & Mother