Front: Noah Webster letter to Emily Ellsworth, 1838 April 3

New Haven April 3. 1838

Dear Emily

I am sorry to be informed that your
lameness continues; it is & will be a serious drawback
from earthly comforts. But I trust you will submit patiently
to this & other evils, which are inflicted on mortals to withdraw
their affections from earthly objects. You have many things
to console you; & not the least of these, the circumstance that
your children are embracing the offer of salvation. If there
is one thing on earth that prominently adds to parents
happiness, it is to have their children embracing the gospel.
I have a great deal of this happiness in the course of
my children & grandchildren. Give my kindest love to
your children, & assure them I rejoice at thier deter-
mination to lead a life of christian integrity. They will
find religion thier best support in the multiplied trials
& adversities which must necessarily be encountered in
this changeable world.

Your mother has been pretty severely affected with
influenza, but is better. Lucy is so much affected that
she cannot speak loud.

Julia left home this morning for Washington, in pretty
good spirits.

William writes to me to send him Wild Flowers. If you
can send me a copy, I can probably send it by Mr
Curtis of La Fayette, partner of Mr Ellsworth, who is now on
a visit to his native place, Springfield. He is to accompany
Rosalie to La Fayette, & I suppose he will come this way.

The