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We had the happiness to hear from your dear
Father & Butler on Monday last up to the 30^th of
July - Thank God! both were quite well - dear
Butler says "I am so happy to hear you are better
I can scarce tell the truth." What a dear good son he
is. I know you write to one or the other of them every fort-
night - Oh! my Tootee how mercifully we have been dealt
with. If we are not rich - still we have the rich wealth
of loving hearts to enjoy the little we have & God! merci-
fully grants us life. By yesterdays [sic] Herald I see the
death of Mrs Stephen King coupled with that of Hannah
Lords [sic] - as having died in July. How severely they have been
visited. Oh! how much do I pity the survivors - How suddenly
has that family been broken up. I really fear poor old
Steve cannot survive such shocks. Mrs Preston still boards
here - She is a very pleasant lady - She seems to feel very
much for the Kings - I cannot realize those deaths - I forget
all their unkindness in pity to their misfortunes. Oh! that
I could drop take one drop from their cup of bitter sorrow
I[t] seems perhaps strange that we do not feel more for
them. We do feel - but Oh! not as such near relatives should.

I have yet to write my California letters & am
trying hard to get this into the office so as to get it
taken by the Steamer tomorrow. I find the Land
Mails have been delayed by the late storm - I very
much fear it extended to our poor little Island.

Dear Tootee how hard dear William has been work-
ing to make my poor old House comfortable - He has
been a kind son to me - & you my child are blessed in having
such a husband - Oh! Tootee I am very stupid - I could
say a great deal on this subject could I find words to