folder 15: October–December 1852

that you had not been alone under such circumstances.

I have through a letter from Caroline ^just received heard of your loss, she says my Brother & Bob had both been quite sick with fever but were recovering. Knowing how unhealthy it has been I have been in a constant state of nervous anxiety about you all. I prayed & hoped that the season might pass without bereavement to any of us, but God[']s will must be done & we must submit.

I heard from John two days ago he was quite well & said Savannah was becoming more healthy & poor M^rs [Pootell?] recovering from her illness. that family have in truth have had a constant succession of bereavements attended with procrastinated sickness & suffering, poor John C his experience of married life has been a melancholy one.

We have been all well except Fanny who has been suffering very much with toothache but having had the tooth extracted she is well again. It is very cool at present here & a fire is comfortable.

M^rs Read (Mary Young that was) left us yesterday having spent a few days with us, she was not feeling well & came for a little change she inquired very

particularly about all on S^t Simons.

I feel too terrible to write any more so you must excuse this short letter. The girls join me in affectionate love to you both & a kiss to each of the dear children Adieu my dear Brother & Sister would to God that I could do or say any thing to comfort you I can only pray for you & that I do wish fervently that he may have mercy & give you resignation under your heavy affliction may God bless you all more & ever. Your affectionate Sister

S J Fraser

[written in pencil, upper left corner] [Mrs William A. Couper Frederica St. Simons Isld Georgia]

[upper right corner] San Francisco Cal: Oct: 13^th 1852

My own dearest Sister

Many thanks for your dear letter of "August 17th" though I had hoped it would have been of a later date - as I saw by the papers that a severe storm had taken place on the 27^th of that month in Savannah - and we feel very uneasy with regard to the effect it may have had on the Island. - I hope the next mail will bring me a letter from you saying you are all safe. - I am afraid the old house at Retreat could not stand much of a blow - but if it can[']t it better go before our dear Mother returns. - I agree purfectly [sic] with you with re= =gard to Lord and Lillie - but he is old enough to take care of himself so it is no one[']s business. I liked her very very much for the time I knew her.

I am truly shocked at the calamities which have fallen upon poor M^r Stephen King[']s family - it is truly dreadful - And he has my warmest sympathy. Since you wrote me of course you have heard of the death of his wife. - poor old man what is the world now to him. - And old M^r Gouly too you say is fast passing away - I would like much to see the old gentleman once more, is his daughter Mary with him? What has become of his son James? -

In our dear Mother[']s last letter to me, she spoke of re= =turning to the Island early in this month. I hope the sickness of Rebecca Couper will be a war= =ning to her, for as you say the Island is full of water it must be more or less sickly. - So Anna thinks she will have grown so much I won't know her - tell her there is no danger of that - and she will find it out too when I grab her I wonder if Willie will remember me - Bell won[']t - and I have my doubts

about King[']s recognising me im= =mediately. I saw in a Boston paper that James Houston has been killed by his negrows [Negroes], and that the four men & one woman who were implicated in the murder had been hung in Darien by the people. Why in the world did you not write me something of this? I always said some of those d - d McIntosh County negrows [sic] would have to be hung - it is a pity they would not hang some more -

Please give my love to all the dear ones at home - Kiss your little ones for me, and my dear little Anna in particular - Remember me Affection= =ately to your good Husband. And always think of my [me] my best loved Sister as - what I ever have been - Your most Affectionately Attached Brother T. Butler King Jr

To Mr^rs W^m A. Couper Frederica S^t Simons Isl^d Ga }