folder 15: October–December 1852

[upper right corner] Savannah 15^th Oct 1852.

What can I say to my beloved Hannah that can comfort her, in this time of deep bereavement.

I have not words to express my deep my heartfelt sympathy for you - Oh! that I could have been with you, & that - even now I could come to you to soothe if possible your bitter anguish - We heard the sad intelligence last week, but I could not credit it - & could not believe it: so did not write you dearest Hannah. until M^r Couper's letter to John yesterday confirmed our saddest fears, and now we feel indeed that your darling little one is no more - & we weep with with [sic] you - we are not forbidden to shed the tears of sorrow for the dear departed ones, but we mourn not for them, but for ourselves - Your beloved little Isabella is now an angel in Heaven, & there she will wait for you to join her - Oh! my dear Hannah what a happy union - ! & then you will never know the sorrow, the pains of parting more. Think of this happiness my dearest friend - Your bereavement is very great and hard, hard to bear, but Oh dearest remember that the affliction comes from a Father[']s hand - and "He does not willingly afflict the children of men" -- The

Saviour looks down upon you with pity - and if you ask him in prayer he will comfort your heart. No earthly friend can sympathise with you so deeply my dear Hannah - So look to Jesus Christ for consolation & for peace - and you will not look for it, or ask it in vain - Remember his compass ionate heart, remember his tears at the grave of his friend, and know that he weeps with you also - So try ^to cheer up my beloved - Think what trials sorrow & sickness she is spared - if it had been God[']s will to prolong her life - a bitter future is allotted to all - and she too would have had to pass thro [through] that fiery ordeal - for none of us know [sic] what is before us - but now all is joy with her, & eternal too - Will this thought dearest Hannah not give you comfort? - That your little Isabel is perfectly happy, pure, and holy and that for ever - I will write no more to you just now my much loved friend, for I feel that many words will but open the wounds afresh - & hope to be with you soon - perhaps in the Tues-day[']s heat. Oh I need not tell you I long to be with you - & fully intended doing so, before Mr C wrote Mother, and only waited a cool change. Sickness prevails so extensively that my friends think I would be running a risk in moving any where before a frost, and the thought that were I to get sick with you - I would only be in

creasing your trouble, as all that prevents my saying positively - I will be with you, my wish was to leave to-morrow, but as the weather is cooler yesterday and today - the prospect of there being a frost before Tuesday induces me to wait till then. Jane & Pheme together with Sister & brother John ^ unite with me in offering to you their deepest sympathy and their warmest love - and the same to your kind husband - John I know will write to him - and now May God bless you and keep you and grant unto you now life and your dear husband and your dear children & that long years of happiness may be granted to you all is the sincere prayer of Your ever devoted friend Lou

If there is any thing you would like done - do write & even if I come in on the Tuesdays boat - Jane or E- will do it with pleasure for you -

[upper right corner] Allentown 15^th October 1852

My dearly beloved Tootee

What can be the reason that I have no letter this week from you? God! forbid you are sick or William or either of those dear children? I certainly am very unhappy the last few days, so many circumstances seem com-bined against me. Thank God! as far as I am aware there is neither sickness or death but painful suspense & disappointment. First we have not had a line from Lord since he left us: we have been expecting him since yesterday. Next no letter from you (tho' the girls have had letters forwarded here from New Haven) next two short letters from your beloved Father dated 15^th November September - he complains of a lame hand - is to leave California on the 1 or 15 Nov. but leaves our beloved Butler there until his successor arrives - He decidedly disapproves of my taking Malley home - recommends my even leaving Floyd & Tip Florence & Appy at school here. Then to add to all this uneasiness I must be looking over the vile New York Herald - The Editor is a perfect viper - he says "T. Butler King removed from Office - serious charges against him." Now this has put me into a perfect fever - Brother Henry has cut out the piece & enclosed it to M^r Filmore - requesting him to stay his decis -ion until my husband returns - Now my child you cannot wonder why I should be so unhappy. Certainly if ever a man served his country well & honestly - that man is T Butler King. & yet what reward has he received? May God! forgive his persecutors & slanderers - they are many & bitter. How short sighted are we poor mortals - only a few weeks ago I thought if I only had money enough to carry me comfortably home & could hear that your dear Father & Butler were well - that all were well with you - & those dear ones keep well - I would be content. Now I have money enough & to spare for that purpose. I have not heard that any of you are sick & yet I am made perfectly miserable by not hearing from you - Butler[']s remaining longer in California - This news Paper report - & Lord[']s silence, I am really miserable My darling child are you sick ? or William? or those dear children? Oh! how unhappy I am made - This evening[']s mail brought dear Butler[']s letters to Georgia - Lord & myself - Those letters give no particular information

relative to any particular subject - says nothing relative to his remaining after your Father has left - or of your Father[']s coming - I have been writing all day to those beloved ones far away. I wrote to Lord last night - & to Andrew. Henry would go at once to Washington City but for the delay of Andrew - It really seems as if A & Louisa are bound to thwart all of our plans - your sisters are so anxious to spend a few days in Philadelphia - Mary kindly offers to go with them but cant [sic] budge until Andrew comes or says he has given up coming. We have taken passage for the 30^th I will leave this for New York on the 23 or 25 I think, most likely the former. The weather has been very stormy the last 36 hours very cold with high wind today. I do hope all this bad weather will be over before we start home. G. F. have gone to return a call this evening - if I was only in better spirits I could give you an account of two young ladies who made were invited to tea here & staid [sic] until after dinner the next day. Adele Picot has re turned to this country, consequently Florence is more anxious than ever to go to Philadelphia. I will write again in a day or two I would have written you a longer letter but I am out of spirits altogether. Oh! my Tootee if any misfortune has befallen you or yours? God! be merciful to us all - Oh! that I had never left you. Your sisters & little Tip - your Uncle & Aunt all send love to William & yourself & kisses to the babies - Praying God! to bless you all - I am your devoted Mother [signed] AM King