folder 28: June–December 1857

White Spring Friday 5^th June 1857

My dearest [Anna],

Your kind letter, also interesting to me, would not have remained so long unanswered, but I know you will excuse it, when you understand that I have been entirely taken up with my poor [Mag], who has truly been a great sufferer; today is three weeks since the birth of her baby & she is now unable to sit up for a half hour. A month ago she brought by [D^r. Knight]s advise her youngest daughter [Mary] here for change of air having [wor?] fever the day after her arrival she [her?y] was taken with a severe affection of her bowels which could not be arrested & terminated in premature confinement - it was truly a mercy that she was here for [D^r Knight], indeed one & all of the family have been perfectly devoted to her - she has required such constant medical treatment that I do not think she would have been now alive had she not had constant, & the best attention

The little boy is a fine child & [secure? ? ?]

[left margin, written at right angle] very deeply the death of her little boy [Joseph?] - her little girl is a [?] fat little creature [?] is a fine boy allowed by every body but he has loot his resenblence to his Mother & is [n?] very like his Father - I will tell you all about them & the [Knights] when you

the spoon entirely, he is to be called very properly [Albion Knight]. [Mags] case is [ina?] despepsia which she has been troubled with for some months attended with at times disordered bowels - She has not the least appetite, no tonic seems to have any good effect on her, & the hot weather is much against her. Oh I am very troubled about her - & try hard to say Gods will be done but & some how when [?oce?] the perfect love they all have for her here think that she is one of those intended for a useful & short life.

Day after day I have hoped for a favourable change, which has not yet occurred & I am now [abreast?] in despair about any thing releiving her. Oh my god if [p?] be spare me the [?ing] of the bitter cup in my old age. My Brother wrote me that [Hannah] & her little ones were all expected a few days after he wrote me at Retreat & that dear little [Trooalie?] was a shade better - please try the salt water bath with her tepid at first, I have seen it do wonders with delicate

[left margin, written at right angle] [?] & I do hope you will be able to read this pray [?] it when read - Remember me most affectionately

children I do hope she will be restored to health poor little sufferer. I grieve to hear that dear [Floyd]s health is not good but trust to hear better accounts of him soon, also [has?] dear [Fip?] has recovered entirely from the effects of the measles; [M^rGoulding?] has been unfortunate in his school having both scarlet feber & measles. I was in hopes you would have had your husband & [Mallary] at home ere this. [Must?] they continue well you like the rest of us dearest friend have your [t?als], one day I believe we shall see clearly that they have all been sent us by a merciful Saviour & God who can never ere

My poor [Carolina] & my dear Brother are [?] drinking deeply - of that cup I do feel for them - dear little [Willie], they must feel her death, [Carolina] was perfectly devoted to him & is a most loving tender Mother to her children. my Brother too has great depth of feeling but does ot share it as much. I heard last week from my precious son [John] he was quite well on the 23^th in [Oosla?], said he would be with me in two or

[left margin, written at right angle] to each one of your dear family [?] & believe me [us?] love & affection ever yours devotedly

[A? Fraser?]

three weeks unless detained longer [then?] he espected, at the time he wrote. [Hear] [?cekly?] from my daughters all were thank God well - [Beck?] was on a visit to Lafayette, & [Dalton] when she was enjoying herself much with our cousins the [Bakers], & cousin [Susan Russell?]s family who think her a paragon of perfection. Thank you dear [Anna] for your repeated kind invitiations it will be a greater disappointment to me [then?] yourself if I am prevented paying you a long visit. you now have a [double? in?] to me now- [Hannah] & her little ones whom I have not seen for a very long time, being with you. You must excuse this [scrawl?] for it has been a battle with the yellow flies & myself all the ime, they are numerous & bite sharply - fortunately they are [?t] troubled with [mouchetors?] - & [the?] fly is only troublesome in the day - [M^rs Paul Demere] is at present here on a visit she sends much love to you & yours & was delighted to hear all about your family she has a very fine family of [children?] has [f?]

[left margin written at right angle] should any enquire after me remember me kindly

I have avoided writing my girls & [John] this week for I can tell them nothing but what would [distress?] them about their sister therefore [thought?] I had better be silent [hoping?] that by the next mail I may be enabled to do so.

Savannah Georgia June 13^th1837

My dearst [Flora?]

I dont refer to the black woman, who takes care of the little negroes at [Newfield?] But to you, my dear, "the Maid of Washington". Thank you for the scrap of a [?oted] [?curred?] from you on the 9^th. So as soon as I left you all "[sfrigged?]" your [sil?s] up, & had two parties, well! I like that. I am sorry that dear [Jinnie? shoulr? even?] ornament the wall! - [But?] must say I am not sorry she was caused to feel my absence, & I wish for my [f?]- Tell her she better stick to me & not throw me off for any strange [gods?], or Lords either. And [?] [Tip?] must take by buggy, & dash