| 1 | Author: | Adams
Abigail
1744-1818 | Add | | Title: | Letters of Mrs. Adams | | | Published: | 2003 | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | Description: | "When President Monroe was in Boston, upon.
his late tour, encompassed by citizens, surrounded
by the military, harassed by invitations
to parties, and applications innumerable
for office, some gentleman asked him if he was
not completely worn out? To which he replied,
'O no. A little flattery will support a man
through great fatigue.' I may apply the observation
to myself and say, that the flattery in
your letter leads me to break through the aversion,
which is daily increasing upon me, to
writing. The public papers, my dear friend, announce
the fatal event of which your letter of October
the 20th had given me ominous foreboding.
Tried myself in the school of affliction, by the
loss of every form of connexion which can rive
the human heart, I know well, and feel what
you have lost, what you have suffered, are
suffering, and have yet to endure. The same
trials have taught me, that for ills so immeasurable,
time and silence are the only medicine.
I will not therefore, by useless condolences, open
afresh the sluices of your grief, nor, although
mingling sincerely my tears with yours, will I
say a word more where words are vain; but
that it is of some comfort to us both, that the
term is not very distant, at which we are to
deposit in the same cerement our sorrows and
suffering bodies, and to ascend in essence to an
ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved
and lost, and whom we shall still love and
never lose again. DOES not my friend think me a stupid girl, when
she has kindly offered to correspond with me, that
I should be so senseless as not to accept the offer?
Senseless and stupid I would confess myself, and
that to the greatest degree, if I did not foresee the
many advantages I shall receive from corresponding
with a lady of your known prudence and understanding. | | Similar Items: | Find |
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