 | Berkeley papers |  |
Yours of the 6th came to hand yesterday. The day before
yesterday I saw Mr. Wilder who told me you were all well. I sent
by him a note to Ellen together with Eliza Ridgelys likeness which
she was very anxious to send to her Aunt, and which she expected
to send by you if you paid us a visit during the fall. Mr. W. says
the people are very sorry you are going to leave Leesburg. I told
him we were sorry too, in some respects, but that we had no doubt
it would be much better for you and your family. And we do sincerely
hope and pray that all things may work together for good in the
change of home you are about to make. Great has been the change
which has come over Leesburg since you and I first knew it. I
know of no consideration that could induce me to make my home
there after you shall have left it. All attraction seems to be
withdrawn from it for me,except (as I said in a former letter) the
graves of my ancestry, which I shall hope to visit occasionally as
long as I can. Not that I do not appreciate the friendship of some
few that still remain. How true it is that here we have no continuing
City. We lodge awhile in tents here in the wilderness, hoping
after a few years to be permitted to cross over into the good
land, that land which flows with milk & honey, where I trust we
shall all obtain an inheritance incorruptable, undefiled and that
fadeth not away.
As regards my own movements, I do not know what I may do
in the spring, but at present our expectation is that we shall
not receive a regular appointment to any field of labor. I do not
think my health sufficiently good, nor do I consider Eliza's
health at all equal to the exposures of the Itinerancy, and we may
probably remain Sup as before. Doctor Davis is now (and nearly
always) confined to his bed, and we do not know at what time he
may be taken from us.
Well now a word about Dave. I intended to say in a former
letter that you could consult your own convenience in sending
him home either at Christmas, or when you leave in April or May.
I do not wish you to send him until you leave, if you find it necessary
to keep him until that time. I have no other use for him
but to hire him out, which I should do if you send him in the
spring just as well as at Christmas. You will therefore suit your
own convenience in the matter.
I am told that the southerners are not at all satisfied
with their new preacher Mr. Cross. You have seen that the property
question has been amicably settled with the aid of Judge Mclane,
and it is to be hoped that a better state of feeling will be brough
to operate between the two churches. Congress has chosen one from
each side as Chaplins both being "hards". No more at present. We
all join in love to you all. May we have grace to live here so as
to live together hereafter.
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