University of Virginia Library

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What has become of your interest for your old home, your
Father, Brothers etc etc? Was I gifted with a spirit of prophecy
when I stated in anticipation this state of things as likely to
result from your attachment to a certain most bewitching personage?
or did your affection depend only upon that legal subordination
due to your father untill you were 21? You will begin to
think with me, if you have not already found it out, that man is a
selfish being, we have, we say, to take care of ourselves. Man generally
flatters himself that his devotion, constant & persevering
to the lawful business of life, is justified by the word of God,
but when the motive is properly dissected & scrutinized, there will
be found mixed up with it a large share of covetousness & unsanctified
desire. There is great room for improvement in our modes of
thinking upon these subjects. The mental & spiritual enjoyments of
man are circumscribed or neglected by the everlasting effort to
cater to the demands of the physical—cormorantlike man. With
these suggestions I pass on, & assure you that the infrequency of
your epistles to us has been the cause of some unpleasant feelings
& surmises. Will you not amend your ways. Try & do so & I will
promise to draw the pen of oblivion over your past errors in this
respect. You have been repeatedly assured of the great pleasure it
affords us to receive your letters often.

I do not recollect whether you have been informed of the
painful news from Ohio. Your Aunt Charlotte departed this life
about the 22d ult. in childbed, & left a most distressed Husband
& 6 or 7 little children. In [OMITTED]of these sad bereavements & adverse
providences we are led to cry out, O Lord stay Thy hand,
"behold the Goodness & severity of God" but we will not give up
our shield. We believe & confess`Jesus Christ is the Son of God'.
He is merciful & true, `all things shall work together for Good to
them who love him'.

We rec.d a letter from her Husband who gave all the particulars.
She was pious & died with hope & assurance of her acceptance
with God. Chris Stover was here about 1st inst & had got
Aunt H. to consent to go out with him. They had got to Balto on
their way where he.met a man from Tiffin who told him of the sad
calamity. This so astonished him that he came back & left H. here
& returned alone. We expect to hear from them soon. They all talk
of moving back to Md.

I have a good deal to say to you but as the mail will
close in a few minutes I must defer them. I will however again
assure you of the great solicitude & interest constantly entertained
for you welfare & happiness by us all & this should stimulate
you to a return of some little acknowledgement. Our best love to
you & Edward.