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As the Session draws towards its close my labors necessarily
become even more severe, leaving me hardly the time for necessary
rest. I am thus deprived not only of the opportunity of
visiting you in your long continued and painful affliction, but
even of that of writing to you. You must not imagine that I would
willingly omit doing any thing I can do that would contribute to
your comfort or happiness; but believe that I am constrained by
circumstances which I cannot well control. I am thankful that thus
far the present session, amid so much sickness in the community,
my own health has been pretty good, excepting a slight attack that
confined me to my room for a week. To complete the labors of the
Session it will demand all my strength & energy, even should my
health be preserved. Edward has had a pretty sharp attack of the
measles, but is now recovering fairly. Only Bob & one of the negro
children remain to have the measles. It is doubtful if Eliza Broadus
has had them. She had no eruption, although she had some of the
symptoms.
I presume that you may have heard of poor Mrs. Courtenay's
death. She had not recovered from her confinement-became very much
worse Saturday & Sunday, and died Monday. She leaves behind her
Five little children. I presume, from what I have heard, that she
had hardly any expectation of such an issue. The family had not
expected it until Monday. Dr. Howard himself was hoping for her
recovery until Monday morning. Our community was very greatly
shocked by the unexpected and melancholy result. We ought to make
this a solemn warning to be ready for the coming of the messenger
of death. The only way of safety is to be always ready. This we
may be, if we make Christ our timely refuge.
I trust you have more bodily comfort, and that you are
steadily and hourly reposing yourself on the all sufficient atonement
of Christ-and that you have comfort in believing. Let not go
your confidence, but implicitly believe God's promises of grace &
mercy, always remembering that we are saved through the great goodness
& mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Properly speaking our faith
has no merit-we are by it enabled to receive the benefits of Christ's
death & atonement-but it is the free gift of God through Christ
that we are saved.
William Stevens mentioned in a note I had from him two or
three days ago, that the rest of the family were pretty well. Please
give them my love, & believe me,
has not been so well today. At one time I had no hope of her recovery.
Why does not Caroline sometimes write? I am always anxious to
hear from you, and Mary Jane has not the opportunity to write as
frequently as I could wish.
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