Transcription of 2004.035.

002 Doc-001
Transcribed with assistance from FromThePage.com users Tom York & kelseydchung
No. Bridgewater Nov. 26, 18[?]

My Dear Neice Eliza

My heart was
made glad the last week by the reception of your
kind, wellcome letter the more so, as
it had been so very long since I had heard from
any of you, begun to feel that you all had again
croped me from your list of corispondents but the re-
ception of your letter has done away with that feel-
ing, so now I take this early hour to reply, I
wish your mother had added a few lines to yours if
she only knew how very much I should have prized
it I think she would, I often think when I neglect
writing to dear absent friends. I know not how long
the privelege will be granted me to do so either one
or the other may be removed before the reach of our
expression of love and good will for each other.
I was glad you mentioned each member of your
family I could almost see you as [you] were on
that still Sabbath, your grandmother and two oldest
brothers away, which infered that they were still at
home, and the little boys seated by their
mother, learning some usefull lesson, and you pen-
nine lines to us. I suppose Anna has kept you
informed of all the important events of our family
connections, or up to the time of her leaving home
I was there just before she left, she seemed pleased
with the prospect of going, which seemed strange to
me after their sad experience in poor Ellen's sudden
removal in so unlooked manner, but Anna had long
wished to go, before the uncertainty of [Mr. S's?] where a-
bouts, it is my opinion that he come to his death
by the indians in crossing the Plain, or would have
been heard from before this, [Carra or Carrie] is to give up
her school at the end of this term, and be with
her mother, till her marriage which may be in the
Spring, your aunt Kempton keeps up and keeps
doing around her home till it looks really beautiful the
Trees have grown which has added much to its
beauty, she seems hopeful for the future although she
has met with so many disappointments. you think
we most enjoyed your aunt Hawes visit very much
that is but a faint expression of the real comfort it
afforded us, me in particular, coming at the time
that I was so sick that my physician gave no hope
of my recovery, knowing she intended to visit the East
the past summer, your uncle wrote her of my illness
and her ready response was that she would leave the
next day and be with us, O how my heart went out
in gratitude to our Heavenly Father when that letter
came, I was expecting your aunt Kempton the same
evening they came with in two hours of each other
neither expecting to meet, you may be sure it was
a happy meeting, my nurse, said it would be too much
for me to see them both I told her no I must see them
both that night and from that time I begun to
improve and now am comfortable by taking care
of myself can keep my room in order, do a good
deal of sewing for our little ones, go out but little as
the cold wind affects my lungs, and I feel the old trouble
your aunt Hawes visited N. Hampshire was gone
there seven weeks then came back and stayed
[five or two] weeks. Then to N. Bedford I went with her there
stayed ten days I came home and she went on to
the Vineyard, returned here the last of Oct'r, and
left for her Western home three weeks since, where
she arrived in safty, I think she had a pleasant home
with Shubeal he is a good son to her and does all he
can for comfort, he is of a happy cheerful temperment
that makes all happy around him, and your aunt
likes his wife, and their little Lillie is a pet with her
while in N. H. Mary Jane was there visiting her hus-
bands connections, they were fearful of the [cholera] in
Chicago, they remained there till Oct'r then returned
home, when the [cholera] broke out affresh and her hus-
band started her and baby [off] for Iowa, where he has
a sister living, a letter from her the same day yours came
saying she was there, and uncertain when she
should return home for her little one had the whooping cough
but she was in a hurry to get home for Capt Crocker
had writen her that he and Joanna expected to be in
Chicago soon to establish an agency for a sewing machine
of which he is interested in. you ask about Jennie
Morse I think she is all she promised to be when you
saw her as she matures she growes more lovly and com-
panionable but time makes its impress on her looks, she
is not as fresh and rosy nor as fleshy as she used to be
has many admirers, but I hear of no engagement
of marraige, a letter from your aunt Morse not long
since reported all in good health there. She had Joanna's
two little boys with her this winter the little girl is with her mother
now for ourselves your uncle has just
been in I invited him to write a few
lines he said he would think about it, so
left, Benjm is now at leisure having
finished all about the [Grapings?] and it
makes him uneasy to be idle and feels
that he must be doing something , but
business is rather dull at this time and
he may go to sea again but I hope not.
Lizzie is busy all the time with her little
family. They all go to school, Jennie reads
and spells for a child not quite six years
old the others are taking their first lessons
they are nice healthy children, while I
am writing Fannie is standing by me
asking many questions about you and
when you are coming, they are perpetu-
al motions and chatting all the time
spend a good seal of time with me
with kind remembrance to each of
of the dear family and a sh[?] for your
self I remain your loving aunt
J A Clark
they are in often from cousin
Edward and are all well aunt J Clark

[Written in margin of p. 1: mer is as smart as a cricket was down last week having her winter
bonnet fitted. JAC]

[Written in margin of p. 2: Benjm says he dont know what he is done that he is not remembered]