Letter from Charlotte to Samuel Cowles, 1836 March 15.

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    Farmington March 15. 1836.


    My Dear Brother,


    Yours was received yesterday, and as I thought you would be anxious to hear, I concluded to give an answer by the next mail. Mother is sitting by me, knitting, in full dress, cap and curls not excepted. She gains every day, and, we hope, will soon be able to ride out, which Dr thinks will be very advantageous. She was, of course, very much rejoiced to receive your letter, and remarked the difference in the conveniences for travelling and writing to absent friends, from the time when her father used to mount his good steed, andset out for Boston; not expecting to arrive there, at the best, within a number of days; and nothing was heard of him until his return. – Cousins Austin & Jennet leave today for New York; Mr & Mrs Starr & Miss Catharine are going on Thursday. Mr Barnard is expected in the course of a few weeks. – Noah Porter Jr. preached last Sunday.


    Rodney died yesterday morning. The funeral to be attended this afternoon. He died very suddenly. – Nothing of particular interest has occurred in the few days since you left us. Please write soon. Your affectionate sister,


    rend="end">Charlotte L. Cowles.



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    Tuesday Afternoon.


    Just a fortnight since you came home. What a change in that time! Can we ever be sufficiently grateful for this invaluable blessing? Who, two weeks ago, could have believed that she would be writing to you today? By mother’s dictation I write for her the following.


    My Dear Child,


    Who would have thought, two weeks ago, I should ever have penned another letter to my dear son. And why is it that I should have been spared, and another just my age removed to the eternal world, his account sealed his day of probation forever closed – no more prayers to be offered in his behalf. If he died with all his sins unpardoned, as we have reason to fear, where is the deathless soul? Thoughts such as these rushed upon my mind as the bell struck fifty-two. What a solemn thing to step from one world to another? “As the tree falls so it lieth – thus shall thou!” Oh my dear child, let us so livehereafter, that death shall not find us unprepared! That it shall find us in the possession of that peace which is the rare inheritance of the righteous. – Write again soon.


    ___________________________________________________


    And thus it is! Instead of our house being made desolate, by her removal, we are rejoicing in her recovery to comfortable health. But where is the gratitude which ought to fill our hearts? Alas! I am shocked



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    to find so little in mine!


    P.S. Grandpa fell down going home from church Sunday, and dislocated his shoulder.



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    Mr. Samuel S. Cowles


    Boston


    [annotated by Samuel Cowles: M. S. & Charlotte L. Cowles


    March 15, 1836]


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