Monday Feb 22^nd –
My dear Sister
Monday has come round again –
Henry has gone to Washington – and you have
not come to see us – I sat up last night
with Mrs Pitney and am stupid enough
in consequence to day – Mrs Pitney has
had of late frequent attacks of the same
inflammatory disease with which she
has suffered the last six years – the Dr
calls it inflammation of the stomach perhaps
it is – She suffered greatly last week – one
day the family thought she would not
continue through the day – She has since
that time been constantly under the influence
of opium so that it is very difficult to
ascertain her true situation – I have called
frequently and yesterday morning at her
request went over and sat with her
three hours – as they had no person engaged –
to watch I offered my services and was
gladly accepted – One of the three hours
I was there in the morning she sat with
her hands and feet immersed in warm
water for the purpose of equalizing the
circulation – she has been literally covered
with blisters and two on her back

[top Margin]
to hear the happy [ allsusion ]

x

Alternate Text

Alternate Text: allusion

to the
Historical Society –
I want much to
go and see Mrs Wright

x

Martha Wright

Birth: 1806-12-25 Death: 1875-01-04Certainty: Possible

but between Mrs
Miller

x

Mary Miller

Birth: 1785-04-24 Death: 1870-04-17Certainty: Probable

and Mrs Pitney my time is occupied –
Mrs Wright laments that you have not written

[left Margin]
I received the little stockings ––
your own
Sister –

to me give strong indications of mortification
Dr Pitney says she cannot recover and
will not probably survive the ensuing
month – They have sent for her son
but he is in Louisiana and cannot reach
her under three weeks – She is only desirous
to live to see her child – is perfectly resigned
to ^in^ the prospect of exchanging worlds and
when free from pain very cheerful – She
has no ties except to her child to make
life desirable – Mrs Salisbury her sister
is with her and entirely devoted to her
except yourself I never saw a more faithful
nurse – She lies in the room on a couch
and is always awake and up the moment
Mrs Pitney speaks – I gave her no medicine
during the night, some very light nour-
ishments every two hours – Mrs S– made
diverse revelations to me which were
of such a nature that I must reserve
them until we meet – – You would
have supposed had you seen Mary for
the first time yesterday that she was
the most affectionate of children nursing
a beloved and venerated mother –
Nothing can exceed her tact unless it be
her duplicity – She is very efficient and
did every thing at the right time and
in the most becoming manner – I no

longer wonder that she cheats the men
with all my previous [ knowlede ] of her char-
acter the conviction would occasionally cross
my mind that she must be influenced
by some worthy motive and I did not
feel quite sure that my suspicions were well
grounded until assured by those who had
a better opportunity of g judging that she
was acting her part – How revolting it
must be to a true nature and yet Mrs Pitney
seemed just as grateful for her attentions
as though they were sincere – Not so with
Mrs S – her high spirit could not brook the
hypocrisy – she often repulsed offered assistance
with a frown – and could ill disguise the
contempt excited by the assumed character –
When I left Mrs Pitney this morning the effect of
the morphine had passed off and she was
in a state of great prostration – Henry went
last night, was detained all night at Syracuse
by the snow storm – I have engaged a
woman to take Bridgets place the first of
March – the middle of March Mr Slover
commences pulling down partitions –
Catherine Miller takes music lessons
here twice a week from Lawrence
altogether we I have not the most
pleasing prospect for the next six weeks

I was aware that Clara Darling had written an
account of their upset – I was at home preparing
supper for twelve – of course much alarmed
when Dennis came home leading one horse
and reported the other as nearly dead and
the sleigh broken all to pieces – It was
certainly cause for gratitude that they all
escaped unharmed – the poor horse is still
at the farriers but recovering – The sleigh
is at the carriage makers – Dennis
who remained motionless with grief the two
first days has again resumed his accustomed
labours – Our Lent has commenced without
a clergyman but the people feel very
piously inclined – The Misses Sherwoods
(the leaders) give a party Wednesday – they
commence late in life – Fanny slept
in a cradle by the side of Eliza last night
and has wonderfully increased her cold thereby
by she is at present sitting on Grandpa's
lap looking very fat and talking very
hoarse – Willie has gone to see Robert
Perry – he slept with William Henry –
Maryann Dill called last week she enquired
as every body else does what when you were
coming out – We have Mrs Maury's book as
usual Morgan took it home before I read it
what I did read was similar to her letters a
compound of fulsome adulation and disgusting
egotism – I send Taylor Hall – do keep it for
me with Berdans letters – it must grace my scrapbook
I have laughed out loud even now to reading it
over all alone – I should like Dr Wayland