Letter to Eunice Todd Crafts, January 22, 1821
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The last account I have received from Craftsbury was contained in Samuel's letter dated Jan. 3d, which gives me a more encouraging account of his health than I had been prepared to . Besides that I had one from Mr Young and one also from Mr Clarks, each of which speak of Samuel situation, and Mr Clark particularly informs me he has conversed with the physicians, who he says speak with much assurance, that he will eventually get the better of his disease - it is natural for a parent to seize upon every favorable circumstance, which shall attend the sickness of a child, and there is no person, perhaps, less likely to despair so long as there is the least favorable prospect, to build upon, than myself. I am not however insensible that sickness and death must sooner or later overtake us all, and separate us from each other - which of us is to be the first victim is known only to omnicience. I, it should by my fortune to [ ] any of my dear and beloved family. I hope I shall be able to submit to the stroke as becomes a rational and reflecting being - God grant that we may be long spared this trial!
Now I must what is the state of your health? I greatly fear that watching care and exactly will impair what little health and strength you have heretofore possessed, and I tremble but I shall hear that, in addition to Samuel's sickness, you also are on a sick bed. I must conjure youto spare yourself from fatigue and care as much as you possibly can; I say nothing of anxiety because that is beyond your control - you can procure as much help as you may desire, & I beg you not to [ ] undertake too much [ ] yourself.
I have had the good fortune to remain well, not withstanding there has been considerable sickness in thiss place There are fourteen members boarding at Capt. Church's, ten of the number including myself have remained in good health, of the remainder one has been confined by sickness one week, two have been confined by fevers about a fortnight and one Mr Overstreet from South Carolina has been confined to his bed nearly three weeks and has had watchers constantly, but is now gaining fast - and will probably soon be able to attend in the House again.
The state of our family will about compare with the members generally, excepting four have died out of the whole number. There are at present but few sick, all of whom are on the gaining hand. The cause, whatever it was, which opperated to produce the late disorder seems to have ceased; and we have strong grounds to hope that we shall loose no more of our numbers. I have lately heard from [ ], that our friends there are well - Mr Russ tells me that Dr Todd has as much practice as he can possibly attend to - and thinks his prospects were never so good as at present. I send him the Intelligencer regularly, and occaisionally some other documents, but have had no letter from - Why your letters should not arrive here as regularly as formerly, I cannot comprehend - they used to arrive here on Sundays - but lately they come at different times in the week, and frequently that I cannot [ ] in reason to get to Craftsbury on the week following.
Assure Samuel that I think of him constantly with much affectionate solicitude. Tell Mary I will write to her next week, altho' she has not yet written to me as promised.
Mrs E Crafts
That Heaven may long preserve you all in the fervent prayer of your affectionate friendSamuel C Crafts