Washington Jan. 22d 1821
My dear Eunice,
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 receive. 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 favor-
able 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 insensi-
ble 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 [omniscience]. If it should by my fortune to survive
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 enquire what is the state of your health? I greatly
fear that watching care and anxiety will impair what little health
and strength you have heretofore possessed, and I tremble lest I shall
hear that, in addition to Samuel's sickness, you also are on a sick
bed. I must conjure you to 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 take undertake too much upon yourself.
I have had the good fortune to remain well, not withstanding
there has been considerable sickness in this place. There are fourteen
members boarding at Capt. Burch'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 [lose] no more of our numbers. I have lately heard from
Hartford, that our friends there are well - Mr Reefs 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 Intelligences
regularly, and occaisionally some other documents, but have had no
letter from him- Why your letters should not arrive here as regu-
larly 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 answer them 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.
That Heaven may long preserve you all in the fervent prayer
of your affectionate friend
Samuel C Crafts
Mrs E Crafts
S.C.C. To E.C.
Jany. 22. 1821