Transcript

June July 1850

 

My Dearest Mary

     It is with the gratest pleasure that I write a few lines to you. I began to think you had forgotton your once dear friend. I was disapinted in not hearing from you at St. Louis. I was very much moved after I heard of the death of Mrs. Bird and not hearing from you I sent a letter to Mrs. Crombie (a bout the 12 of June) to ask her if she had heard eny thing from you. your letter came to hand the 18 of June and releived my mind of meny anctious fears. I was very sorry that I said eny thing a bout my shirts for I give you leave to take eny thing in the house you wanted. I never thaut you took them. I thaut Elisabeth had paked them up by accident. I hope you will forgive me for this one falt and I will endever not to offend you a gane. I have ben very unhappy sence you left Boston but I hope this letter will find you enjoying every Blessing my God can bestow upon you.

     O Mary, cruel I must say to leve me. I never would ov left you I would died by your side first but my once kind Mary I will forgive you and I du pray night and morning for you that God will bless you and give you strength to not [---t] evry evle and every temtation. And if we never meat agane in this world I hope that I shall so conduck my self hear in this world that I may be worthy to meat you in the world to come, to part no more.

     Mrs Lamaster has baught a farm in North Danvers of 70 Acres and moved thare. I hope you will writ every opportunity if it is but three times. I saw Madam Everett in Salem a bout ten days ago she was well and spoke very kindly to me. O Mary you cannot tell how much sorrow you have caused me. have I ben unkind to you do I deserve to be forsa<k>en by my only dear friend I cannot for get you all-thou you have forsacon me you are not out of my mind five minutes in a day. O the tears I have shed for you. they are precious drops you will find some futer day. you no not how I d<e>ar you are to me. I cannot forget you whilst life and reason remaines.

     I was in hopes you would given me a history of your journey and I hope you will yet you have meny friend hear yet. they ask after you dayly O my once kind Mary, as life is so unsirten and your Money should fall short and you had a desire to return to Boston I will leve two hundred dollars to be paid in to your hand if you return and call for it with W.H. Prescott. I still remaine in my solitary room O Mary how many plesant day we have spent together and now we are seperated. and I du pray to my Heavenly farther that he will Bless you with every Blessing you can ask for and if we never meat a gain in this world may we meat in the Celestial kingdom to part no more whane tears shall be wipd from every eye and our happiness be complete.

     So I will bid you good night and may God all mighty bless and protect you all your life[,] is the best wishes of your Affectonate Nathan

     July 10  I received your <third> letter to day and was very glad to hear from you. I got your second letter the 18 of June and I expected you had ben gone from Kaneville twenty day or I should wrote directly if you had wrote at St Louis you would ben able to receive one from me at Kanesville. I hope you will write every oppotunity. I am very glad hear you enjoy good health. my health at this time is not very good. I was in Danvers last Sunday  John is low sperited but I cheared him up as well as I could I told him you would send him a letter soon and I would help him if he wanted your sister's family ar all well. I hope I shall see you once more before I die but if I dont my last breath will be spent in your behalf. pleas to for give all you see a miss in this letter and believe me it is from the trueest friend you have on earth with these fue remark I will close at this time[.] With a prair to my heavenly father that he will bless and protect you and give you peace and happiness forever[.]

     from your Affectionate and well wisher for ever. Nathan

     pleas to remember me to Ruth. and all that ask after me. Mary as it respects my felings to words you. You no them as well as I du my self I have got a peace of your bread in my Buro to remember you wit<c>h was made by your kind hands

     I have just ben reading the 19 chapter of Job and the 30 and 31 Chapter[.]

     God bless you for ever is the last words of you Affectionate Nathan

July 14