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My dearest Callie -
How long I have been wishing to write to you & yet how long since I have done so. You know not how much I have thought of you & felt for you - or you would attribute my silence to anything but neglect. I have been home about two weeks and have had a housefull of company ever since my return. Today they are spending the day out & I have got up from my bed to write you how much I have felt for you & yours since your little babe's sickness. I am not well - but feeble & weak - [deleted text: but] [added text: Still] my heart beats with the strongest emotions to you & for several days

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past I can never mention you but with tears in my eyes. We are still so anxious about you all & almost dread to hear from you. Oh Callie I wish I was near you to help you to nurse & to comfort you in every way that I could but duty now detains me here - duty to myself - & to our parents. But Callie let me breathe into your heart a few words & perhaps they may prove "words of consolation & advice" even should your darling be spared to you. Who can speak to you more from the heart than I when just this day a year ago my last beautiful boy cheered us by his advent here & only six months have

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rolled away since he was transplanted into a brighter world. Callie you know it is from no want of affection but God knows I would not call them back - no not for all the joy & pride with which my poor foolish [deleted text: ish] heart cherished them & which they so amply repaid. Is not suffering transcribed upon us the moment breath is given us & does it not follow us even in our palmiest lives to the grave. Why then wish them to be kept here when they are so soon removed from it & obtain so young every prize for which we pant. My dear Callie dont [don't] be too anxious about your sweet child but resign to him who will

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do what is best for her & [unclear text: the] day will come should she [unclear text: taken] from you when you will feel that it is indeed not "best" - but "well" - Oh it is a fearful thing to raise a human being for immortality - & you know not now what a sweet thought it is when after all is dark around me to think I am the mother of angels. Why is God so good to me whilst others around me are mourning for those who are eternally lost. Poor Mrs [unclear text: Berry] you know not how she suffers & how awfully she looks. And then too to [unclear text: witness] as I have of late the misery of the living who are dear to us - oh Callie this world with all of its pleasure has many a bitter cup - which I dread to think my little one's [ones] may have some to day [today] to drink I say to you in all truth my dear sister I now feel that I have more real comfort in thinking of my angel children than I do in my little girls as dear as they are to me [unclear text: so] deep are my anxieties for their future welfare --

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I hope your little one is much better & that you are also improving. Pa & Ma have felt so much for you & so unhappy about you. We sent your letters to Pa at Decatur & his reply made us all shed tears. You are very dear to him & Callie we all feel for you so much I wish you were here - but God will direct all aright [unclear text: Muggie] is still doing well - her little boy is very small - Will is quite sick with diarrhoea [added text: diarrhea] & Lid has a rising in her head. [unclear text: Edwin] & Annie are neither very well - & poor Ma has a world of anxiety on hand. I too am of very little service owing to my peculiar situation which makes me very weak. Ma is so anxious too about you I wish you were here & then it would be so much better.

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Mrs Peyton Moores child died this morning with this complaint & there is a good deal of sickness here with it. The weather is very warm too & this is unfavorable to it Mrs Reese is still sinking & suffers a great deal. Rosa Pringle was married in her room yesterday morning to Bob Smith & went north. [unclear text: Minerva] Winstead is married tonight to a Mr Seers of Alabama & starts north tomorrow with the Wrays. John Thomas & Claude McKinley are next in order and they too are bound for the Worlds fair. We have eight more weddings on hand which will take off most of our young people. I will say nothing to you of my trip - which I

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hope at some future day to entertain you with. We are expecting Gen [General] King & [unclear text: Juddie] this afternoon. I was sorry I saw so little of Mrs [unclear text: Tarrant] but I was too sick when she was there to see her much. Julia [unclear text: Croome] is here looking so broken & Matilda Maxwell is more like a ghost than a human being. Jim Jackson & his wife, Hesse & Mr Barton are here. Jim is the most devoted husband you ever saw & is very proud of his young wife. Dont [Don't] tell the Lea's but Hesse got a letter from Mary Athena last night & it contains the news of hers & John's engagement. I think it a capital match & all

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delighted on both sides except sister Mary Ann. Poor Sally Prince looks badly & I doubt that Mrs Jackson can have many months but her [unclear text: Christian] resignation is wonderful to behold. Henry has gone to Europe & taken Harry with him. Well Callie I will write soon again & try to amuse you more. I wrote today only to tell you of our deep solicitude about you & to beg you to try & be [unclear text: submissive] to Gods will whatever it may be - knowing that he will do all things right. And also my dear sister to assure you of the heartfelt sympathy & earnest prayers both for yourself & brother Porter of your fond sister

[Signed] Marion
[added text: Mr Cobb is at court.]