Page: [1] My dearest Callie -- I would most certainly have written to you before this were it not for the constant expectation we had of seeing you -- Since the reception however of your last letter I suppose you will not come to us at present & I now need no asking to tell you how truly I have sympathized with you -- Oh how keenly I could realize your anguish who can doubt. Six months Callie have made me I trust bow in submission to his will who recalled my last beautiful boy -- yea has even made me feel thankful that I was so blessed as to have two lambs safely housed in heaven -- but they have not yet made me forget the bitter hour's [hours] when I looked for the last time upon those I loved so fondly I fear so unwisely -- And can you doubt that I should feel for you in your loneliness which my own heart knows to be so agonizing -- most especially when you so tenderly sympathized with me -- & so sweetly soothed my sorrows -- No Callie -- I never go to Page: [2] my little graves but your kind hand [deleted text: was] [added text: is] seen there and I often before the death of your darling thought of you there & prayed God to bless you & yours -- And now Callie they recall to my mind another little grave & another aching heart & I still pray more fervently for you -- and especially that God may shew [show] you his dealing's [dealings] with you in such a manner as to turn your mourning into joy -- & to cause you to bless him for the day in which he so afflicted you -- It is so hard to feel thus -- & such a trial to poor human nature -- But is it not sweet in the midst of trouble to remember that whom God loves he chasteneth -- yea even scourgeth -- And if we have this proof of adoption why should we sorrow? We can go to our babes -- whom God has taken from the evil to come & oh how much sorrow there is in this poor pilgrimage of ours -- Last Sabbath morning about this hour I stood over the dying bed of that dying saint Mrs Jackson -- You know Callie she has been tried in the furnace of affliction seven times heated -- She remarked in a voice as mild & calm as an infants [infant's] "oh what are all my troubles now -- this hour repays me for them all. -- Oh if this be death -- then 'tis [it is] sweet to die; -- this hour is the happiest moment of my life, Said Page: [3] poor Sal to her -- Mother say something to me She replied -- "trust in God my child -- always trust in God" -- And this is all we can do & we shall never trust in vain as her dying voice could testify -- Trust him Callie for he doeth all things well -- and to be submissive in his hands is the greatest comfort to my own poor heart when death & sorrows make even his ways seem mysterious. -- I know behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face -- Poor Sal seems to be an example of this. Sallie Mattie's deathe [death] affected her so much we felt somewhat uneasy for the results & her mother's death we were sure would injure her -- But God heard her prayers -- & has "tempered the wind to the shorn lamb" She has borne it with the meekest most humble resignation and is more calm than she has been for months -- Though deeply grieved -- she seems to feel her dependence upon her self & strives to do what she knows her mother would have advised -- Her situation is truly to be pitied -- but she is a sincere christian & God will not leave or forsake her -- Uncle Sam Lumpkin dropped dead very suddenly a few days since & it seems to affect Pa a good deal His health is very bad again and he is very thin -- We are trying to persuade Page: [4] him to take a trip somewhere as he has had [unclear text: the] rest of a month & I should not be surprised if he went north -- I think he hoped you would come out & he could persuade you to accompany him -- The rest of the family are quite well -- Mr Cobb is in Elbert but he felt deeply for you & will write you Soon himself -- Mary Gresham is here & sick in bed. She says she could resign the child if she had only been here but seems [added text: as] if she cannot be reconciled to her having been away -- I never was more surprised than I was to hear yesterday Sallie Bird had another daughter -- so was every one as it was never suspected at all -- Mary goes to Philadelphia in October to remain under Dr [Doctor] Hodges [Hodges'] care for three months -- He is the physician [unclear text: Mrs Tarrant] was with -- Mrs Baxter & her children go with her -- I suppose you have heard of [unclear text: Hansels] [Hansel's] being murdered in a fight by a little negro of Mrs Goldings [Golding's]? -- There is great excitement here about it & he had the largest funeral I ever saw in Athens I know of nothing new to write -- All send much love to you and often speak of you & brother Porter -- Let us hear often from you as you know how anxious we are about you -- I wrote you two letters -- did you get both -- Page: [5] My health is only tolerable altho' [although] I am larger than you ever saw me -- I weigh 117 -- I promise myself if nothing happens to go out this winter & see you but it is time enough yet to speak of it -- We heard from Lucy last night & her whole letter was about you -- She was just going to leave for home All Callie feel for you & brother Porter but none more than your sister [Signed] Marion