I know that my Dear Sister, will rejoice to hear that the kind Healer of the sick, has again restored my Health, so far as to enable me to take charge of my domestic affairs, & I hope, render some essential service to the youthful family, which is ever alloted to my care— My attentive faithful Lydia, is fulfilling your Predictions, & has recovered beyond probability, has becomes as...
242From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 26 April 1812 (Adams Papers)
The human Pores have been so long obstructed by the late severe Season, & peircing winds of March, that it has occasiond many to be “sick in April”—The want of usual Perspiration, is I believe the Cause of the spotted Fever—The arrows of the “destroying Angel have not as yet, been permited to reach us, though his Shafts have pierced many Families, in the Towns adjacent, as I suppose, the News...
243From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 19 August 1813 (Adams Papers)
If all the tenderest sympathy of a most affectionate Sister, could soothe your afflicted Breast, sure mine would impart some healing Balm. But though it may have some power to ameliorate, yet, unless aided by divine Consolations, it can have but little efficacy—Thanks be to Heaven, the resources derived from Christianity are open to you, my venerable Brother, & Sister,—& dear bereaved young...
244From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have often felt thankful that we cannot trace our Geneology to the family of Kill-Joys , but are closely allied to those, who considered every dispensation as the allotment of an alwise Parent, who has permit ted us in this Vale of Tears, to gather every comfort, every incidental circumstance, which may grow into a Blessing, & gratefully enjoy the present moment— While I regret Mr T. Adams’,...
I have been hoping every day since since I got home, that I should have more leisure tomorrow , for writing—But every day brings something to mind, company, & Care—& I am determined not to wait another moment, but immediately let you know that we set out for home, the Friday after I left Quincy, & arrived at Atkinson monday Eve—The Vacation was ended, & I knew I was much wanted in my family—Mr...
246From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 28 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
The very sudden change of the weather last Sabbath, when I was in a high state of persperation; caused so great opression & hoarseness upon my Lungs, as made me feel quite sick, & detained me in Town a day longer than I intended—As I had not sent to Mr Peabody, I thought best to send to Mr Parker, & go on Bag, & baggage, to our own Door in Atkinson by Wednesday Stage, which was much more...
The Time since I have written to you, I acknowledge is too long for One, whose Heart is deeply interested for all her dear Relatives, whose Memory loves to dwell, & delights to linger , where walk the smiling Virtues, in their most dignified, attractive, & lovely Form.—For several weeks past, I have been examining myself, to know from what Cause I kept Silence.—Though many Pleas were brought...
248From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 17 August 1812 (Adams Papers)
Has not this long term of rainy weather made you sick? it has almost every body arround us—& I sensibly feel it effects—Poor Norton had a very billious turn, which confined him to his bed a week, & to the House a fortnight—But means have been mercifully blessed for his recovery, though he looks very feeble, & thin of flesh, & more like his Mother than ever—Abby, was taken in the same manner a...
249From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 3 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter my Dear Sister, received a week since, flattered me with the pleasing Prospect of our beloved Sisters recovery— though slowly, & feeble, I trusted she might yet be of great service to her family, by her Presence, & Instruction; but your Intelligence by to Days Mail; has damped my fond Expectations—deeply shaded, & almost erased the pleasures of Hope—The sudden & voilent attack made...
250From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 12 July 1813 (Adams Papers)
You know my Dear Sister, that my Heart is ever prone “to rejoice with those who rejoice, as well as to weep with those who have cause to weep.” And I most sincerely lament that your Daughter is afflicted in so grievous a manner, while I rejoice, that she has so amiable a Daughter to attend arround her Bed, & a Son to comfort, & “prevent the asking Eye,” now in the absence of his Father—It is...
It is two years this month, through the Blessing of Heaven, since I have been prevented by Sickness, from sitting at our Table & giving a portion to each of my family in due Season, which is a Favour, which I cannot feel too grateful for—But for this fortnight past I have with Others in the Neighbourhood, been afflicted with what is called the Disorder of the Season—There has been but few...
252From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 20 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
By Mrs Welsh, who spent the afternoon with us, I was informed that Your dear Grandson was going to Russia. He will be an agreeable, interesting Companion, for he is possessed of singular strength of Mind—And if he goes, may the Angel of Mercy, be commissioned be to smooth his Passage, & waft him in safty over the briny Ocean, with prosperous Gales, & conduct him to the embraces of parental...
253From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 March 1812 (Adams Papers)
By your Letter I was glad to find it was only the agitation occasioned by extraordinary, & unexpected events which prevented your usual kindness of writing, & not your own; or family’s Sickness—We were brought almost to the depths of dispair respecting Peace, & the sudden assurance of it, was like the blaze of meridian day, without the twilight— My fears now are that, like Jeshuran we shall...
254From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 July 1811 (Adams Papers)
I hope my Dear Sister’s Fibres are not so relaxed by the late intense heat of the weather, as not to be able to hold a Pen, & by her communications inform, comfort, & eddify her anxious Sister, & Friends—I was agreeably supprized by receiving two very kind letters from our good Brother Cranch, since my return to Atkinson—They gave me a very gratifying account of our dear Sister’s gradual...
255From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 26 July 1809 (Adams Papers)
I am rejoiced to hear that you, & my niece got home safe. Such little excursions are really advantageous to our Health—We require some relief from the same round of cares, & objects. Though I have often found myself fatigued at the time, yet the Friendship & cordiality of my Friends, has proved the balm of Life, & very beneficial to my health & spirits— To your kind enquiries after my Abbys...
My social Spirit, which often nightly “me revisits,” has been so busy, & importunate of late as to deprive me of the tranquilizing effect of Sleep, wafting me to the Bed of langour & Sickness, & had impressed my mind so powerfully, that I should hear some of my Family were sick, that when I received your Letter to Day, I opened with the hand of tremulous anxiety my Dear Sister’s kind assurance...
Thanks be to kind Providence we are all alive though the cold Tuesday our blood seemed congealing, & it was hard for me to respire—I do not know as I ever felt more thankful, than when the rigor of the weather abated—but we have still severe cold of long continuance—as the quantity of Snow makes the air more pungent; I suppose we feel the cold much more than you at Quincy for the Snow is over...
258From Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Smith Adams, 20 June 1812 (Adams Papers)
Yesterdays mail conveyed me your kind Letter, which convinced me you had experienced those solid pleasures in your late visit to your early Friends, which I had anticipated for you. How happy, & how pleasant, when the Lamp of Life, holds out to burn, even to four score years, that the mind retains its Vigor, & is the brightest Luminary!—In such a case, “Old-age is desirable,” & grey Hairs, is...
259From Emily Phillips to Abigail Smith Adams, 14 September 1810 (Adams Papers)
I am sorry my dear Madam to be under the necessity of communicating melancholly tidings to you, but I am requested by my dear & affected aunt to inform you of the sudden death of her truly estimable husband—he died this morning at 11 o clock after a confinement of eleven days—aunt discovers that fortitude & christian resignation which you would expect from her—his funeral will probably be...
I had the pleasure to receive your kind and friendly letter yesterday, and hasten to inform you, that my dear husband is better. He has had a sharp attack of billious fever, which left him weak and debilitated; and now a violent cough continues to harrass him day and night, and prevents his taking that kind of nourishment, which would most speedily restore his strength. Tomorrow will be three...
261From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 23 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
It is matter of much consolation to know that frends so dear to My lamented husband as Mr and Mrs Adams intend to continue, or or rather to transfer to me the frendship with which they have so long favord him. I shall cherish it as of inestimable value, tho conscious that I have no other claim to the honor they so kindly have offered, but that I was dear to him who they loved and respected...
262From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 19 June 1815 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I have not had the pleasure to receive a letter from you, since I last wrote; yet your goodness to me on all occasions gives me the assurance that you will excuse the liberty I now take to ask a favor for my daughter Manners; she has I suppose sail’d for England before this time, and in her last letter to me express’d a wish to get a letter of introduction to our Minister at the Court...
263From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 11 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
Your kind attention in answering my letters heretofore, and my last being yet unanswered excites the apprehension that your health has been worse than common this winter I hope I may hear of any other cause, except an abatement in your friendship, but that I do not for a moment admit—Your condsending goodness to me has perhaps caused me to expect more than I have a right to look for, more...
264From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 13 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I want words to express the grateful feelings of my heart for your kind sympathy on our late heavy affliction, we have indeed suffered a bereavement that can never be repaired to us as individuals or as a family.—A husband, a father, a protector, snatched from us with but little time to prepare our minds for such a stroke, twenty hours before his pure spirit fled from us forever, we had no...
265From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 23 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
My daughter Cuthbert has written to me declaring her wishes to make me a visit this summer if one of her brothers can meet her at the lines, it is necessary for me to write immediately to her to settle the plan of meeting—I again solicit your good offices to send it to the gentleman who has been so good as to send others for me. I was paind to hear of the illness of yourself and my venerable...
266From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 15 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
It seems that I may again indulge my own feelings by intruding another letter upon you, without supposing that I have any thing to say that can interest You, except as coming from one to whom You have kindly offered a transfer of frendship long since cherished for a more worthy object now no more. Oh my dear Madam the months that have pass’d since the loss of that revered object have not...
267From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 21 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
I scarcely know whether it is most proper for me to appologize for my long silence, or for intruding again upon your time by writing, but when I recollect that I cannot expect to be favored with your consoling, and gratifying letters without making some, tho a poor return, I will begin without any other excuse, but to say that I went from home immediately after I had the pleasure to receive...
268From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 7 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
Accept my thanks for your last favor, and the congratulations of myself and family on the return of a new year, may it come fraught with the best of blessings to my distinguished and respected frends. It finds me surrounded with all the comforts I have ever enjoyed except my dearest and best frend, the blank made by his absence seems to be particularly felt at the recurrence of noted days and...
269From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 8 October 1813 (Adams Papers)
The day after I sent my last letter to you I received your interesting communication, most sincerely do I sympathize with Mr Adams and you this melancholy occasion, this is indeed a changing scene, a dying world, and I think the last six months has been a time of unusual mortality—your dear daughter we trust was made perfect through sufferings and is inheriting the promises, where sin and...
270From Julia Stockton Rush to Abigail Smith Adams, 8 April 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am at a loss how to express my obligations for your kind remembrance after the long interruption to our correspondance. Be assured dear Madam it is not because I am insensible to the favor you have conferred on me. I feel the full force of your condecension. I also feel how inadequate I am to offer you any suitable return for the gratification your letters afford me, therefore I have been...