Westbury 8 month 14

My Dear Brother and Sister

                                     Long have I thought of writing and I

have been fully sensible that it was due to you immediately after our dear Lydia’s death but knowing that sister Phoebe was was about to write particularly I availed myself of that excuse and feeling very little like writing I was the more willing to do so Since that period I have been unusually occupied in domest ^ic affairs and occasionally sitting ____and endeavouring to administer to the comfort of Anna Smith who is declining quite fast she has through the whole of her being at Westbury evinced a wish to have me with her even when no other person in the neigh =bourhood was admitted in her room she ever welcomed me and now generally speaks of its being pleasant to have me sit by her It is very certain that if there ever has been anything of that feeling which predominates in the minds of too many to the exclusion of that universal love (irrespective of opinion ____or any minor consideration) which characterises the deciple of Christ there is nothing of that spirit now manifested but a quiet peaceful state of mind which is very pleasant to feel and to witness Latitia is there ____is expected to come with S___ and Sarah Willets Jacob has been at Henrys but is now at Rachels Anna had supposed her complaint was liver affection and did not think of its being consumption unt.l her feet began to swell How ardently I have desired that such ___might be improved and a preparation _____for a similar scithation but poor human nature is so prone to put the closing period far from them resuming on tommorrow: “Where is tomorrow? In an =other world” our dear departed sister seemed to have nothing to do truly she was an example worthy of imitation in many respe =cts: ___ forgetfulness of self in endeavouring to promote the happi

ness or comfort of others was very remarkable and remained con

=picuous to the last. Although we have no cause for mourning on her account yet the great blank which can never be filled by another the great and ineparable loss which we have sustained in being deprived of her sympathy and counsel at this evenly nl period will I think excuse the many tears which have been shed by her bereaved relatives Whenever I have taken my seat in our meeting she ^is there brought so freshly before me as for a season to exclude all other thoughts I hope we have all sought for