Newburyport March 14 1842
Mon. eve.My dear Brother,
A letter from Miss B. Dowd received this morning gave me an account of Maria's state of health. By this afternoon's mail I sent a few lines to you, & several to Maria, enclosed in my reply to Miss Dowd. I had but a moment to write, & I wish for an answer to some inquiries I did not there make. One what days, & at what hours, does the stage that passes from Hartford through Norfolk to Albany leave Hartford? How many hours is it on the way from Hartford to Norfolk? What is the state of the roads? I am very desirous to visit you & to see Maria, before she shall be more feeble than she now is. It is a great undertaking for me to attempt to take such a journey at this season of the year. My health has been much better this winter that it was last, but I cannot endure much effort, without making me sick. For some time past, I have suffered from debility & a slight febrile action of the system, & after considering the question of endeavoring to come directly to you, I have concluded that I ought not to leave home this week. I shall therefore depend on hearing from you as soon as practicable for you to send a letter after you receive this. Miss Dowd's letter mailed the 11th (on Friday) I received this (Monday) morning. If you can mail one next Thursday, I shall hope to receive it on Saturday & I should be very glad to hear by that time. If my presence would be a comfort to have & you wish me to come, I shall endeavor to surmount every obstacle & hasten to you. Probably nothing but the want of health sufficient myself, or sickness in my own family, will prevent. It is difficult for Mr. Banister to leave home at present, but as I am not able to journey alone, if I go, he & the other members of our family, feel that he must accompany me. Should we come, we should not be willing that your family should have the burden of us & where would you recommend our applying for board for a few days? I requested Miss Dowd to consult with you on this question. If you cannot write to me by the next mail, will you get Miss D. to write. I cannot make definitive arrangements before I hear from you.
How great is the probability in your mind that Maria may gain strength, & be in some degree comfortable through the summer? What is the prospect respecting her continuance on earth? What are her prospects for eternity? Does she trust in Jesus Christ, the only Savior of lost men? Does she believe in her heart, that he is able to save the uttermost - that he has mercy in store for her? Does she feel that he is a Savior suited to her necessities? Does she feel that she has destroyed herself & that her help is in God? Does she cease from her own works, as a ground of justification, or is she still striving to do something to recommend herself to her Savior - to fit herself to come to him? She must come, a poor, lost sinner, as she is & trust in him to renew, to purify & to save.
Will you read to her the 25th Ps & say to her, that she may use many of the expressions as her own prayer. "According to thy mercy remember then me, for thy goodness sake, O Lord." &c &c
Mr. Banister unites with me in very affectionate regards to Mrs. Pettibone & to Maria. We sympathize deeply with you all in your present trial. Frances sends much love to Maria.
Your ever affectionate sister,
[Zilpah P.G. Banister writes this letter to Pettibone upon hearing of the ill health of her niece Maria Nancy Pettibone (1814-1842). She inquires about the stage schedule, whether or not she should come to visit, her own feeble health, and she asks about Maria's religious convictions.
Amos Pettibone married Zilpah's sister Nancy Grant (1788-1833) on 30 January 1811. Following her death, he remarried. Maria Pettibone died roughly one month after this letter was written - on 22 April 1842.]