[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading]South Hadley,
Monday evening Aug. 13, 1849.My dear, dear Rosina,
It is a long long time since I have heard from you, and I know you have not heard from me, since I heard, but you having so many corespondents [sic] will not notice it much, unless you wish to hear from that dear Sabbath class of ours. I have known I ought to write you, but you know how busily we are employed at the Sem. the few last weeks of the last term, and I could not write, but enough of this. My dear Rosa, I have so many things to write you I hardly know where to commence, or what to say.
Shall I write of our class, that one that was there is no more? yes, it is ever so Julia A. Burnett now knows the meaning of Eternity. She has gone before us to another world, if we had been the one to have told who should go first should we have taken her? She was taken sick the fifth of July. She had been unwell some time before, with something of a breaking out, they thought was the itch and went to Dr. Ufford for something to cure it he gave them (all the family) a solution of arsenic which they took for about six weeks, when Julia was taken sick they called Dr. Brooks, he hardly knew what the matter was, gave her some calomel, and other things he thought proper, calling it billious fever, but at last said it was the effect of the poison she had taken, and she must die, you know what a woman Mrs. Burnett is, and she was so nervous she could scarcely be kept within the bounds of reason.
Sat afterward she became more calm and resigned, a counsel was called and two of the Physicians thought she might recover, and advised Dr. Ufford to visit her daily and do all he could. He went a few days when Dr. Brooks said to Mr Burnett, "either Dr Ufford must leave or he should" and Mr B- told Dr Ufford "he must tell him plainly he must leave for Dr Brooks could not counsel with him." he took his hat and left. Julia at first had a swelling upon her foot afterward this lift and went to her head, which was swolen [sic] dreadfully, and broke out in sores so they were obliged to cut all the hair from her head. She was a great sufferer: she could not lie upon her back for she had a great sore as large as your hand there, her head all sores and so swolen [sic] she could not see, even to discern the light of day. She remained in this state two weeks when she left this for another world, we hope for a better[.]
But you will like to know the state of her mind during her sickness. When she was first taken she was very anxious to get well but soon she began to think of herself as a sinner. She had a very devoted young lady taking care of her then, she became alarmed and sent for Mr Laurie, he came and before many days she began to hope she loved God, and has conducted very different since. Before she was quite sour, and scarcely any thing could be done to please her, but afterward she was very mild whenever she received any thing she would say "Thank you. Thank God." and seemed very thankful. The Dr. said she could not live and did nothing for her except give her opiates to keep her quiet. She [?] was unwell and no Physician called to see her for four days. Her coffin was prepared and ready, for her seven days before it was needed. They had a dressmaker and prepared their mourning clothes, many days before they were wanted[.]
This sickness and death has caused much excitement in town as you might sopose [sic] to have a child poisoned to death. Mr Burnett has thought of bringing Dr Ufford to law but whether he will or not I cannot tell. Pardon me for writing so much about Julia but as you was acquainted with all parties concerned I thought you would like to hear. Imagine if you can my feelings last Sab. for I cannot describe them. one that had been in my class in Eternity and all my class out of the ark of safety. I do try to labor with them I pray for them but it is of no avail without the Spirit. Pray for me and for the dear class under my care. I feel that we need the prayers of all praying ones that this death may be sanctified. When you write to me, write a post if you please to them, it would be quite acceptable.
Mother is not well today having worked to [sic] hard and taken some cold, she sends a great deal of love to you, we have a girl to help Mother, and three boarders, beside Daniel who works in the mill and boards with us. He is 21, would you think it? Phinius Moody has finished his studies and is preaching at Jenksville a part of Ludlow is liked very much I believe. Aunt Chloe, is pretty well but works as hard as ever, sends much love. Dea Montague has moved to the house formally occupied by Mr Ezra Allen. Aunt Sally is as good and kind as formally. Otis is no better as I know, he sits there in his chair from morning till night, as usual. Joseph came home sick with Rhumatism [sic] yesterday have not seen him but hear he looks quite sick. Mrs Spencer Snow has bled at the lungs several times and is quite feble. [sic] Mrs Condit and Helln [sic] live there all alone Mr Laurie is keeping house in a new building near Mr Dunlaps, which he has hired for 2 years.
Heller [sic] Condit is expecting to enter the Seminary next term. Does the Cholera prevail much with you? at the New City the Iirish [sic] men are dying off fast with it, we heard twenty four died there in twenty four hours, it makes it bad for the business there for they wish to get the dam across before fall rains.
Please excuse all mistakes for they are many it was written in the evening and in haste.
Your true friend
Anna W. Moody.(Jane Burnett has asked me several times if I have heard from you)
Is Willoughby a healthy place? How far is it from Cleaveland? [sic] Father was interested to hear that you lived with Mr Nash and thinks you will enjoy yourself much. How many children has he and do not three of his daughters attend school? I intended to have said many things about the examination at the Seminary but have not much room. Evry [sic] one said they passed off as well as it ever has done. The last day there were two most interesting compositions read one was "My Teacher's last instructions" written by Miss Lucy Ainsworth (she is going to be teacher next year) the other was poetry relating to the death of Miss Lyon. Miss Curtis and Miss Wingate also Clara Harwood a member of thier [sic] class who went home unwell and soon died of quick consumption[.] It was written by Miss Lucy Stearns, a Senior and my room-mate almost the whole year.
Please write as soon as you can. I shall wait impatiently [...], Anna.
[According to Massachusetts vital records available through FamilySearch.org, Julia Burnett was born and lived in South Hadley, and was about 13 years old when she died. She was not a student in the Seminary, so Rosina must have known her from another venue. Joseph Condit, who was trustee of the Seminary until his death in 1847, did have a wife Mary, but no children. I don't know who Helen Condit was or how she was related to Joseph Condit or his wife; she never became a student at the Seminary.]