Arkwright, April, 10th, 1845.Dear Friend Rosina,
With a degree of gratitude do I resume my pen to address you, & in the first place I crave your pardon for having so long delayed writing to the best of my friends. You will excuse me I know, after learning the afflictions that I have been called to pass through within a short time.
Your letter which was dated Nov 23rd I did not receive until the 7th of Jan: at that time I was in school and had a great deal to do. A great many people in the place were ill & some of my time was consequently devoted to them. Mrs. Durfee (the lady at whose house I once met you) died soon after; she had been ill but one week. Not long after that a Mr Thompson & wife died in my Dis. One expired 40 minutes after the other. It was a solemn sight to see them laid side by side in the winding sheet & rendered more solemn by the reflection that his had been a life of Intemperance and blasphemy, while hers was one of piety. They left 8 children to mourn their loss, two of whom lay sick at the time of their parents death. There is not a family in the place that has not been visited by sickness during the past winter. Do you think that I knew how to sympathize with the distressed & with the mourning orphan? I thought I did know by experience, but ah my cup of sorrow was yet to be made to overflow. How glad was I of the assurance your letter gave, that you rejoiced in all that caused me joy & mourned with me in all that caused me grief.
Your sympathy I want, your prayers I crave. Death has again taken a beloved relative from my embrace: a beloved & affectionate sister is gone! Saturday evening I heard that sister Lucy was a mother. Sabbath morning, before meeting I called on her, thought her comfortable. Monday I was in school, as usual. Tuesday evening heard sister was worse. Wed'y went to see her, staid all day, she was very low, spoke but little Thursday I again taught school, at night went again to see L. thought all the time she would recover. That night watched with her in company with her husband & sister M. After twelve she failed very fast, we sent for the physician, he came in the morning, said if the medicine operated she would recover. Every thing that medical skill could devise or affection invent was done, but all did not produce the desired effect. Still I hoped that she would recover. We sent for another Doctor, he arrived in the evening consulted with Avery, who had remained there during the day. In their looks I could read no hope. My brothers & sisters were all present except the two eldest. A great deal of the time poor Lucy could not speak, but at intervals she addressed all her friends who were present & left a few words for those who were absent.
She conjured us to weep not for her, for said she "I am not afraid to die. I hope soon to meet you where parting will never come." "My dear sisters," she said "you have had many sorrows, but they will soon be over: be faithful & meet me in heaven."
She shook hands with & bade us all an affectionate farewell then after laying some time she told me to tell the girls to sing "I would not live alway" She lingered some time after we thought her expiring, expressed a strong desire to depart, but said she supposed she ought to be willing to live. Desired us to pray that she might wait with patience. She kissed me affectionately after her powers of utterance failed & in a few moments expired without a groan, at half past four Saturday morning March 8th. I never before saw a dying person so perfectly calm. On Monday we followed her to the grave. Elder Shepard preached on the occasion from "The damsel is not dead but sleepeth." The discourse was very comforting. But our loss is great. The deceased was exactly such a gentle lovely being as I could always like to cherish, but she no more needs our love. When the messenger calls for me, may I be as ready to pass the solemn vale of death. Forgive me, dear Rosina for dwelling so long on this theme. May your dear friends long be spared to cheer for you this vale of tears.
Friday PM. April 11th
Beloved Friend, I will now endeavor to finish this letter, though I am scarcely able to sit up. My health was very poor five weeks before I left school, & since then I have been clear down with an attack on the lungs. I am now taking Buchanan balsam of life: the doctor has bled me to day & the prospect now is that I shall soon recover. I have appointed time after time to write to you, but found myself unable. You cannot imagine how much consolation your letter afforded me. Though it had been written a long time, I still received it as direct from you, for I knew that you had not changed you[r] sentiments since writing. Glad was I to learn that you were so pleasantly situated, & that you still relied on Jehovah for guidance & protection. He will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in Him. For the religion of Christ, our hearts thanks should forever ascend to the author of our Salvation, mingled with petitions for our fellow beings, who are out of the ark of safety. Immortality & licentiousness prevail in our world to an alarming extent. A young lady of my acquaintance has this winter become a mother, Miss Emily Straight, you probably have seen her. She has heretofore been considered amiable & lovely, was a member of the church & a preachers daughter! Parents I think as a general thing do not instruct their children as they should, in the principals of virtue. I have no fellowship for that false delicacy which prevents people from doing their [du]ty. What think you of the moral Reform society. I have read many of their publications lately, would be glad to take them. -
My school this winter was very large, & quite agreeable. Though I could not see all the fruit of my labors that I wished, I still hope that some impressions were made that will be lasting. Dont know where I shall spend the summer, talk some of teaching in Mr Burnhams Dis, if able. I wish to be passive in the hands of my heavenly Father, & to the honor of his blessed name to spend my time & talents while permitted here below to stay, & when the moment comes for me to leave the scenes of earth, I shall I trust go to be forever with the Lord. Pray that this may be my happy lot. Yes, & there I expect to meet you & all the blood washed throng, to praise the Lord without a dimming vale between.
Your aff. friend
Lavina CrawfordI will not forget thee, my warm hearted friend,
Though rivers between us may roll:
Our thoughts & affections together still blend,
Still we enjoy communion of soul.Lavina
Rosina, you was very kind in writing to me, after the fatiguing labors of the day. I hope you will forgive all the imperfections in this letter & write as soon as you can consistently. I have hard work to be satisfied with writing so much do I wish to see you.
I did visit my dear brother O last fall, staid a week then was loth [sic] to leave but business called me home. They have three very interesting little boys, Lucy's little girl lived nearly four weeks, then died with the Erysipelas. Sister Mary had the care of it. L gave it to her.