[Original has no paragraph breaks; I put some in for ease of reading.]
Ashfield, April the 27th 1850
Dear Cousen [sic]I now take my pen to answer your kind and affecting letter it overcame me so I was so weak I could hardly rise from my chair thinking perhaps you would like to hear from Ashfield though it was from the hand of ["your" crossed out] an unworthy cousen [sic] I haste to write you. I was glad to hear that you was [sic] so pleasantly situated but it is extremly [sic] lonely for me to be deprived of the society of one I tenderly love I feel myself little cared about by any one but oh; that the lord would have mercy on my soul and snatch me as a brand from the burning pray for me pray that Christ may wash my sin staind [sic] soul as white as snow that he would make me his disciple I am the chief of sinners there is non [sic] on earth so vile O that I enjoyed that joy and peace in believing that the world can neither give nor take away I feel I have but a short time to stay in this bleak world of mourning & oh; that your unhppy [sic] cousen [sic] might be a redeemed spirit in heaven O pray that I may be brought to the right sense of my guilt and be made an humble [sic] fowlower [sic] at the feet of Jesus.
my health is better when you went away in some respects and in some worse my lungs do not touble me as much but I think I have the palpitation of the heart I have turns I can scarsly [sic] breathe their [sic] is such violent beatings I have a pain in my side most of the time. but why need I write it it will not interest you any. excuse me my head troubles me so I hardly know what I am writing. I have not seen any of your folks since you wrote but will do as you requested me when I do. do not think because I have not written before that I have forgotten you far from it, impossible to forget one I love as a sister.
your folks were well last sabbath. Antoinette is at home I have not got much acquainted with her yet but what little I have seen her I like her very well. I am winding buttons now and like it well have wound some over 5 gross. I think you would like it it agrees with me better than either braiding or sewing I do not say so that you may not follow the occupation you like best. although it would be pleasant to live near you. Polly Blake is going to teach our school Charles Graves has moved and Charles Statson has moved to Petersburg. Aunt Thebe's health is about as it was when you was [sic] here the rest of the family are well write as often as you can I shall always be glad to hear from you & to see you excuse my writing my hand trembles violenly [sic] and I must close. Give our love to your Aunt and keep a portion for yourself. if you think this worth notice comit [sic] it to the flames.
This from your unworthy Cousen [sic] Esther