[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]Barre Saturday Mar. 2d 1844
Dear Bro. Stone -
Since I left Gardner I have been strolling about doing little except to look at others & speak a word occasionally - I started for Brookfield Thursday morning no one accompanying me, not even a horse - I didn't know exactly where I wanted to go[.] All I knew about Martha's location was what you told me viz. that she was about 2 miles south the center - I travelled on asking no questions till I came near to the Thomas tavern & then concluded I would find you[r] father - I had been told he lived somewhere in that vicinity - What his name was more than Stone I knew not, but I knew I could tell the man I inquired of something what sort of a family of children he had, how once was a preacher, &c. &c. & in that way find him out - as the man I met happened to be an old settler I was shown the house at once. When I came near the house the old dog taking me to be rather a suspicious character made some objections to my going in; but as I acted upon nonresistance principles his prejudices were soon removed - I found your father & mother at home well - Sarah remains at Monson as Martha wrote -
In one short hour's stay I told considerable news, talked some upon the abolition of capital punishment & slavery - sentenced any stomach to at least one half day's hard labor - furnished myself with data for finding Martha's prison house. Though I hesitated some about calling when I was so much of a stranger - I was not at all sorry that I did - I found Martha getting along nicely with her school - She made some objections to going to Gardner to teach on account of the distance from home[.] She however said that if Samantha was well & you all thought best she would take the school at ten & six & nothing less. Her school closes next week friday - They are having Anti Slavery conventions at Brookfield yesterday & today I suppose you know & they have at Hardwick next week -
I haven't been to your father Robinson's - shall probably 1st of next week - If there is any choice to get that box here in the course of next week I should be extremely glad for I expect to go to Troy week after - I left a thin coat in the closet up stairs which I would be glad to have you send also -
My kindest & best wishes to & for you & all dear to you -
Henry LawrenceWilliam B. Stone
(In great haste)[Henry Lawrence became the husband of Sarah Witt Stone in 1845. Sarah was the sister of William Stone, the recipient of this letter. The reference to "father Robinson" is William's father-in-law. William was married to Phebe Robinson when this letter was written, and Phebe had two sisters named Samantha and Martha.]