[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Salisbury. Oct 14 1849
Dear Caroline.
I received your kind letter four days from the time it was mailed, and I can truly say, I never was more happy in receiving communications from friends, than when I read Carries letter[.] My health is improving weekly, and I hope the return of spring will find me in perfect health; if it is the will of our heavenly Father, for in his hands I would leave all, yet I doubt not I shall look back upon the time spent here (in a spiritual sense) as some of the happiest hours of my life. Here are "the green pastures, and the still waters," beside which, the heavenly Sheperd [sic] led my weary soul, when feverish with the exciting cares, and - pleasures, of earth, and bid me enjoy sweet repose, and gather strength for future cares, and duties, by the kind teachings of his word and grace.
Oh! these seasons of affliction; there are bright oases even here, where the striken one, may be cheered, and sustained, even wells of water, such as the stranger at Jacob's well, invited the Samaritan woman to drink "of even living water springing up unto everlasting life." Blessed be God; that in the extreme, of human suffering, and though reduced to the utmost verge of misery, here is an antidote, capable of affording sure, and speedy - releaf; yea, more a song shall arise, from those depths of affliction, which shall arrest the ear, and win the approbation, of heavenly listeners, even a song of joy, and gratitude, and praise, and love.
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit, be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, & the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut of[f] from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation."
"In his darkest dispensations, Faithful doth the Lord appear. With his riches & consolations, to re-animate and cheer."
How adorable and how condescendly [sic] kind is that grace which enables a frail, sinful child of earth, on every side he casts his eye - above - below - before - behind; in darkness, light; duty, joy, or sorrow: there to behold and delight in a God shall I say! Oh, that is too cold; his Almighty Friend - his reconciled Father - his unceasing Benefactor. [L]ove is seen, and love alone; divine and - condescending love, in its height, and depths unutterable, & incomprehensible. This calm, quiet, and holy day seems suggestive, in my mind, of the milder aspects of the Divine character.
It is a fit season, to muse on the more condescending manifestations, of that Being, whom we are privileged, to call Father and whom, in the spirit of adoption, we are constrained, to address by the sweet endeared epithet. "My Father." Oh, it seems to[o] much, to think he should own as his child, one so vile as I, and seems like arrogating, to[o] much an approach almost presumptuous, in a sinful child of earth: but his own word says, "Thus saith the High and holy One, who inhabiteth eternity: I dwell with those of contrite - heart &c," oh, how sweet: how comforting, the declaration. Oh, what love! did greatness ever stoop so low? Did love, ever manifest itself in a more touching manner? Ah no! however trying, the dispensations of his providence are, we know that it is sent in love, that it is all for the best,
All's for the best; be sanguine and cheerful;
Trouble and sorrow are friends in disguise -
Nothing but folly goes faithless and fearful;
Courage forever is happy and wise.
All's for the best! unbiased - unbounded -
Providence reigns from the East to the West;
And by both wisdom and mercy surrounded,
Let us be happy, for all's for the best!Yes dear sister: all is right, all is for the best, and "all things shall work together for good, to those, "who love the Lord" even trials, & sorrow, in the hands of God, will unite to prepare us, "for the company, of the just made perfect, through faith, in Jesus Christ," and through, infinite mercy "to partake of the rest, which remaineth for the people of God." Then dear Carrie we may I trust, rejoice together, with "joy unspeakable, & full of glory." Rest, that is enduring, happiness that is unalloyed, the christian must not look for here, for it is only to be found when we have reached, the mansions prepared for the sanctified: then I hope: we may be prepared, to put on the glorious robes, which "the ransomed of the Lord" shall wear, to Awake: and breath the air, of Heaven's respendent clime: Awake: to love which knows no change[.]
When we, have done with time.bbut my sheet is filling fast, & I have not said, hardly anything, I wished too. [sic] I commenced writing Sabbath, but I have not felt able, to resume my pen, in consequence of a bad cold, and today, my head aches every hard, so you will excuse mistakes, will you not, dear Sister? We were glad to hear, that you had a good boarding place, I hope that you will be careful, of your health, we speak of you very often, & I am fearful, that you will get worn out, in such a large school, as you have to teach.
We all think, that you will need, a long resting spell, by the return of Spring: when we hope, to have a good visit, from you: the children all love Miss Williams: and want, to have, her come & see them, they are all very well. Carrie is attending school, at the village she is studying Latin - French - and Drawing, beside some other branches. [S]he would write, but has not had time, the scholars have to write, Compositions every week, which keeps their time occupied. They have a very pleasant, and highly accomplied teacher, and every facility for rapid improvement.
C wishes to be remembered to you, & says tell C. I would write, if I felt able. She has been sick for two days, with her face, she had a bad tooth extracted, two days since, & from cold or some other cause her face is badly swelled, and very painful, her health had been rather better I think, previous to this ill turn, which I hope is not to be of long continuence. Brother Graham is expecting, to attend school, with Caroline, the others our district school[.] Mother's health is good, she will not have leisure to write now; but sends her love and best wishes, for your future happiness, in which we all unite.
Father will write if he can. All well, at Grandfathers. [sic] The children feel very much elated, to think Miss Williams remembered them in her letter, and feel as "Father said when he read "tell them" I would like some, of their sweet kisses tonight." I guess she would get them if she was here, he said oh if words, could reach the ears of those for whom they are spoken, as rapidly, as thought, will annihilate time & space, how many happy hours, I would delight to pass, in sweet converse, with my New Jersey sister, but it cannot be at present: you said if Alma recovered, you would feel that you must visit here again, do not forget it dear, for I am much better, & I hope that I shall be well by spring! I hope that untill [sic] we renew our personal acquaintance, you will write often, and we will always answer your letter. I presume you often think of your present home, when will this land, be like my former home? I would dearly like, to see the change myself, & know by what influence, the chains of ignorance, and prejudice, have been removed, there: as well, as in heathen lands.
But we shall know all, about a [...] future time. Then when long, and weary miles, raise no barriers to friendship, and intelligence flies on the wings of thought, may we meet im [sic] mansions, prepared for those, "who have made this peace with God.["] I never was more impressed, with the necessity of being prepared for death, and the shortness, as well as uncertainty of life, as when I heard, of a very trying bereavement. A very mysterious Providence, which occurred, the week after you left here, a child of one of our neighbors, a promising boy of eleven years, left the house, in high spirits, gay and happy, & in a few short moments, was brought back, a mangled corpse. He had taken a rope, to lead up a favorite calf, and tied it about his arm, the calf became frightened, & run, & got the child down, & liken they saw it, was dragging him, he was out of sight, as his Father said, but a moment. When they go to him, & raised him he gasped but once, his neck was broken. Oh! Caroline, you cannot think, how grateful I felt, that it was not our Willie, and why it was not, I could only answer, "Even so Father, because it seemed good, in thy sight."
The Camp-meeting was very exciting, and drew crowds. I hope that it was made, a blessing to some souls. The Methodist numbered, several converts I have not heard, how many, there is to be a meeting, for the examination of some persons who wish to unite, with our church on Friday. I do not know, how many our church needs, the out-pouring of the spirit, to revive its languishing graces, & I hope, that we may, ere-long enjoy, the blessing, "that the wilderness may become a fruitful place, and the desert, the garden, of the Lord," that joy and gladness "may become her language, even rejoicing, over the conversion of sinners, and the return of thy long absent spirit.["]
I was intending to copy this sheet it looks so very bad I was quite sick saturday [sic] & suffered severely for several hours & now Monday do not feel usually well or able to write much Graham says tell Caroline to answer this as soon as she gets it & write very often will you not Carrie dear we shall hope to see you & have a long visit next spring please excuse all mistakes & write often and particularly to your affectionate sister
Alma Hutchinson.