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                                                                Westfield
                                                                Sept 17 1837
                                                                Westfield Sept 17th/51

Dear Mother I received your letter very gladly a day or two since, had been waiting and wondering at not hearing from Eliah: - thought you would some of you write as soon as he returned. Why didn't he write some too instead of sending me a page of blank paper? I want to know whether he has engaged permanently with Brown or not, and what his prospects are. I think it a pity that Sam'l with his capability should not have business enough there are plenty of situations in this region yielding two or three thousand a year which he or Eliab either would well fill, could they be obtained but he must keep up good courage, and you, too mother must try to see things on the hopeful side. "the darkest cloud has a silver lining." Providence will open a path for them in some direction, a little time perhaps will set present circumstances in an entirely different aspect. What you wrote of Lucy troubles me much, but I cannot but hope that with judicious treatment and care she may regain her wanted strength: I have heard recently of several cases similar to hers in which the cold water treatment has proved sufficient - I have much faith in its powers to restore action to the system: Do not you know how to treat a patient by that mode? Should she not be able to walk for years, her case would not be singular only let her keep up good courage, and not allow her spirit to become depressed by dwelling on herself and destroy the healthy.