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                                                                                                          Hampden
                                                                                                            1850

Dear Mother

                               Half sitting up and half lying abed I'll write a little. I've been nearer sick abed than anything else for about a fortnight. Last few days that Mrs. Stevenson was here, she did the work and took care of me too! How I did wish she wasn't here, but she was pretty clever. Since she went away Samuel & Jane have managed grandly, on;y Jane is yet a child you know - thoughtless, forgetful etc. School begins today - intend to have her go. 
                               The things you wanted, I intended to have got to send by Eliab certainly, but from day to day have striven and could not get able to go to Bangor. Eliab was down here to dinner yesterday, & he & Samuel concluded that you had better come down, but the more I think of it the more I think we can get along, and you ought not to leave Joseph. It will be a hard jaunt for you over the bad roads, and I shall get along. I felt better yesterday and today. Mrs. Finnigan is here washing. Skunk devoured thirteen eggs that had been set on a fortnight. Whose butter was sent, yours or Almeda's? Mooly gives good milk for which I'm glad. I don't love milk after it has been measured out & poured round into half a dozen dishes, perhaps all of 'em clean! I seem to have lost all my strength - if I walk from the bedroom out into the kitchen & back again, my legs tremble under me & my stomach feels as if there was nothing but all-gone mess? left in it. In short as Mr. Micawber would say (you know I'm sure) I am quite