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                                                                                                                               Bangor FEb. 1 -1854.

Dear Sister Nettie

                          Eliab received today a letter from Charles dated Dec. 27 - saying that you and Isaac had both been most sick; that Isaac was better, but you not much. This rather alarmed us, for we thought it was still another ill turn, until we compared dates & found we had received letters with an account of the same illness, from you and Isaac, dated Jan. 3rd and 6th. Still we are far from feeling at rest about either of you.
  Mother has really been trying to persuade Eliab to write immediately to Isaac for permission to go on to Illinois for the purpose of safely escorting you and "Du Coign" home to New England. Eliab seems very anxious about you. He says you ought to come immediately home to your Mother, and I think so too. Much as we should all want to have you here with us, I do not doubt that it would be better for you to be on those New Hampshire hills where you were born and bred, for a time until you had in part recovered your health & strength.
  We are all worried about you. I want you should be packed off to New England forthwith. I am "out of conceit" that that most delightful Illinois climate, and feel very anxious to have you all

[left-hand side and top] sometimes we have to coax him a long time to get him to open his bill at all, and when he does he will laugh, smack his lips, rub his feet together & make a great ado over a bit as big as a pea. Mother says she never saw a child that cared less about food. Do please write next time that you are gaining strength fast & have concluded to come East early in the spring. This is a sad-looking letter. Maria says she is really intending to write to you soon. I have not had a letter from Anna for a long time. Mother says "tell them I think of them, love them and pray for them." Why don't Charles write to me? Love to him, as also to yourself. A kiss for baby. good night. Sister Lucy.