(seq. 21)

Curtisville 7th mo 12th 1839

Respected Neice

Thine of the 12 & 15th ultimo mailed
the 18th was ree'd the 19th should have answered
it ere this but have been very busy & time occupied
as far ashealth would admit in the discharge of
the duties relative to my business here & it being
near the end of the half year. Paid our help last week
$5.800 for 1/4 Yrs work. Went to Adams & M. ago last 6th day
with all of us Ann & Cynthia & Hannah left Cynthia to be cared
by a woman from Mich who says she can sweat the
complaint away & by doing it will prevent a recurrence
of it the medicine is simple principle ingredients are
wormwood charred in a close vessel & burned to ashes & put into
brandy certain quantities of it taken 2 or 3 times a day - Sweats
no time only during sleep - Have not heard the result or
effects of the medicine - In usual health there [waud?] Mother
about the same Betsey La Sure takes care of her & should think very good
help - Susan A. was in her school; not so large as at first
has between 30 & 40 scholars some rogues Have reed 2
letters from Melissa since I saw thee we have given up
looking for her this season Harriet has the ague every
other day right smart she says - The business is nearly
suspended for the present owing to scarcity of money
at the west or that which is good - no news have the
monotony of a factory village

In relation to temperance affairs Ann E. says tell
thee we are temperate drinkers & hope to [reucaiu?] so
should think by the shape of thy letter thou hadst
robbed those little worms of a good [hom?] from the [conteuls?]
of the cider barred pictured in thy imagination