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[centered] 5 [top right, in pencil] [13 June 1852]

I was awoke this morning by a cry of "fire," you may depend on
it I was up & awoke the boys quick enough - Rhina soon came up & said
"it was close by." The poor boys were hurrying on their own clothes & urging me
to do the same. Soon after M^r Woolley came & begged me not to be alarmed as
there was no danger to us - The fire is still burning - it commenced in a carpen-
-ters shop & communicated to a large brick building belonging to a M^r Cohen
which is yet burning & even now there is another fire down at Yamacraw
It is very fortunate that these did not occur in the night - or even yesterday
when the wind was high. This is a lovely morning, calm bright & beautiful
God! grant it has dawned on all I hold dear in as good bodily health
as it does on your little brothers & myself. The boys tell me Amanda was at the fire
& that 2 brick houses & the carpenters [sic] shop are consumed. This must have been design-
edly done. The basket in which the bread goes belongs to Sarah do take care of
it & restore it safe to Sarah. Rhina seems better - I hope all may be for
the best that I take her with me. The expense is the least consideration with
me. You must tell my good Pussy that I think constantly of her. Should
anything befall her, I would indeed meet with a serious loss. I pray
God! no more will be taken from me yet a while. I saw 4 funeral
processions yesterday - 3 white & 1 negro, there may have been others -
but there are a great many people in this place. Tell Lady to be pure & try &
raise & keep the poultry well. And Maria must be careful of my birds
I know you will take an interest in all that concerns my interest
I only hope you will first be careful of your own dear self & those
sweet children. Clementine I trust will keep well - then I know she
will relieve you in the sewing line. As soon as Jane can be spared
from nursing she & Ellen / before the latter is able to cook / ought to make
for those who have large families or cannot sew. But I left all
to yours & Williams [sic] care & management. Do not neglect to
see to those window shades & return them if they do not answer.
I send the Potash for soft soap. I neglected to ask M^r Dunham
to give Lady or old Jane 25 tbs of tallow from the barn - pray do so