Boston Jan: 25. 17467 Dear Brother,

I have but a Little time to write in but being deprived the pleasure of Seeing you I rejoice at this opertunity of Sending a few Lines to Let you know how we all are in health.

Our Mother has got a bad Cold and is much indisposed with it. The rest of the family are in usual health Excepting my Self. I am much better than when you Left us but have not been down Stairs yet.

I have no news to write to you for we are all froze up in town.1 I would not have you Expect me at Cambridg next week for my health will not admit of it so soon. I rejoic'd to hear that you arrived safe at Cambridge without receiveing any damage.

Mother sends her kind Love to you and Longs to See you but dont desire you to Come when you must walk round.2

I Conclude wishing you health and prosperity, your Loving Sisster,

ABIGAIL PAINE

PS We desire a Line from you if writing is not out of fashion among you.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robert Treat Paine att Cambridge"; endorsed.

1.

At the end of his diary entries for Jan. 1747, RTP makes the following observation: "This Month has been Attended with a great deal of Snow and Bitter Cold Weather Sev'rall very furious Storms and pretty much Rain."

2.

At this time two routes to Boston from Cambridge were in general use: across Charlestown Neck to Charlestown and thence by ferry, or over the great bridge on the Brighton road and around by way of Brookline, Roxbury, and Boston Neck (Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, A Topographical and Historical Description of Boston [Boston, 1871], 83).