Boston July 24. 1752 Dear Brother,

Your absence at this time gives me great uneasyness for I am affraid you have taken the Disease so Common at this time of year in Carolina. I long to have you return that we may have another opertunity of rejoicing together, at the favours we have Receiv'd at the hand of a kind Providence in your preservation abroad and in Carriing us all with175Safty through the Dangers of the Small pox and Gaurding us from the Malignity of it so that five out of Six can but guess at the distemper as it Commonly Seizes. Soon after you sail'd it broke out in Several familys in town but tis Generally thought it might have been Stop'd, had the phisians & the town in general desir'd. It was thought to be a good Season of the year and no business in town to be hindred therefore twas best to have it Spread; and Contrary to Law, when it was it but five or Six houses they began to inoculate. We waited till the Seventh of April and then my self with Cato & Peggy went through the operation. We all had it more favourable than you had. When my Eruption was Compleated which was the tenth day Father rec'd the infection in the same maner and five days after Sister Eunice return'd from Braintree (wither she had fled for some time to avoid so many Sick at once) and was inoculated and at the turn of hers Enoch Came from Watertown and went the Operation. He had it in a much worse maner than we having more pustiles than all the rest but no bad Symtoms. Father was so well as to visit Sister every day and it has Left him better in health than he was before. Excepting Enoch we had the five day sort and have Scarcely any marks to Show. It has made a quicker and more general progess thro: the town then ever was known and vastly more favorable in general then formerly. About 25 hundred have been inoculated & thirty two died. Many of your friends have had it, and I think none of our intimates have been taken away.

I have run my Epistle to a great Lenth without Saying half that I Design'd and can now only add my hearty good wishes for your wellfare & Safe return which I hope will be Speedy. You wrote for your bowls &c ., but we don't know how to Send them not having your Chest and think it needless Since a friend Comes to you with Design to return Mate, by him we shall Send your waistcoat & some oatmeal & bawm Least you Shou'd be indispos'd. Pray accept this Scribble from your Sencere friend & Loving Sisster,

ABIGAIL GREENLEAF

RC ; "To Capt. Robt. Treat Paine Act Bath-Town N: Carolina pr. Capt. Sympson"; endorsed.