Boston Feb: 8. 1747/48 Dear Brother,

I heartily Sympathize with you for your present indisposition. I Shou'd be glad if it Lay in my power to Serve you but Since I'm denied that pleasure by reason of the distance that you are from me, I hope you will accept my pitty with the Small Contributions of Some Salve & Silk for a plaster.

I am affraid that your indisposition will deprive us of the pleasure of Seeing you this week, and if the weather holds good I will Send Cato to wait on you with a Shirt.

The family are in usual health Excepting Sisster who has been Confined with a Sore heel ever Since you went up.

We have had an Extream Cold Season which has almost Laid me up Sick but providence is favourable in abating the Extremity of the weather this day. Norton Quinsy's Wife1 Lyes dead at this time of a fever in her Lying in, which is a awfull thing to See persons taken away just in the prime of youth when providence has been favouring theem in so many perticulars that we Look upon them as the favorites of fortune and in a moment they are Cut down and their ends all their Granduer, and their memory's are soon forgotton and their places fill'd. Such Considerations ought to keep in our minds the vanity of thesse transitory blessings when the thoughts of them wholy possess the mind tho: they ought to be valued by us in some degree tho' not in Comparison with those great Eternal Blessing the Desire of which Sho'd possess Every faculty of the Soul.

Dear brother, I must conclude beging you to take Care of your Self. Sisster Send her Love to you pray Accept the Same from your Loving Sisster,

ABIGAIL PAINE

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

1.

Martha (Salisbury) Quincy (1727–1747/8), daughter of Nicholas and Martha (Saunders) Salisbury (Thwing Index).