Germantown Dec. 10, 1756 Dear Brother,

It wou'd be a great pleasure to me if I cou'd find in myself a Capacity to write a Rational letter but alass! I am so incumbred with the affairs of this world that I can think of nothing else. Father is much worse and grown so resolute and Self will'd that I know not what to do. I Supose you have seen nurse who has been from me ever since tuesday. She promis'd to see and inform you whether she cou'd Come back to me if not whether the person from Mrs. Voakes or any other mention'd wou'd Suply her place. Kind Providence (on whom alone is my dependance) has Sent Catto to our relief. He is well & behaves well so that at present I am Comfortable. Poor Sisster is again in great tribulation. I have not seen her since she left Boston for she was taken Sick imediately with a strange Eruption as she calls it but Suposes it to be the Swine Pox tho' it appears different from the neighbours who have all had it. She has lost her voice wholly, breathing is a burden she just writes me. I have Sent to insist upon her Sending for a Docr. I dare not visit her lest I shou'd be taken in to bear her Company which at this time I dare not do. When I began to write I expected to Send by a boat but tis gone along without our barrel or directions to Come to you, but shou'd be glad if you wou'd take the first opertunity to Send down the things for fathers Chamber is very Cold. He has lost his left hand by Somthing that appears like the Rumatism. I am writing in his Chamber to keep him easy and his distracted talk has almost turn'd my brain. So Farewell & Remember your Friend & Sister,

ABIGAIL GREENLEAF 379

PS Dec. 12. Instead of Pray's boat our Soilder is to be the bearrer to morrow morning. I have seen Capt. Ford yesterday who informs that Sisters illness is not the Swine pox as was thought but Proceeding from her old Stock of infirmitys. I think I have no more to add.

RC ; addressed: "To mr. Robert Treat Paine att Boston"; endorsed.

Braintree Decr. 13th. 1756 Dear Treat,

I must be still Troublesome to you. I want you to Inquire of Sprague how soon the money's Like to be ready & when I must come to Boston. Could I but discharge Mrs. Pemberton's Exn. 'twould be some safe to my mind for I hate The sight of a Sherriff as much as most men do. I wonder whether it would not do for a Certain Church to pray from the danger & plague of Sheriff's Libera nos Domine.1 I've wrote to Mr. Pray abt. the Daaws? at Foot's, He gave me Incouragement that he'd take them at £110.0.0 Pray urge that matter if you can see him. Do assist (Cato) in geting a yd. Cloth at Mr. How's. I have sent both pattern & Ordr. If you see any of my Folks uneasy tell them I'm an honest Fellow & am Contriving to pay them all.

Would it not do for Sprague to have this Executn. Indors'd to him, & to pay it off & keep it 'till he can Muster the rest of the money & so rid me of this Evil? Tomorrow Pray will be in Town, & I'll send him to you. Prevail with him to bring the Necessarys from the Distill-house, Including Cato Bed & Bedstead & tell him I'll pay him for his Trouble. If Snow will give £100 L Money to boot Query, whether or no it will not be best to let him have the Distill house? I've sold Mr. How the Glasses at 15/ 25/ & 40/ a ps. & he'll take the Barrs a sec? also. Pray let the Glasst be where he may got Them. I think I've no more to say, but when I get thro' the present difficulty's & get Setled at Smelt Brook I promise to write you a more Regular Epistle either in prose or Verse & may be it will be an answer to yr. midnight production. I am &c. three times over

J. GREENLEAF

P.S The second Line above is a Cureosity; for it Contains Twelve Monisibiles.

Cotton Linnen to Line Father Britches

380

RC ; addressed: "To Mr. Robt. Treat Paine Boston"; endorsed.

1.

Free us. Lord.