Boston, Sepr. 25. 1749 Dear Brother,

I have but a moments time to write and am uncertain whether you'll ever Receive this short Epistle, but I judg by my Self that you want to hear of our wellfare and for this reason with Some others 66take this opertunity to Let you know that we that are at home are well. Father is gone his jorney and went away much indispos'd.

I want very much to hear from you & your Lambs and pray you to write assoon as you Can, but I depend upon your Company here the Eleventh day of Octobr. but without I know of your Recieving this I shall not rest easy. Sisster Send much Love and good wishess to you. Pray accept the Same from your Loving Sisster

ABIGAIL PAINE

Give my Service to all friends.

RC .

Boston Octobr. 4. 1749 Dear Brother,

I Send thesse as an Acknoledgment of your favour which I Recd. last week. It was a Cordial to me and came to my hand at a time when I much want'd Somthing to revive my Sinking Spirrits. I have been very ill for this week past and am Still Confin'd tho' much recover'd. I was very bad Severall days and my destemper seem'd to threaten danger but by the repeat'd favour of Divine Providence to me in Blessing the means uss'd, I have Soon got over my Distemper tho' not perfectly recover'd my former Strenth.

Your Letter was very merry but I am not Satisfied (by it) that you like your Scituation but hope things will be more to your mind when you are more Settled.

Dear Brother I have just heard that the man by whom I intended to Send this brings word that he heard that you are Sick & he thinks with the throat Distemper.1 This news gives me much Concern. Father has some thoughts of Setting out to vissit you but the news is so imperfect that he thinks to wait hoping to hear from you Speedily if you are Sick. He Designs to Send you Some tar water by this man, and desires you to take it in Large quantitys if you have any Symtoms of that distemper.

Pray take great Care either for the restoration or preservation of invaluable Blessing health. I need not Spend much time to Convince you of our Concern for you at this news, the Consideration of the distance that you are from us makes the thoughts of your Sickness more terifiing to 67us, but I endevour to Silence my Self by Commiting your Case into the protection of him who is never absent for them who Seek his favour.

I am oblig'd to Conclude for the man is waiting. If you are ill pray Send directly down to father.

If your health will permit I shall expect you here next week which if you have Recd. my last you are knowing to my design.

In the mean time I wait praying for your health and wellfare,

Your Loving Sisster

PS. Father desires if you are Sick that you wou'd send to Mr. Prentices who will Let him know it.

RC ; endorsed.

1.

Diphtheria. RTP detailed his illness in his diary: Sept. 26, "felt Ill this day with a sore Throat"; Sept. 27, "my indisposition encreas'd"; Sept. 28, "So bad as that I was Nott able to attend my Schooll; my Gums very anguishing and my Throat cancered"; Sept. 29, "nott finding my self better I went for Dr. Densmore [John Dunsmoor] who told me I had the Throat-Distemper and order'd a Blister to be laid on my Arm"; Sept. 3o: “I took a vomit wch. work'd 9 times; very weak"; Oct. 1: "very bad"; Oct. 2: “I took a Purge: something better"; Oct. 6: “I went abroad."