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Do you believe in mesmerism? Sometimes I'm almost tempted to do so, of late I've so often thought of you & have such a yearning to hear from you that I've come to the conclusion to write & ask that you would let me hear how you are, how you are getting on in these days of bankruptcy & ruin, surely we've fallen upon evil times indeed, worse in my respects than when war was raging, no human eye can penetrate through the political gloom, no thought concieve what the next lifting up of the curtain will reveal, all we poor creatures can do is to pray for grace to sustain us, for wisdom to guide us aright, all is ordered by One who is too good to be unkind, too wise to err. God rules & reigns
You've heard before now that we were again in mmth of Octr,
Sister homeless pauper such a good home, not one of all my children have one to give me.
I had letters from Durhamroad is too bad & money is too scarce to think of going off now — if I live until Spring I hope to go down & see you all free pass.
The Session has begun — not more than 50 scholars if that — weather bad & hard times I suppose delay many who will come after awhile haven't seen little if they can help it, as there are plenty houses open at $15 of course they will all have to keep plainer fare — that is what ought to be done any how.
There are more than a dozen of the best houses & lots in this village vacant, & many on the front street are occupied by negroes — my old home is all filled up with negroes — it looks pitiful. Change is written more plainly on this place than any other I've seen. O! it does seem to me that everything & every body
Give my best love to all at sister