Letter from Asahel Hart Woodruff, 27 September 1837
Terre Haute
Brother Wilford
I received your very kind and interesting
Letter dated Rowley Mass. July 25th in its proper
season and as you invited my correspondence with you
at Scarborough I cannot longer deny myself the
pleasure of writing you. In the perusal of the account
of your visit among the friends of our youth I assure
you I can appreciate the emotions by which you must
have been inspired and I should think myself most
highly favored to be permitted to enjoy with you
such an occasion. When I think of "My own dear
native land" So many and such varied associations
crowd into my mind that I can hardly determine
whether I should realise more pleasure or pain
from a visit. I have many objects of attaction and
endearing interest there but there is one before
which all others lose their force it is found
in the magic term "My Sistre"! I have many
friends who are very dear to me and upon whose
memory I often dwell with great delight, yet
my dear brother must forgive me when I say
that the presence of my only sister in my
thoughts drives every other object from my
reccollection. I sometimes fear she is too much
the idol of my heart but I pray God that
she be not doomed to be smitten in judgment
to me.
