Letter from Cynthia Briggs Ingalls, 17 May 1849
Steuben
Sir as my husband was gone from
home when your pusilanimous letter arrived it fell in
to my hands, and I feell it my duty however painful
it may be to answer it. I feell if I should (hold
my peace the verry stones would cry out) you accuse
him of intcoxication in Philladelphia, and of pleading
inocent as to his getting intoxicated, this I know is false
as them that told it, he has told me every circum-
stance concerning his being taken by the watchman
he had got fatigued and sick traveling from Pittburg
in those dirity Secltion Bats that he came in, and set
himself down to rest a while, (having no money to get
him a lodging) he got a sleep and when the watch
found him he thought he was some suspicious looking
person, and for the sake of the fee which he knew he would
get he took him to the wach house notwithstanding
my Husband told him he was inocent and for
that reason told him who he was, and showed his papes
to proove it. But as it was the Officer prooved to be
a better Saint than those that bore the name, he gave
him money to help him on his journey, for ^he^ repented of
what he had done, he did not stand back as those holy
brothers did but he saw he was in distress and administered
to his wants. Which do you think done the will of his
Heavenly father; I suppose you know that my Husband
came in company with Dudley, my Husband had money
