94 King Street, New york
My Dear Phebe
In great haste I take my pen to write a
few more lines to you merely to inform you of my departure
from New York for Liverpool. I shall go on board tomorrow in
company with Elders John Taylor, & Theadore Turley & shall sail
Thursday morning the 19th inst we shall probably reach Liverpool in
less than 20 days as the winds are generally fafvorable this season of
the year in going to England but unfavorable in coming to
America. We sail in the (packet Ship Oxford the old line of New York &
Liverpool) We went on board of her yesterday & secured our births or at
passage therefore we shall possitively sail on the 19 th. you need not
look for any more letters or communications from me untill I
arive in England at which time I shall write to you again.
I am enjoying good health & so is Brothers Taylor & Turley. I
am truly sorry I could not have obtained another letter from
you before I left New york, as I never have obtained but
one since I left home. however I know there are many things to
be considered I hope you will remember to write to me & direct
to Preston, Lankenshire, England & give me all the news with you. I have
[written in upside-down text] This is the 6 th letter that I have written you since I left yoyu. Nov 24 th I sent you onde dollar, 13 th of Dec I sent you five dollars
I hope you have received those letters [end of upside-down text]
sent you six letters & a number of papers & when you write to me tell
me what number of letters you have recieved from me & the dates of them
I wrote a letter to Father & Mother Carter yesterday I see Ilus after
he is well. Our fare on board the Oxford is $15 dollars each we find & coockk our
own provisions. Great fires continue to ravage our eastern Cityies. & fires, wars,
& earthquakes the Eastern World ie Europe. I attended a fire in this city on last
Saturday night. whare $500,000 dollars worth of property was consumed, ie half a million
two fire proof stores four stories high filled from top to bottom with dry good
& bales of cotton were intriely [entirely] consumed, the conflagration was awful. I
went down to the fire with Joseph Ball about 9 oclok in the evening We
tarried untill about 12 & returned home & left the fire still raging, & notw-
ithstanding it rained hard their was about 10,000 persons at the fire. When
we got home we were well soaked with water. Orson Pratt is still
preaching in Philadelphie or near it. Brothers Young, & Kimble are
in this State but have not come to the city yet. I expect all
three of them, & G. Smith & probably brother parley will soon follow
us to England. I expect Brother Taylor will write to his wife before
we leave the city, give my respects to her, & all who inquire. P. P. Pratts
family are well, Sister Pratt speaks often of you. Joseph, Sidney, & Higby
I understand are in the destrict of Washington may the Lord help them
to do his will.
I hope Phebe you will feel easy concerning me &
give me your prayers. I shall always remember you & Sarah
before the Lord. yes my prayer to God will be that he may support
you in the midst of every temptation, affliction, sickness, & suffering,
that it may be your lot to endure Remember the Lord will give you
grace & Strength according to your day. I remember you by day &
by night. I pray the Lord that he may ever give you friends to assist
you in your domestic affairs to assist you both in & out doors
when you are not able to attend to them yourself. But thank God the
day of trial, persecution, & sacrafice, will soon be exchanged for the reward
of the just & that rest which remains for the people of God. I wish to drop
a few remarks to Brother & Sister Smoot on the following page. Overlook my
imperfections in writing for I have not time to look them over. give my respets to
all friends in Lovely Street &c.
Phebe I am still your friend & companion
Willford
I desire to drop a few words
to you although in great haste I should be glad to fill a sheet
to you if I had time. but as I have not permit me to ne
arly say that I feel vary greatful to you for all your kindness
& frendship manifest towards my family since I left home
& I hope you will continue to lend a hand of assistance unto them
& use your influence for others to do so that is when they are in afflic
tion sickness, or distress & cannot help them selves for a friend in need
is a friend in deed. & you shall all have your reward sooner or later
for all you do for my family while I am absent to make them
comfortable. for of necessity I am called abroad to do the work of the
Lord for a Season & I go & perform it willingly & that soul that will
extend the hand of charity to my family when they stand in need und[page torn]
cirumstances shall be blessed of the Lord in this world & that [page torn]
is to come. finally let us all be faithful & exercise faith in God
for his work will spedily roll on in mighty power & strength that his
Saints may be prepared for the coming of the Son of Man
That health & Strength, food, & ramant, peace, faith, & the grace
of God may rest upon you from this time & henceforth is the
prayer of your Brother in the Lord Jesus
Abram O. & Margarett Smoot
Willford Woodruff
25
Mrs Phebe W. Woodruff
Montrose, Lee County
Ioway Territory
[stamp in red ink]
NEW-YORK
DEC
18
[written in upside-down text] Willford Woodruff Dec 17th
London New York 1839 [end of upside-down text]