Beaver Harbor, Bay of Funday, N. B. Sunday evening, .
My Dear Phebe
I seat myself on the top of a High, Romantic Mountain or Hill
to comens a few moments once more with you. I am nearly surronded with
majestic Hills, mountains, & dens forests, which have just been swept over
with those terriffic fires which have devastated this part of the earth
& left a mantle of Darkness & morning over the face thereof,
before me on the east However I behold the majestic Bay of Funday spread
out with its majestic & mighty Billows rolling for the Rocky bo[u]nd
shore to fulfill the Law of its c^C^reator, by forming a tide in
places of about 75 feet. for the last hour before the sitting sun
I have stood upon an Eminance gazeing upon the grand scenery bef[o]re
me, meditating upon the works of God with a degree of both delight
& solemnity, & wished I could have had you by my side a few mome[n]ts
to have gazed upon the scenery with me, but I was alone except
my guardian Angel. After I found a small spot of evergreens a spared moment
from the burning, I reposed to offered up my prayers ^for my wife, children, Saints, Israel^ according to the Holy Order
of God. I seat myself in a little bedroom whare the family knoweth
me not to con[v]ers a few moments with you. A pleasing duty indeed. I hope I
shall be able to enjoy the same blessing at your Hand on my arr[i]val at
Miramichi As I ha[v]e not heard a word since I left home from you
& have not seen your face ownly though a glass darkly. I suppose
you would like to know what I have been about since I last wrote
you well I will tell you one whole week to a day of my time has been spent
in a dreary manner by being shut up in a small Harbor 60 miles East
of Fox Islands called Musketoe or winter Harbor bo[u]nd fast by smoke fog
& calm with nothing to clear the heart or please the eye except to wander
over the ragged rocks & forest, pick a few straw berries & wintergreens, see a few
rough fisherman, ketch a few lobsters & fish, & live, eat, drink, & sleep, in
forecastle of a small sloop, lived mostly upon black tea, land sea bread &
Molasses, fresh fish, & Lobsters. I Began to feel Homesick the constant cold
fogs, & smoke, filled up my Lungs, I coughed, raised Blood, & fell sick
I preached one day in the Harbor to the fishermen, all men, The women
were afraid to come ^out^ not knowing what ^A^ Mormon might do. they wanted me
to preach more, but I felt more like trying to get on my journey. It
was ownly 30 hours sail with good wind to Machias from Thomaston
wha[r]e & was land. I left Thomaston the 7th went thro[u]gh Vinal Ha[v]en thorough-
fare, & arived at Winter Harbor at sun down, stayed untill the 13th as their
was No way to get out of the country ownly by water. Our company
c^C^onssited of Capt's Blazedell & Spears A relative of Br Stenett from
fox Islands, myself & cook 4 in Number & I think we shall all
remember each other as long as Robinson Crusoe & his man Friday though
we were not as long in Exhile. On the 13th we arived in Machias at 5 oclok
and I could not ascerta[i]n that I could get from East Po[r]t to St Johns u[n]till
the middle of a^this^ week. And the man that I am now with was ju[s]t
leaving for this place with a small boat of ownly 5 tons, to come 60 miles
by sea & in the night at that, yet I went on board of him ju[s]t as He
was leaving we had a good wind & traveled all n[i]ght & came 60 mils
& landed this morning in th[i]s Harbor which lies betwe[e]n Eastport & St Johns
after walking the deck till midnight I lay down in a small dirty greasy
Birth & got some sleep in the Bow of the Boat, was a small Brick fire place
with a fire place bu[r]ning though it was ownly a 5 ton boat & while I
lay all curled up in a heap for the want of room & looking into the fire
as the bgoat was wisking through the water, I thought I would like to
have you see me by vision or some other way & know that I was wiftded
safely through the sea though in a small cabin I had black tea, sea Bre[a]d
Boiled Pollock for supper & breakfast. we arivd at Beaver Harbor at 8 oclk
it being su[n]day I have spent the day with Mr John Eldridge the man I
came with, since I ar[i]ved at his Home I ha[v]e feasted on Ham Eggs, warm
Buisket, Butter-milk straw Berries & cream & shugar & every thing the heart
wish in the eating time. I am particular in all these little matters
for your benefit that you may know how I get along daily. I
do not suppose these things will Enterest the publick mind
If you was abroad I would like to know how you fared
& got along but I cannot get the prvilege of knowing even
how you fare at home. in the Mo[r]ning I shall walk
5 miles to get to the stage road carry my Bag, take stage
& be in st Johns to morrow n[i]ght if the Lord will I hope
I shall not be bloked up a week a gain any whare &
have No News from Boston or N York by Papers for the last
two weeks ownly I saw an acco[un]t in the NB papers saying that
the Cholera was still carrying off over 100 daily in St Louis
I pray for you & the children daily & so do you for me. tell
wilford I want him to be a good Boy & learn fast mind his
Master & pray for me daily & not make himself sick at play
tell Susan & phebe to be good also & do right & pray. kiss them
all for me give my love to all the Sa[i]nts with you I
hope soon to get a lettr from you it seems a long time
This whole country is nearly all burned over with fire as
is Miramichi so I hear. the destruction is vary great all
through these provinens, But I must close good night
god Bless you Be of good cheer I shall come home as soon as I
can that the Lord will answer your prayers, goiodve [give] you food & take
good care of you & the children untill I come home is the prayer of
yours
Wilford Woodruff
give my love to Rhoda, Phebe, Sally, & all our fr[ie]nds who are with you
[upside-down text] I have had to put on my flannels again, it is cool on the water in this country, my linen
coat is A valuable garment to me. I should spoil my other clothes without it, in the greasy &
dirty boats, my new Hat fall into the sea soaked with water I got it again, do not the
Onions beats & squashes want thining out I wish I could be with you one day I am gitting
lonesome among strangers. I will come as soon as I can I will kiss this letter As I cannot you
& go to bed I [end of upside-down text]
[upside-down text] I shall leave this letter with Mr Eldridge to take to Eastport to put
into the office for you I hope you will get it I shall not pay the
postage on it As I cannot Mail it myself I sent you two before
which I trust you got. I look At your portrait evry day But I would
rather see the original occasionally
WW [end of upside-down text]
Mr Wilford Woodruff
Cambridgeport
Mass
[stamp in red ink]
X
[stamp in red ink]
EASTPORT
JUL
24
Me
W Woodruff
July 14th 49