After waightining waiting 5 long weeks after you left me to
hear from you I take my pen although in a feeble state and on the bed
as you will perceive from my writing. I let Sarah stay at brother Smoots
8 days after you left then she came home well and fleshy and bright she continued well
about 2 weeks and then I was taken with the fever and ague 3 or 4 days before she was.
we were then in Montrose and no one to do any thing for us as they were all sick
about there so that brother and sister Smoot came out and mooved us to their
house and rendered us every assistanc they could although their house was
unfinished yet our accommodations were much better than in Montrose.
we have been quite low having had a shake every day but are both getti
ng better now. I was much rejoiced to hear of the improvement of your
health after you left by a man who saw ^you^ about 40 miles from here who said
that you requested him to call and see me. I was glad to hear from you any
way. much wonder that you do not write as you have always done before
I think that you have not time or the letter has miscaried or something has
happened. so good night my Willford hopeing that I shall feel better
in the morn. The morn has come and found me for the first time
without a chill or shake although I feal verry weak yet I think that
I am gaining health and Sarah to. The men have come to day to raise my
house I am in hopes that they will get it finished by the time that I am
able to go into it their has been some talk of sister Tailor’s going in with
me as she had to move out of brother Youngs house she went into my room
with sister Pratt while I am out here. Sister Taylor wants to come
out into this neighbourhood she is a good neighbour. but the family you
left with me Oh! dear! if I had expected the time had been long that I
should have dwealt there I should have sent for you to have come home
for I could not have staid in the house with any contentment— but
thank the Lord I have not for the frirst moment wished you at home
since you left but desired and prayed for your spead and success on
your mission, Yea that you might have strength both temporal and spi
ritual wisdom grace knowledge humility and understanding to pres
erve you from all evil and help you fill your mission in the love
and fear of God and have many souls as seals of your ministry
I hope to do better next time
Lovely-street as you named the place when here
Dear Willford
After waiting 5 long weeks after you left me to
hear from you I take my pen although in a feble state and on the bed
as you will perceive from my writing. I let Sarah stay at brother Smoots
8 days after you left then she came home well fleshy and bright she continued well
about 2 weeks and then I was taken with the fever and ague 3 or 4 days before she was.
we were then in Montrose and no one to do any thing for us as they were all sick
about there so that brother and sister Smoot came out and mooved us to their
house and rendered us every assistanc they could although their house was
unfinished yet our accommodations were much better than in Montrose.
we have been quite low having had a shake every day but are both getti
ng better now. I was much rejoiced to hear of the improvement of your
health after you left by a man who saw you about 40 miles from here who said
that you requested him to call and see me. I was glad to hear from you any
way. much wonder that you do not write as you have always done before
I think that you have not time or the letter has miscaried or something has
happened. so good night my Willford hopeing that I shall feel better
in the morn. The morn has come and found me for the first time
without a chill or shake although I feal verry weak yet I think that
I am gaining health and Sarah to. The men have come to day to raise my
house I am in hopes that they will get it finished by the time that I am
able to go into it their has been some talk of sister Tailor’s going in with
me as she had to move out of brother Youngs house she went into my room
with sister Pratt while I am out here. Sister Taylor wants to come
out into this neighbourhood she is a good neighbour. but the family you
left with me Oh! dear! if I had expected the time had been long that I
should have dwealt there I should have sent for you to have come home
for I could not have staid in the house with any contentment— but
thank the Lord I have not for the first moment wished you at home
since you left but desired and prayed for your spead and success on
your mission, Yea that you might have strength both temporal and spi
ritual wisdom grace knowledge humility and understanding to pres
erve you from all evil and help you fill your mission in the love
and fear of God and have many souls as seals of your ministry
"Letter from Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 19 September 1839," p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 26, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/VE9