Lovely-street as you named the place when here
Dear Willford
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
Yes I even begin to look forth for the day when I hope and trust that I
shall behold and embrace him whom I now feal to dedicate to the Lord know
ing his calling although it I think it the greatest sacrafice that I could
make to be deprived of the society and company of my nearest friend on earth
but I think that the grace of God is sufficient for all things even to raise
me from a bed of sickness and preserve me ^and Sarah^ untill thy return which is
my sincere desire. Oh! Willford do not forget ^us^ when at the throne of grace
for we need as much grace to stand at this time of trial there are not
enough well people in Montrose to take care of the sick therefore
they suffer for want of attention—much the same in Commerce
although some have died there—and none in Montrose save a
number of children brother Pratts was one of the number— well
when you left. There have about 53 of the brethren died in Quincy
and it continues verry sickly there yet— brother Lane has lost both
of his children. brother Warren Smiths wife is dead some of your
Southern acquaintance—brother Jeremiah Murphy has been here from
Tennessee and wishes to be rem^e^mbered to you. I suppose that you
have learned the fate of our Island friends as I heared that you went
through Rochester was glad that you had an oppertunity of seeing
them. I received a book of brother Taylor’s writing from Springfield
with your marke or my name on it. was glad even to see that
I received a letter from home the day that you left home. the^i^r heath
was generally good accept sister Foss who was quite feeble and had been
for 2 months in consequence of lifting the old gentleman who lived with her
in his last illness he died last April. they sent much love to you and
the letter was d^i^rected to you. they much wished you ^to^ called and see
brother Ilus in N. Y. they feared that you would not know that he was
there. did not know that we had a paper from him. they wanted me
to come home and stay with them while you was gone. they wanted
you to call there on your return from England— Sister Foss would be
much pleased with a letter from you. do write me once a month for
they will seam long. I found the last page in your journal and read
it with interest. hope that you found a lock of my hair with some lines
in your trunk. Sarah sends a lock of her hair to you with a kiss by kissing
the letter. Shshe often calls pa-pa-pa- verry loud—dont you hear her. If
you have an oppertunity to get some wooling undershirts they would be much
better for you. I have been weighting to receive a a letter from you before I wrote
but feared if I weighted longer you would not get it before you left N. Y.
I verry much covet the long time that you have to journey before you get to
N. Y. wish you could have spent the time at home. I would have written you
a few of my sick bed reflections but do not feal able. Sister Smoot &
Jemima wishes to be remembered to you. they with shown brother Smoot have
shown us every kindness in every kindness in their power. Sister Taylor and
and her little girl are quite sick. Please give my best respects to brother
Tailor. I know that this writing is verry bad but I think that you will excuse
it when you learn that it was all written on my knee in the bed not
being able to sit up. I shall give up the remainder of this sheet to brother Smoot not
being able to fill it myself. With much love I remain yours
Willford Woodruff Phebe W. Woodruff
dont let this scrawl be seen neither writing or spelling Give my respects to brother Ilus
I liked to have met with a loss in my sickness but have not yet.
Elder W. Woodruff asteemed
friend & friend brother I gladly imbrace the
oppertunity that now offers me of writing
you a few lines by way of compliment
altho writen on my knee in hast by reaso[n] [page torn]
of the press of bu[si]ness that is now waiti[ng] [page torn]
on me. I beleave that things remane much
as they was when you left. Sickness prevailes
and all buness seemes to have stoped for the present
Perhaps it may be said that the presidency
has bought upper Commerce but what they give
for it I cannot say deffinetly. I would also informe
you that Govner Lucus of Ioway has sent
dow an exepress for Joseph and he is gone to see him
but what his buness is I persum is not known
It might be edefying or grattifying to you to
informe you that the fary at Commerce is
now in the hands of the bishops as I am cred
bly informed and President Rigdon is fast
recvering from a serious attact of sickness
you have the first interest in my prayrs—
most fervent, and I desire an interest in yours
I am sir as ever your most)
affecttionet Brother— ) A. O Smoot