As this is a memorable day to me I think I
cannot spend it better, than in writing to my dear Willford not being unmindful
that last sabbath was your birth ^day^ and knowing where we were last march about
this time, leads me to exclame Ah! what geat changes may take place in one
year and even in much less time— then my Willford was with me—
but where is he now— farfar from me acrost the mightydeep but I
desire to be contented and reconciled to the will of God in all things, praying
him to protect you from all evil and return you home once more to the
bosom of your family who are anxiously weighting your return. I wrote to
you the first of Jan. but then did not know that you had sailed for Eng.
but soon after received your last letter from N.Y. dated Dec. 17th the letter
was sent back to me by Mr Killbourn after I sent it to the Office, I them drect
directed it to England according to your diretions and hope that you have
recived it before this time. I have received five letters from you since
you left home— the first dated Farmington Sept. 30th. second N.Y. Oct 23rd
third Nov. 24th fourth Dec. 13th the fifth and last Dec. 17th and have written
you two before this,— when one is deprived of anothers company what a greate
blessing and consolation it is that we can converse with each other by letter
writing— I am anxiously looking daily for a letter from you but take this
opportunity of writing to you lest within a few days I shall not be as well able
to write as now— my health is not verry good at present but I desire to be tha
nkful that it is as good as it is. I can sit up most all day and sew the most
of the time— O my dear Willford I wish you could be with me for a little while
now it would be the greatest consolation to me that I could have.— two or
three nights since I dreamed that you came home to stay with me a week or
two, believe me, I was highly gratified but when I awoke and found it but
a dream I was sadly disappointed,— but as it cannot be so at present I desire to
commit myselfe into the hands of God, with all that I have— Our little Sarah
Emma is well bright, and harty, and I think as busiy a child as you ever saw
she frequently calls aloud for her pa-pa— she clings around me as though I
was all the friend she had here which causes me unpleasant fealings, when I think
how much I am alone in regard to relatives here— she is much company for me
[upside down]
Brother M^e^acham desires to be remembered to you— he has had the misfortune to break his leg this winter
As this is a memorable day to me I think I
cannot spend it better, than in writing to my dear Willford not being unmindful
that last sabbath was your birth day and knowing where we were last march about
this time, leads me to exclame Ah! what geat changes may take place in one
year and even in much less time— then my Willford was with me—
but where is he now— farfar from me acrost the mightydeep but I
desire to be contented and reconciled to the will of God in all things, praying
him to protect you from all evil and return you home once more to the
bosom of your family who are anxiously weighting your return. I wrote to
you the first of Jan. but then did not know that you had sailed for Eng.
but soon after received your last letter from N.Y. dated Dec. 17th the letter
was sent back to me by Mr Killbourn after I sent it to the Office, I them
directed it to England according to your diretions and hope that you have
recived it before this time. I have received five letters from you since
you left home— the first dated Farmington Sept. 30th. second N.Y. Oct 23rd
third Nov. 24th fourth Dec. 13th the fifth and last Dec. 17th and have written
you two before this,— when one is deprived of anothers company what a greate
blessing and consolation it is that we can converse with each other by letter
writing— I am anxiously looking daily for a letter from you but take this
opportunity of writing to you lest within a few days I shall not be as well able
to write as now— my health is not verry good at present but I desire to be tha
nkful that it is as good as it is. I can sit up most all day and sew the most
of the time— O my dear Willford I wish you could be with me for a little while
now it would be the greatest consolation to me that I could have.— two or
three nights since I dreamed that you came home to stay with me a week or
two, believe me, I was highly gratified but when I awoke and found it but
a dream I was sadly disappointed,— but as it cannot be so at present I desire to
commit myselfe into the hands of God, with all that I have— Our little Sarah
Emma is well bright, and harty, and I think as busiy a child as you ever saw
she frequently calls aloud for her pa-pa— she clings around me as though I
was all the friend she had here which causes me unpleasant fealings, when I think
how much I am alone in regard to relatives here— she is much company for me
upside down
Brother Meacham desires to be remembered to you— he has had the misfortune to break his leg this winter
"Letter from Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, 8 March 1840," p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed May 6, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/y3w