Letter from Iola Denison Perkins on family affairs

Castleton Oct 13th, 1860

My dear sister

When I received your last letter, I thought I should have written to you sooner, but the last few weeks have been crowded with unusual events, which have required all my time and strength; and as our letters do not reach you any sooner if written the first of the month than if sent within two days of the twentieth, I have waited till now tho Lucy’s has been written for some time. I will not attempt to tell you how much I have had to do, and see to, the year past, it is more than a year since the repairing and altering of our house commenced, it has been a difficult and tedious job, is not near done; and in that time we have fitted out two of our Girls and seen them married. Mary was married the 20th September. At that time we supposed they would before this time have left for South America; but the Society under whose patronage they go were undecided for some time, both as to the time of their going, and place of their location; tho they had expected to go to Chili; but they have been persuaded to go to Peru; and now expect to sail the 11th Nov. I think I wrote you in the spring, that Patience was sick. She had a complication of diseases, was not able to be around much after the first of June, and it seemed very difficult to discover what was the most diseased the mind or the body; both were distressed and she had no courage to help her up. She grew worse the last of the Summer, and her disease terminated in a kind of putrid diarhea. She died the evening of the day after Mary was married! You can have no idea of the strange commingling of the events of that week; I hope never to see another such. You know Mary was her favorite and we have thought that tho she was very much pleased with the thought of her having married to so good a man (for he is one of the best) some of her nervous distress might have been caused or at least aggravated by the trial of having her go so far from home. But I have another death to tell you about. Mrs. Morse died a month before Patience. She has been feeble for a long time, but was able to work and visit her friends, until in April she was taken with inflammatory rheumatism which settled in her knee. She suffered most intensely 4 months was never able to move herself and much of the time could not be moved; an abscess formed which discharged a great deal and finally she became dropsical and after lingering on the verge of the grave for a long time she passed away. She was very patient through her sufferings, had uncommon courage and fortitude and her death has left a great void. She was truly a kind friend, an exemplary Christian. Uncle Higley feels her loss very much his health is better than it was a year ago tho he is subject to sudden ill turns.

I hear seldom from sister Fanny; I believe she is not in very good health. Annie Denison is here this term attending school. She had a letter from her Mother yesterday, they are all well. Do you ever have letters from brother Francis? I seldom do; tho I hear from him thru others. He has bought a farm in Decatur a few miles from Kalamazoo. Carolines Father died a few motnhs ago. They had lived for 2 or 3 years in Kalamazoo. John Taylor was here a short time in August he seems to be a nice little Man about as small in stature as any man I know; he says George is tall and large. George is not married. You asked me if you had written to William and his wife since they wrote you- they- have not received any letter from you. I was surprised and gratified to receive that letter from Sarah, for it does not seem that you can have a child old enough to write a letter but I will write a little to her and close this very imperfect letter. I have not seen Mr. Marsh or heard anything from him lately I hoped to see him before his return to Orregon. Give my love to Brother Lyman. I would say more to him had I time. Write as often as you can and I will do the same, Your affectionate,

Iola

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My dear Niece,

I was very glad to receive your nice letter and will write a few lines to you, tho I have not as much leisure a[s] little girls have for writing. I am glad you are such a help and comfort to your Mother, a good child is a great comfort. I think it must be very pleasant where you live. I suppose you have much nicer fruit than we do, and not as much cold weather. I should delight to see you all here, and hope we shall some time, though it is a long journey. I think you must take a great deal of comfort with your little brothers and sister; and in attending school and I hope you will write to me often. Do you have many flowers? What kinds do you like best? I will send you some Pink seeds which are very pretty. We have no children in our family as young as you are but Gridley has a little girl about your age. You would like to see yourcousins in Middlebury but I presume you would think them rather noisy; they are lively fellows. As it is time for me to go to bed I must close. Please give my love to your Brother and Sister and believe that I love you all, tho I cannot see you.

Your Auntie.