1857

Weathersfield May 5 1857

Cousin George Shedd Dear Sir –

You seem to be the medium through which information & intelligence is communicated between the friends at Denmark and Vermont, so I address the friends there through you. We received your kind letter in the winter; were very glad to hear from you all and you were all well; I used to think there was but little if any snow at the west, and not much cold weather, but I was wrongly informed; or there has been a great change in this matter; according to the best information I have got, you have had more snow, and as much cold weather as we have. There has been a tedious winter East, West, North and South – the coldest I remember, February was the mildest month, but April has been cold enough to make it up – since May came in, we have had a great deal of rain. It fell Saturday all day, it rained yesterday steadily, and it rains very hard today and the weather is warmer. Vegatation begins to start to look green. The cold weather in April, the steady rains in May. The farmers will have much to do, in a little time, or come short of a crop in the fall. Is winter grain killed in your region, that is the report. What little is sowed here, is winter killed, pretty much.

I have not received a letter, nor heard from Charles since you wrote me. When he last wrote me, he said he should make us a visit before he went west. He may call on us when he starts for Minnesota tho we thought he would left before this time. We thank all our good friends in Denmark for their cordial & friendly invitations to us, to make them a visit this spring. Nothing could be more acceptable to us to comply with that invitation, did our health and age admit of such a thought. Although the journey may be accomplished quick in the carrs, it is a lengthy one, we could not indure the fatigue night and day to be broke of our rest, or a little extra exercise; would set me into a sever head ache to which I am subject too; and it might bring on the cramp to my wife, which she is subject too. In these cases, the journey or the visit could not be very pleasant to either of us.

By remaining quiet at home, with a little exercise in the kitchen and in the garden, in this way we enjoy tolerable health for persons of our age; tho we repeatedly have our poor spells, we doubt they will grow upon us, till nature yields to some disease, then we return to dust again. Death is the gate to endless joy; yet sometimes Jourdan looks deep & wide, and we dread to pass it! Edward Payson used to tremble at it; before he died it looked small like a rill, could step across it at one step – God can make it so to his children now. Pray that the will of God may be done in & by us, and we may be ready to go when he calls; the common pleasures of life are passed with us – nothing but God’s truth, will stand before his throne. The heavens will roll together as a seneill (?), the elements melt with fervent heat; the earth passes away, but God, truth and the gospel will forever remain. On the 15[SUP:]th[:SUP] day of March, your aunt Samuel Shedd died; all your aunts are gone but aunt Lydia & Fanny, they with myself is all that remains. There are well at Mr. Fellows, Paulina is better, they are well at Mr. Haskells. I have 2 or 3 letters to write, and my head aches. Will write again if I live. You write. Give our love to all our friends in Denmark.

This from you Uncle & Aunt Eben’r & Fanny Shedd