thout you find me a little cross
and complaining, and Mr. Barbour out of his senses with joy, on
your return. Good Mr. Barbour! he has superintended and encouraged
the servants, and visited us forlorn ladies frequently, so that he
must come in for a portion of our thanks too.

"You will perhaps think I ought only to write you cheerful news,
but it is best to let you know as well as I can, the condition
that you will find us in, on your return. Phillis is the only one
of us, whose concerns are of any immediate importance, but I am
sorry to have to tell you that she is now seriously indisposed.
Her cough has never really yielded--her other symptoms have
varied; but for the last few weeks, her disease has not only
progressed, but assumed a certain form. She is in consumption, and
has no doubt inherited the disease from her mother.

"I have, throughout the winter, felt great anxiety about her, and
have not permitted her to work, though sometimes I found it hard
to prevent her. Her children have been constantly with her;
indeed, I have passed a great deal of my own time in her cabin,
which, under Martha's superintendence, is so neat and comfortable.

"You will all perhaps blame me that I have not been thus plain
with you before, but Dr. Lawton said it was not necessary, as she
has never been in any immediate danger, and Phillis would not
consent to my doing so. She wanted you to enjoy yourselves, and
Alice to have a good chance to regain her health. 'No doubt, Miss
Janet,' she said, 'the Lord will spare me to see them yet, and I
have every thing I want now--they couldn't stop my pains any more
than you, and I feel that I am in the Lord's hands, and I am
content to be.' She has not been confined to her bed, but is fast
losing strength, though from my window now I see her tying up her
roses, that are beginning to bud. Some other hand than hers will
care for them when another Spring shall come.

"Her nights are very restless, and she is much exhausted from
constant spitting of blood; the last week of pleasant weather has
been of service to her, and the prospect of seeing you all at home
gives her the most unfeigned pleasure.

"I have even more painful intelligence to give you. Our young
neighbor, Mrs. Kent, has done with all her trials, and I trust
they sanctified her, in prepa