at Peggy Smiths Feb 5th [no year listed]

I now seat myself to write you a few lions to let you know how I am
getting along my health is as good as common it has been a mild
open winter and less rain than common we have had green vegetables
all winter I had some pretty double Pinks in full bloom at
christmas.

The health of this country is not verry good they was a influansy
went through the country last fall and nearly evry boddy had it and
a good took the typoid fever they has been a good meny deaths.
Elijahs' family has had the worst time of enny they was taken sick
in July Sarah first ann next then Charles Willet he departed this
life the 21 day of Oct he sufferd the most I evver saw a child in
my life. Lijah was taken before Charley he was not able to be about
but very little and when the little boy was at the worst Sarah was
confined she had a daughter and called it Rachel. Elijah has had
rather poor health for two or three year. in July he was taken down
with a bad cough it still grew worse he had four different doctors
but they did nott seem to do him enny good he wore away by degreese
for about five months he departed this life the 25 of January.

he suffered a great deal and spit up the most bad stuff I ever saw
he was nothing but a mear skeleton when he dyed he was willing to
dye he said he long to see the time come he said a few days before
he dyed he wished he was in Abrehams bosom and then looked at Sarah
and said you will all soon come. I staid with him almost all the
time he was sick. John E [Murphy] come to see him the knight
before he dyed he coulnot talk above his breath but whispered to
him and said he wanted him to converse on scriptures he said he
wanted him to choose a subject that would be calculated to draw him
nearer to his god. John E preached his funeral he spoke on the
subject of Lazruths deats and his sisters weping for him. him and
his little boy was buried by the side of his Father Sarah was very
kind to him she wated on him as close as enny boody could she took
his death very hard.

Judge Tayler dyed a short time ago and they have appointed Ira in
his place but he has not returned from the legislator yet so I do
not know whether he will except of it or not. I thought my
troubles was more than I could bare but they still increase your
Fathers hat hangs on the nail he hung it on the knight before he
dyed & was taken sick.

Uncle Elijah and Aunt Peggy has broke a good deal Aunt Peggy's
about but rather feeble Uncle Elijah was complaining some last
Sunday he talks in Publick yet. Margaret Mason has sick spells
evry few weeks they dont expect her to live long Ira Mason was a
jumping over Newtons Butler head and fell and broke one bone of his
leg so he to go on crutches. Badfor[Bedford] Haley was baptised
not long ago and a good menny more William Ground the church seame
to be prospering well they is over a hundred members. Bedford and
Mary was married over a few weeks ago Uncle Elijah tied the not.
tell Aunt Patsy Shelton I have got to smoking to pass off the time.

John I would like to see you very much and talk to you but as I am
deprived of that satisfaction I want you to write to me often as
you can. when you write tell me which one of Josephs children it
was that dyed. I think it a long time between letters give my
respects to all of my old neighbours and my children I want you to
write and tell me all about all the folks I would like to know how
Ann Nancy Butler gets along. I want to know how her and all of her
children is getting along and whether she know ennything about Pete
or John Chapman or not we have not tell her that Ezeriah
Peckenpaugh staid all knight at with us long ago he has improved a
great deal he is cute smart I add no more

Rachel Butler

*Addendum*
as Mother cannot fill this sheet I thought I would write a few
scattering thoughts to let you know I have not forgot you yet I
often think how pleasant it would be to see you all a coming to pay
us a visit like you use to I want to see you all very much and talk
to you if you will come to see us we will treat you to some of the
prettyiest apples you ever saw and I will cook you some greens for
dinner we have bushels in the garden now. John I can hardly pick
up courage to write to you about the death of our dear Brother.
Mother has told you all the particulars I was their when he dyed he
suffered a great deal he said to me when I went a few more days
and my sufferings will be to an end. I said I hope you will be
better off he said as I cannot get well death is no terror to me
he made a will and willed evrything to Sarah as long as she
remained his widow he has a firstrate farm a good barn and a nice
young orchard he has considerable stock I do not know how much
I think if enny woman deservs all it is Sarah. she was so kind and
good to him. she talks some of building in Monmouth and renting her
farm. Rufus is a going to school in Monmouth he bords with Tommys
folks Tompson Haley is teaching he gets one hundred dollars a month
the children all sends their love to you all they want to see you
mitely. my health is some better the rest is all well except Mary
she has a very sore throat little John is a promising little boy he
has a little wagon he halles it all the time it is bedtime I mus go
to bed you must all write oftens

Margaret B Smith

[although no year is given, these letters were probably written on February 5, 1858, as the date of Elijah Butler's death is given as January 25, 1858.]