Martha Routh letter to Thomas Rotch, Vassalborough 11th mo 23rd 1794

               
  B-167-1
                            Vassalborough  11th mo 23rd 94
                 If my hand had been employ'd in writing as
  often as my hear hath, in inditing, the expression of near re=
  =gard & fellowship I felt towards thee my beloved friend from
  the time of our last interview thou might have seen my
  scrawl many times but the writing part of letters being irk=
  =some to me I do not love the employ to any one, but thy
  sister having manifested her willingness both by sea & by land
  to take words from my mouth & still continuing it many of
  my friends have heard much more from me than they
  otherways would have done, but as she will allow me to
  say little or nothing about her I am limited to speak only
  of myself, so may acknowledge that thy salutations sepa=
  =rately and jointly have felt very grateful to me, as a sweet
  savour of that friendship which is begotten in the minds
  of the Children of one Father, who are not only so, by cre-
  -ation but by adoption, wherein the language of supplication
  is mutually witness'd that the blessing of preservation may
  attend our steps,-& as a fellow pilgrim who in regard to days
  or advanc'd years may have gain'd some steps that may yet
  be behind for you to tread how doth my Soul sometimes
  feel a solicitude on account for others who are of the num-
  =ber of Zion's travellers that all such may be strengthen'd whether
  Servants or Handmaids, married or unmarried may so ren-
  =der to God the things that are his, that when the enquiry
  may be made, how much owest thou unto my Lord, or what
  hast thou done with the talents receive'd we may have to
  say thy two have gained other two or thy give have gained other 
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