Hannah Rodman Fisher letter to Charity Rotch, Philadelphia, 3rd mo 22d 1807

              B-247-12 
 
			Philadelphia 3rd Mo. 22nd 1807
My dear Sister
		Thou hast from time to time been informd
     gradually
of the ^ declining health of our sister Gilpin   who had
long been tried, with shortness of breath, which render d
even walking across the room difficult   yet when quietly
seated she often seem d pretty comfortable - & could converse
with her friends & enjoy their company   though some=
times interrupted by a Cough which for years she has
been subject to - & after resting pretty well in nights 
the collection of Phelgm often occasion d a hard Conflict
in mornings   but after raising freely   she was
				remainder of
relieved, & would sometimes pass ^ the day without much
apparent suffering   this day two weeks she complain d
of ye head Ach, & increased oppression   2nd day being
a well unpleasant day I did not go over to see her  
3rd day hearing she continued more unwell than usual
I went over in the morning   (she has several winters,
on account of the difficulty of geting up Stairs in cold
weather, made a Bed Room   (or rather) lodged in her
front Parlour   which opens directly into the back
Parlour, where she usually sat) & found her laying on 
the Sopha in the back Parlour   found that the
oppression at her breast was such, that it was difficult
for her to sit up   I proposed bleeding as a relief, -
but she chose not to be hasty - & therefore put it off