Anna Gilston letter to Charity Rotch, Hudson, 8th of 3rd mo 1802

              B-258-1 
	
				Hudson the 8th of 3rd mo  1802
	           My dear friend
				    By our friend Job Callendar I
	received a testimony of thy effectionate regard for me which
	indeed was truly salutary & exceptable, & I sincearly wish to
        conduct in such a manner that will continue to afford me
	a share of thy friendship.  I feel a freedom my dear friend
	to acknowledge that it hath been a time of trying &  proveing
	with me as much so as I ever experienced but I sincearly
	wish to be abilitated with strength from the right scource
	to enable me faithfully to discharge my duty which has
	appeared to me best to suffer in silence.  & it has my dear
                    me
	friend caused^ to experience many painful seasons perticularly
	on account of my dear sister that hath been with me
	since my mothers death & the others of our young family.
	as an easy road free from the Cross is very plesent to the
	natural part especially to young minds, but the secret
                       mind
	engagement of my^ often is that I may be favoured humbly
	to ask for that wisdom which is profitable to direct me where
	by I may be favoured in my little measure to discharge
	a faithfull duty towards them, which I am sensible is at
	-tainable only by a deep centering to the inward dictates
	of the only helper of his people, & noticed thy best wishes for
        my Husbands prosperity with a feeling evidence that is [illegible]
        from the best of motives which demands my gratitude, & I
        wish it might excite us to more diligence to watch carefully