Anna Hazard letter to Charity Rotch, New Bedford, 4 mo 22, 1804

              B-260-1
  
                          New Bedford 4 mo 22nd, 1804
  My Dear Sister,
            Thy affectionate Letter of 3 mo 2 has not lain so
                                                                            so
  long unanswered from neglect but a renewal of the deeply affecting subject^awakens
  every feeling of tenderness that I hardly am capable of expressing the gratitude
  I feel towards my endeared friends whose sympathy has, I can truly say,adminis
  tered balm to my wounded heart and altho tears of unceasing sorrow still trickle
  down my cheeks I have endeavoured to seek after resignation to the divine will
  in humble acknowledgemnt that he alone knows what is best for us.---
 
  Thou canst easily realize from thy Late visit to us what a void is made in
  our reduced family, not an hour but something reminds me of her, so active
  and endearing a little companion is scarcely to be found as she was to me that
  those who have not experienced similar trials know not the loss we have sustained.
  Yet abundant consolation in the reflection that all is well with her ought
  to quiet the perturbations of a revolving mind, that no cause of doubt of her
  entrance into the realms of light and life can be admitted and happy for us
  if we rightly improve these dispensations that we may also be ready when the
  solemn summons may be sounded in our ear.  as our dear relatives gave the par
  ticulars of her distress suffice it for me to say her quiet conclusion settled my
    mind in thankfulness altho my heart was rent at the separation.