Elizabeth (Rotch) Rodman letter to Charity Rotch, New Bedford, 5th mo 4th 1809

              B-292-8 
                                  New Bedford 5th mo 4th 1809 
I feel little ability even to acknowledge my belov d Sister s
very affectionate consoling letter, nor will thou think it strange that the
late bitter draught we have so deeply partaken of should unfit for almost
every exertion. Oh my dear none can fully know who have not
felt the afflictive strokes, what anguish penetrates the parental
heart, to think of a beloved child removed from every tender
connexion cast on a sick bed in a foreign land, & a nurse to
attend him whose language he could not understand, & when the
fever left him & nature seem d sinking with weakness, he 
had no inclination to take nourishment, its preparation was
so different from what he had been accustom d to that his sto-
mach rejected it, when alas I could have administer d such as 
would have been palatable, its very possible he might have
been restored.  Oh may I endeavor to pass from those penetrating
& altogether insupportable considerations had not the kind hand
been near to bear up, & at times speak peace to the conflicted mind,
where I hope the grateful remembrance will be carefully trea-
sured for sure I am we have much to acknowledge to the Bountiful
Giver, who has an undoubted right to deal with us as in his unerring
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wisdom he sees meet  & I greatly desire that not a design ^ by this
humbling dispensation, may be frustrated. We have been very
                                                          have
much favor d in the feeling expressions of our friends which ^ so
accorded with the hope that we have been enabled to indulge