Letter from Serene Fosgate Birdsall to Frances Miller Seward, June 26, 1848
xml:
Letter from Serene Fosgate Birdsall to Frances Miller Seward, June 26,
1848
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:ahf
student editorTranscriber:spp:msr
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1848-06-26
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Letter from Serene Fosgate Birdsall to Frances Miller Seward, June 26, 1848
action: sent
sender: Serene Birdsall
Birth: 1805
Death: 1884-01-19
location: Waterloo, NY
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: ahf
revision: ahf 2016-11-14
<>
Page
1
My dear Frances
You are among the
very few in this world who know me – I
therefore trust it is unnecessary to offer
an excuse for not acknowledging
your precious note long ere
When it came to hand I felt cast
down almost beyond the aid of
earthly comfort – sorrowing for
the loss of a dearly beloved Mother
brother
two very sick children one of whom
I daily expected for weeks, would
add to the the list of dear ones re-
moved forever from my sight - but
thanks to Him “who doeth all things
well” they are both restored to [ heath ]
Alternate Text: health.
You may be assured your kind sym-
pathy in such a time of trial, was
a balm to my grief stricken heart.
Many thanks to you my long
Page
2
loved Frances for remembering me
when I supposed the grave
had closed over the only female
friend that could feel an interest
or think of me in affliction–
For the last few years of my life
the hand of Providence has been
heavy upon me– He has seen fit in
his dispensations to deprive me of
my health, to visit my family
with sickness in many forms, to re-
move by death my dearest friends
and wholly to blunt all my hopes
in a pecuniary
although depressed I make an effort
to be resigned – am oft times
comforted with the thought that
“God moves in a mysterious way”
and that “behind a frowning provi-
dence He hides a smiling face”
I hope my dear Frances to see
you in the course of a few weeks.
if no ill luck betide I intend
Page
3
in that time to make a short visit
to Auburn –
May – the special blessings
of Him who careth for all rest
upon you and yours forever –
is the sincere prayer of your
faithful friend – Serene –
Page
4
My dear Frances
You are among the
very few in this world who know me – I
therefore trust it is unnecessary to offer
an excuse for not acknowledging
your precious note long ere
Before; sooner than •
this – When it came to hand I felt cast
down almost beyond the aid of
earthly comfort – sorrowing for
the loss of a dearly beloved Mother
Death: 1848-03-10
&brother
Birth: 1805 Death: 1848-01-13
- and anxiously watching overtwo very sick children
Birth: 1840
Death: 1930-01-01
Birth: 1842
Death: 1917
Birth: 1838
Death: 1907-12
Birth: 1836
Death:
Birth: 1837
Death: 1910-07-27
Birth: 1844
Death: 1894-05-17
I daily expected for weeks, would
add to the the list of dear ones re-
moved forever from my sight - but
thanks to Him “who doeth all things
well” they are both restored to [ heath ]
Alternate Text
You may be assured your kind sym-
pathy in such a time of trial, was
a balm to my grief stricken heart.
Many thanks to you my long
loved Frances for remembering me
when I supposed the grave
had closed over the only female
friend that could feel an interest
or think of me in affliction–
For the last few years of my life
the hand of Providence has been
heavy upon me– He has seen fit in
his dispensations to deprive me of
my health, to visit my family
with sickness in many forms, to re-
move by death my dearest friends
and wholly to blunt all my hopes
in a pecuniary
Relating to money • Consisting of money •
point of view – although depressed I make an effort
to be resigned – am oft times
comforted with the thought that
“God moves in a mysterious way”
and that “behind a frowning provi-
dence He hides a smiling face”
I hope my dear Frances to see
you in the course of a few weeks.
if no ill luck betide I intend
in that time to make a short visit
to Auburn –
May – the special blessings
of Him who careth for all rest
upon you and yours forever –
is the sincere prayer of your
faithful friend – Serene –