Trenton Feb. 13^th 1840

My dear cousin

I feel that we have been remifs in delaying so long to acknowledge the reception of thy kind letter with the accompanying presents on Christmas and to express the pleasure those tokens of your affectionate remembrance gave us.  But the early disinclination which I felt toward epistolary writing has been so long encouraged that it is really now quite an undertaking for me to write a letter which I exceedingly regret as it deprives me of the pleasure which I should otherwise have in this kind of intercourse with my friends.  The ribbons were very beautiful.  Olivia & myself took the mouse-coloured and Anna the green, mine was very useful to me in Burlington where I visited divers friends, quite apropos I assure thee and quite a comfort too, to have something of the sort as thee knows I am always rather destitute in that line.  Speaking of Burlington, let me tell thee that when I first proposed visiting there I thought I might be able to reach Philadelphia also to make at least a visit of a day or two if no more as Thomas frequently goes down and I should therefore have company but his sicknefs put a stop to that of course. You have heard I suppose of his severe attack early in the winter. He has recovered sooner than we expected, though still very frail, but as active as ever doing and talking, without ceasing upon hose two mighty subjects temperance and abolition, which seem to divide his mind equally I think or perhaps the former rather predominates.  He with his friend Samuel Aaron who by the way is a most delightful person came up to Trenton week before last to attend a convention of abolitionists, for these that have turned the world upside down have at length come hither also, and a very trying time as Friends say, they had here per thee would like to hear a little on this subject of which I may speak as we also attended the meeting and were among the mobbed.  Mr. Aaron # Thomas took tea with us and invited us to accompany them that evening to hear Mr Birney and Stanton speak, interest in the cause and some curiosity to hear those of whom we had heard so much induced us without regarding the storm which was quite violent to accept the invitation and off we started to the State House the walking was terribly wet and the wind blew and rain came down in torrents but on we went little dreaming of the disappointment which awaited us at our journey’s end. After prayer Mr Birney a composed respectable looking man rose and addrefed the president immediately there was a hiss then a shout and hurra which so completely drowned his voice that after making several attempts to be heard he sat down. After waiting for some time in silence while the mob continued their shouting, singing & two other gentlemen attempted to address the meeting but were equally unsuccefful so about 9 o clock finding nothing could be done or said the meeting adjourned and we made the best or worst of our way home again without having heard one word about what we went to hear. We had not the most remote idea that any thing of the kind would take place of course or we should not have gone but after getting there we did not feel disposed to be frightened as indeed I believe there was no real danger, a pretty good natured mob I thought after all not such as you have in your city we have not the material for such here. Anna has just returned from Elisabeth’s and greatly surprised us with the intelligence that the babe is very ill, perhaps dying, mother went there immediately. I will not close this letter till I hear again from the poor little thing. It was taken suddenly with spasms last evening about 10 o’clock and now lies in a stupor so that we think there is not much hope though E seems to be encouraged somewhat and quite composed.

The sudden breaking up of the river has done considerable damage here I did not know before yesterday that you were at all affected by it a house of yours I understand has been carried off Mr Redmond’s factory was very much injured which makes the second he has lost since he came to Trenton the first a frame building was blown down in a gale we had about 18 months ago.  He really seems very unfortunate but I hope he will not become discouraged for he is so enterprising and public spirited that he is quite an accession to our town.  We have not heard any thing from Ellen Wisner since and therefore suppose she has either a fine boy or girl. I have been thinking a good deal about her lately our intercourse with her has been almost entirely suspended by her marriage w###h really seems to destroy old friendships wonderfully or make them of little value in some of its effects almost a death. But so it is and must be and this with all other changes ordained by Him who is the Ruler of our being intended no doubt to prepare us for the last great change by causing us to seek in His holy gospel for that happinefs which is assuredly to be found only there. My mind has dwelt much on this subject this winter with earnest desires that both my dear friends and myself might be partakers of that grace which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believ#

Our friends here are all well with the exception of colds Hannah # is expecting almost daily I cannot say waiting for an additi# ### family for she is running about so continually as if not## ## the ## #ter but mother told her today she really must stay at hom# now and H declared she would not go down town any more but I heard her add in an under tone “except in the evening”  Do you ever see Mary Longstr# she called to see us for a few minutes last fall and I wanted her to say she would come up before winter and make us a visit which she though then she would not be able to do since then we have not heard any thing from her or any of the rest of the family if you should see her pray give my love to her and tell her we should be very much pleased to see her at our house the winter seems now nearly over a## I do hope that it is with the spring we shall look for you also for I conclude you will be going to New York certainly before long as you did not get there last fall and  then you can stop and see us so conveniently and you were here such a little while last summer you ought to make us two visits this yea# My love to Julianna whom I want to see very much and to thy mother and sisters. Pray write soon thine affectionately

S T S.?

Feb. 14^th

Elisabeth’s babe died about 10 this morning apparently without much suffering Marie Lloyd came up quite unexpectedly last evening to the great comfort of E I have no doubt particularly as Joseph is absent the child never seemed ###