absent about a week, and enjoyed my visits much. My health has improved thereby. Mrs. Prentiss. (your old school-mate. Mary Perkins.) says she wishes that you would write her, for you can sympathize with her in the loss of her daughter, a beautiful girl about fifteen years old. She feels her loss keenly.

I also visited with Lucinda, (Perkins,) who now lives in Montpelier. She has two children. I saw Elias Lathrop, at the Prentiss place, and all seemed pleased to have me visit them.

I received the book and papers that you sent me. Postmaster Davis told me that he thought I had a good boy out West, and he liked to have children remember their mother.

Daniel and family are well. He finished haying to-day. He has a large crop of hay. The barn has not been so full for a number of years as now. Amelia's babe has been very sick, but is better now. He is called a pretty boy. I do not see Mr. Burt very often. Your brothers and sisters are well. I received your kind letter of the 8th inst. I am afraid that your additional amount of printing will be hard for you. Do not be over-anxious for this world's goods, but lay up treasure in heaven. Your mother,

CLARISSA HILDRETH.

CORINTH, VT., Dec. 26, 1864.

My Dear Children: Please excuse me for not writing before this time. I have been away from home, much of the time this fall, visiting at Daniel's home in Bradford and at Mr. Wason's home in Corinth. I received your kind letter of the 8th of October, but none since. My health is pretty good for me, but I see that I fail in many respects. I am thankful that I can keep about and wait upon myself. I hope you are both in good health. Harriet gives me a convenient and pleasant room in her new house. Almira and her girls are well,

but Mr. Wason's health is very poor.

He has a

bad cough, but keeps about doing chores at the barn, &c., caring for his stock, horses, cattle and sheep. I am afraid he will not recover from his cough very soon if ever, Daniel has much sickness in his family. He expects to sell the farm soon. Albert is still in the army. I have not heard from him in a long time. His wife must have a hard time in taking care of her five children. They need the father's care. This world is full of trouble, and every one has a share. I am almost through with it.

Your mother,

C. HILDRETH.

CORINTH, VT., August 22, 1865.

Dear Children: How do you prosper? Well, I hope. I am still in comfortable health. I have just returned from Almira's; have been there two weeks and had an excellent visit. She has two little girls, four and two years old; bright, smart girls. They are named Myra and Laura. Lyman and Harriet Porter, where I now have my home, have a plenty of work to attend to. I have not heard from Daniel and his family for some time; but I am going to see them soon. It is very sickly about here, and there have been several deaths from fevers and other complaints. Capt. Scribner's daughter, Lucy Ann, is very sick, and not expected to recover. Benjamin Perkins is dead.

Harriet is making a hair wreath, and wants some hair from you and Liveria and some of little Mary's. I received your letter and the books, also the present. I think I have as kind a son as any mother ever had, and I trust the Lord will reward you, if I cannot. I have not given up all hope of seeing you sometime.

Albert's wife is getting along very well now. He sent her eighty dollars recently, from the Mr. Porter has given good security for my

maintenance, and it is on record in the town clerk's office. His property is holden for my support. I enjoy life very well here, but I think of the old home, and it seemed hard to leave it. Still, I think it was for the best that the farm should be sold.

Lyman says his crops are coming in well. He has a good crop of hay. I will send you a letter from Albert. That will tell you more than I can write. Harriet will write before long. Excuse mistakes. Your affectionate mother, C. HILDRETH.

WEST FAIRLEE, VT., March 28, 1869.

I re

My Dear Children: We have a new home. Mr. Porter having purchased a saw-mill and timber lot here, and engaged in the lumber business. He still owns his farms in Corinth. I have been sick with a cold this winter but am better now. ceived the map and view of your town, and I think you live in a beautiful place. I hope you have all the comforts and enjoyments of life. But more especially I hope you have laid up treasure in heaven. Life is short. I can hardly realize that you are so old as you are and that I am seventyfour years old now. How rapidly time passes!

I have received the papers that you sent me and thank you for them, and also for the many presents that you have sent. I am afraid that you and Liveria both work too hard. I hope you and she will come and see me this summer. I have visited Almira this winter, and I intend to visit Daniel in Bradford this summer. I feel better to go from home some, and I should feel better still if I could visit you.

It tires me to write and I must close. Lyman and Harriet send their respects to you and Liveria. Write soon. You are a good boy to your mother. Affectionately.

CLARISSA HILDRETH.

SOUTH NEWBURY, VT., July 1, 1869. My Dear Children: I am here with Daniel and family, having a good long visit, and think that I shall remain here several weeks longer. They are all very kind to me, and my health has improved here, I received your letter here and hope you will write me here again before I leave. I thank you for the present that you sent. It enables me to buy with my own money. some comforts that I otherwise should not have. I have almost given up the hope of seeing you again, considering my age. I shall be seventy-five years old next Monday, July 5th. We received the papers you sent and were much pleased with them. The girls like to read, and would like to have you send more. Daniel and Emeline both have poor health. Their little son, Philip, thirteen months old, is a forward child. He walks and can talk some. The two girls send love to their uncle and Your mother,

aunt.

C. HILDRETH.

SOUTH NEWBURY, VT., Aug. 14. 1869.. Dear Children: I am still stopping with Daniel's family. Daniel is having a cancer cut out of his face, and I have prolonged my visit here. Have you sold out your business? If so, I shall expect to see you. I pity Daniel. He works hard, and

that makes his cancer worse. The rest of the family are as well as usual. The little boy grows finely. He looks like his father, and is quite a forward child. I do not get much news from Lyman Porter and Harriet, but I think they are well. My health is pretty good considering my age. Daniel and wife and the girls all send their best wishes to you and Liveria. Accept a short letter this time, and write soon as you receive this. Your mother.

C. HILDRETH.

VERSHIRE, Vt., Oct. 3, 1869. My Dear Children: I am back here with Lyman and Harriet once more, having been gone a long time, visiting at Daniel's and Almira's. I have had good visits and enjoyed myself very well. I am sorry to learn that Liveria's health is so poor. She and you should be careful and not work too hard. Daniel had a serious time with his cancer. but he was, better when I left him. He came with me to Almira's, I was there about three weeks. It is a pleasure to visit my children. I wish I could visit all of them, you and Liveria with the rest. Lyman's family are well. Write soon. It is next to seeing you to read your letters.

Your affectionate mother,

CLARISSA HILDRETH.

CORINTH, VT., July 1, 1861.

Hon. A. B. F. Hildreth:

Dear Brother: Mother requests me to write the particulars of our sister Amelia's death more fully than she could do. She died May 19th, 1861, aged 23 years. 6 months and 25 days. Poor sister. My eyes fill with tears when I think of her. Her home was about three miles from here. She lived about two weeks after her child was born, and was a great sufferer. I went to see her when her babe was three days old. She was very low, and I thought that she did not have the right care. She had cold chills, lasting an hour or more. I staid with her two nights, when she appeared better and I came home. In two days I was sent for. She had more chills and had been vomiting. Oh. she looked like a corpse! I staid there three nights. The doctor gave her a great amount of opium, so he says. She had but one doctor. I don't think he knew how to treat her. I think her husband (Mr. Burt) did as well as he could. Amelia was calm and patient. and did not fear death. She named the little boy, and if it should