Lydia Rotch Dean letter to Charity Rotch, Burlington, 2nd mo 25th 1797

              B-241-2 
 
                              Burlington  2nd mo 25 th  1797
It matters little to me My belov d sister what form thy communication
wear so that I do but now & then learn therefrom that we con=
=tinue to share in thy regard and good wishes; that there are
abundantly extended towards thy poor Lydia is fully understood
from thy late acceptable page join d to dear cousin Hannah s
& I trust, receiv d with that degree of gratitude my heart was at
that period capable of feeling   being a fresh proof of the need I have
to strive yet more & more to walk worthy so many favors. & I esteem
it not among the least that my dr relatives are so generally dis=
=pos d to encourage my feeble efforts towards fulfilling the measure
of duty that may be requir d, or apprehended  to be so- for methinks
its not fit for such a weakling to speak in more positive terms.
But having that, let me tell thee my dear, it is at times my
very earnest desire, to fall short in nothing , & not & then for a
small space a comfortable degree of resignation hath been witness d,
but I don t find, this is at my own command, & when so far remov d from
my borders as is often the case the prospect looks gloomy indeed. but
believing my desires are sincere for all within me to be made subject to
the highest power cost what it may, am sometimes consol d with a hope
some of my doubt & hesitations will not be treasur d up against me in a dread
hand writing, as proceeding from willful neglect & inattention, so much as
                                    & all other enemies
from the weakness of the flesh-  that this^ may be overcome, & your tender
desires prove availing for my preservation & right direction, is at this time
a prevalent wish with me.
About ten days since we attended the marriage of our frds Peter & Hannah
met with them at Abington Quarter where the latter broke silence
in one of the meetings & was soon followed by our dr M & I think it
was in the same sitting that Peter appear d weightily in testimony, 
recurring to the season when he was a prodigal Son. In pathetic
language inviting some present to return to the Fathers House where
                      &
there was bread enough^ to spare.  Closing in solemn supplication on behalf