Skaneateles Sep. 21st

My dear friend

Mrs Gibbons

I should
have acknowledged much sooner
your choice gift, had I been willing
to trouble you so often with a
letter. However, never too late to do
right, or try to make amends for
past neglect. The [?] was
truly a beautiful tribute to the
memory of your noble son and
how precious must it be to a
mothers heart? Although, mothers
never forget, neither do they wish
their loved ones forgotten by any.
The letters of sympathy were very
consoling from Teachers and
classmates. All theese [friend?]
expressions are soothing and
gratifying. Still, the wound is

[left side]

there, the same as ever. The loss,
the disappointment, the aching
void; all, all are there, and
our Heavenly Father [underlined] only [/underlined] can in
His own time reward the strong.
When He bids us leave this frail
fermement we inhabit here, and
calls us to join those loved ones who
have been so suddenly snatched from
us on earth. But we have duties
to perform to those left us, and we
desire to do "well" the work given us
to do. That we too may be worthy of
the crown. I thank you very
kindly for the beautiful token of
affection. We have all enjoyed
the perusal and not wishing
to be selfish have lent it to some
of your friends, of whom you have
many, in one little village.
My Father was at his sisters
last week, (the Mother of Emily Howland)
saw her also, [Captain Ferris]

[right side]

who was on his way west, he escorted
Mary Searing home, Emily having
returned some short time before.
From the latter I received a long
and interesting letter yesterday, she
is undetermined [underlined] when [/underlined] to return as
her friends are not willing to give her
up at all, I believe. Still, her
heart is in the work of humanity,
and she longs to be at it again.
She will visit me soon and we
shall try to stir up our lazy folk
to help her. How I wish you could
meet at our house, on the
shore of Lake Skaneateles? It
would be too much happiness for
one home? We have not heard of
your return to Point Lookout. Indeed,
I have been [underlined] so ill [/underlined] in body of late
that our our [Section] has failed to report
to me, but we having no more
to send at present, are out of funds
and until another call or demand

is made through the papers, for
Supplies, I suppose the indifferent
will have sufficient expence for
not doing. But, the poor colored
people, who will fill that Asylum
in Washington, will need much, and
if I am permitted to resin in the
flesh, I shall try to spend [underlined] my leisure [/underlined]
in making [underlined] others [/underlined] work for their relief.
I think we shall find quite a crop of
Second hand clothing again. Please
pardon this long letter I did not mean
to weary you [underlined] this time [/underlined]. I only wish I could
have a good look at your face which
I hear is very pleasant to the eye.
Perhaps I may some day, until then
Believe me very affectionately your friend
[Maria M. Morgan]