To our deep regret, we have to lose that visit this time. The doctor has been in, & says Mrs Clemens will not have regained strength enough, a week hence, to make her able to receive company. We are both grieved with this verdict, yet it was to be expected, for Mrs. Clemens’s pulse ranged from 130 to 150 during one night & a part of two days, & consequently the consumption of her forces (considering the poverty of the stock in the first place), was necessarily very great. It is going to take her some time to pull up again. She was getting along tolerably fairly until yesterday, when she got a backset; & this morning she developed a virulent quinsy—an odd thing to be glad about, & yet the gang of us were never gladder in our lives than when the physician delivered this news, for we had been feeling dead certain that the dipththeriaⒶemendation was back again & disaster hanging over us.

But we want you two to promise that you will come when we get out of this trouble, & so make up to us this present loss of a visit. Will you do that?

Being night-nurse, I must cut short & go on duty, now. So with our warmest regards to you & Mrs. Aldrich, I am,