The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-02-24
An Interesting Relic.

An Interesting Relic.
Mr.. /. Tuttle of this village has left with
us an interesting relic of the olden time,
being a letter written 13S years ago by
Mr.. Cotton in Boston, to Mrs. Abigail
Otis. One familiar with Massachusetts, life
will perceive that both persons belonged
to the best families of the old Colonial
days. The letter was found by Mr.. Tut
tie, i'll his Daguerrean Room, while prac-
ticing in the Southern part of this State,
and he was unable to find the owner
The paper is thin and brown with age
and has been worn and stitcl ed together.
The hand writing is bold and the pune
tuations and divisions show that the wri-
ter was an educated man. Thinking the
letter may interest our readers we pub
fish it, retaining the spelling as nearly as
possible.
How little did the good old gentleman
think when penning it, that a century af-
rer he was dead this letter would find its
way to a printing office in country then
unexpIored, and that our appetites would
be excited by his mention Of excellent
butter" and "loyely cheese"
BosToN Oct. %, 1884.
Ny DEAR MADAM:-I VS. evening re-
ceived yor kind letter YIN web nothing
could be more welcome, and also yor kind
present We excellent Butter you sent me.
| must beg leave to kee We piggin while
we eat ye butter out of 1t yn lie return
vt with We cloth.
lie Assure you Malm | want skill to
write my words, and words to express my
thankfuness for yor unmerted tavors.-
I must leave it till see you.
If live this winter | shall comfort
myself with We hopes Of seeing YOU in ye
spring.
By your description of ye distcmper
We children have with you, it must be We
bladder in ye windpipe not A proper
Quincy. send you A receipt of web
| have often used and never failed if ta-
ken in time. You can proportion We
qunty because you know and are Acqain-
ted with vt physick.
think sometimes VT wd [ give, for A
few hours conversation with you; We hint
you give me Madm | have often thought
of my self. | dare not begin on vt theme
it will soon swell into A volume. O Sad
Sad, 0 dstresS-I mourn and lament
their case. | have of late seen more of
We vanity and uncertainty Of all earthly
enjoyments YIN ever. Great men dye; wise
and rch men dye.
| have lost A bro vt was notwithstand-
ing all the differences and contests we had
in ye law-yery near and dear to me-
This with former losses and Sorrows has
learnt me in some measure I hope, to
fix my affections more on We fountain wn
such pleasant streams fail.
We know not whether ever we shall
see one anothers face Again l don't speak
in respect Of sickness or present Indispo-
sitioll, am thro divine goodness as well
as [ have been this Z year but [ speak
in regard Of ye uncertain brevity of life
Man giveth up We ghost and where is he?
Oh vt expression and where is he, hath
often put my soul into A bounding frame
because the scripture sa;s; After death
cometh judgment:
Dear Madm Let YOU and be mindful
of Eternity; vt Little word of We greatest
Government; so as to be preparing for it.
W.T. shall say, O vt We grace and graz
cious Counsels Of those who are now in
heaven might Always be sounding in our
ears.
vt we may fight yo COOL fight of
faith and fast lay hold on eternal life
SO run vt we may obtain the crown Of
Glory and immortality.
May the God of all consolation be yor
portion with vt of yor spouse; together
with that of We dear Children.
I wish yor temporal spiritual and eter-
nal happiness as l do my own; And am
Dear Madm,
Your Sincere, Intire friend
and Humble Servnt E. CoTToN.
My dutvfull regards to Madm Russell
yor Hond Mother whm shall ever Love
and Honor. DR.. Russell aud Lady; Mr.
Russell and spouse, Mr., Moody and his
friends, whm 1 wish all happiness, Mrs.
Sturges yor sister, Coll. Otis and Lady,
Capt OTIS and his Lady with any other
my good friends with you vt ask after me;
Mrs. Otis and yorself Accept love and
service in the highest degree from me and
all my Children.
Dear Mrs. Skaf1ie sent me a lovely /
cheese last week VIC live on yor and her
bounty daily.