Sally Dudley to Clay, 17 Dec 1831

Clay's mother expresses that she and others are glad to hear that he is safe, thanks to the Lord. She talks to him a little about religion, who is getting married to who in the town, the misfortunes of some in the town, and the general news of happenings since their last correspondence. My Dear Son Frankfort Dec. 17. 1831 I recieved your letter last night and hasten to answer it with every feeling of my heart glowing in thankfullness, to that devine Providence which has, I hope will protect you. we are but worms of the dust whether we feel it or not, oh that God would give us clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us. I do not wish to cast a gloom over the chearfull spirits of my son, but why should I not speak of that which I view of more importance than all the world beside, religion never was desind to lessen our enjoyments in this world, but to teach us how to use gods blessings and not abuse them. your uncle Garrard called here this morning he is a member of the legislature & Mr. Dudley read to him your letter, they are both much pleasd with it. Edward is gone to a wedding his cousin James is to be married or rather is married I suppose to Miss Russel, daughter of the late widow their neighbour, son of James Dudleys. his daughter was Married a few weeks since to a son of the same widow. the Family and friends are pleased with the Marriages. we recieved the catalog you mentiond, if you mean Miss Warfield or Miss Ross they page_0002 [The senders address is written vertically beside the recievers address that is written horizontally.] 25 Casius M Clay Newhaven Connecticut [vertically written: Sally Dudey Dec 17. 1831] [written in blue pencil: 1831] page_0003 have both been in town this winter. Miss Ross is here now & has been to see me. Eliza Payne & Ann Eliza Allin & Ann Maria Gerrard has spent about two weeks with us lately. the two conventions is to sit here next week I suppose our town will be much crowded then, Mr. J Marshall occupyes the Mansion house. I havent seen Brutus & Amelia for two months, but expect they are much pleased at the prospect of an heir some time next spring. Betsy has another son I was there in october when he was born but have not seen her since, they spoke of calling him Brutus but I have not heard their conclusion Paulina has lost her dear little Wm Cassius he died with the hooping cough, and Mr Rodes had his Factory burned about six weeks since, & the child died the week afterward I havent seen either of them since but understand his Factory was partly insured so that his loss will not be very great, poor man he is very industrious & makes great exertions, but providence seems to cross his designs, by permission, Paulina wrote me a very affecting letter lately she has chosen that good part like Mary in the gospell, that shall never be taken from her and has felt the goodness of the lord in her afflictions. Betsy wrote to me she had recieved a long letter from you since I was there, they are going on slowly with their building but expect they will get in it next summer. I made a mistake you see & wrote on the wrong side of my paper page_0004 as to temperance I say yes with all my heart Join it, and God grant you may be temperate in all things, dont be extravagent. it is a great deal easier to spend money than to make it, as to what you say about slavey I know to be true by sad experience, I am greatly relievd in that respect since I came here, only I am too far from my dear chioldren, if any of them is sick it takes me too long a time to get to them, but if any woman on earth coud be happy on earth I ought to be, but I do not expect perfect happinss in this life it is not to be found here Sidney has a son about a month old, I have not heard his name yet but expect Sidney here next week, he is preparing to build a dwelling house next summer, Brutus has built hi horse Mill something like sidneys but on an improv.d plan, he has been very attentive to business & has improvd his place much, [[login]] as we call her has been to see her children & stayed three weeks she says she will stay at our farm untill you return, I havnt seen her since she got home, but Jack told me she only saw [[tabitha]] her, sons was gone on board of a steem boat, we had no overseer at the farm untill last August, & now I believe we have not bettered ourselves, the overseer wants as much, watching as the negroes, but under all circumstances they have done better than I expected, you said you intened to leave your clothes at Mr Johnsons office he says you left nothing there, I got your saddle bridle & trunk from your boarding house, if you left any thing else name it in your next letter they had a small Majority for clay in the Legislature & have elected him senator for congress, Richard Johnson was his opponent in [strikethrough] the Jackson party, the conventions are to nominate a Governor, your uncle Garrard spoken of Mr Dudley & myself are in good health farewell your Mother Edwards health is not very Good S. Dudley [written in margin: Miss Brann was to be Married this week I havnt hear from there to man from Lewsville I am told M. Johnson wants to Marry again, Martha woods is Married to James [Lestilly?] harry goodloe to Miss Dunkin