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this was only a wise injunction.
As my case is becoming known, it naturally brings in many persons, both from the city and neighboring villages, to make inquiries after my health.
Benjamin and
J. Elizabeth Jones of
Salem have been to see me; so has a sister of
S. S. Foster, who is residing here.
George Bradburn is a daily visitor at my bedside.
Everybody is kindly offering me all needed assistance.
Fortunately, I am in one of the best families in the world,
1 and have everything done for me, by day and by night, that you could desire.
I miss nothing, need nothing, but your dear presence and that of the darling children.
God preserve you all from harm.
A thousand kisses for them—as many for you—on my return.
Should you have written to me at
Syracuse, I shall get the letter, as I intend to spend a day with dear
S. J. May.
Douglass left here on
2 Tuesday noon.
Your improving husband.
Nothing but the indiscreet newspaper report of
Mr. Garrison's condition could have justified his putting pen to paper at this stage of the disease.
The relief which it brought to his distracted wife was followed by a fortnight of acute anxiety before her husband's recovery could positively be announced.
On October 4 he was able to
3 dictate letters, but was still confined to his bed, which he
4 did not leave till October 13.
On the following day he was joined by
Henry C. Wright, who had returned from
Europe in September, and, hearing in
Boston first on
5 October 8 of his friend's condition, had travelled as fast as the elements would permit to his bedside.
On the 18th the sick man, after five weeks of prostration, during which his life had hung in the balance, was able to drive out.
6
W. L. Garrison to his Wife.
7
I am going to try to write you a few lines, ‘with my own hand,’ as
Paul says; but whether I shall succeed, or not, is at least problematical.
My hand is unsteady, and I am too weak as yet to make an effort of any kind without considerable difficulty.
