Letter to Ephraim Bruce from Elizabeth Irvine

IRVINE, BRUCE

Posted By: Rebecca Stewart (email)
Date: 7/30/2005 at 16:35:11

**Ephraim Bruce settled in Floyd County, Iowa

To Ephraim Bruce Salem NY
Pittsford Nov 14

Dear Brother and Sister I now sit down to write a few lines to you my health is better now but I have been very sick and not excpted to live I was taken very suddenly with the dysentry in the morning I was in great distress and at half past 6? I got up from the bed and fainted and fell to the floor and by til 4 oclock before I knew anything they thought I was dead I was cold and stiff when I come to any I could not swallow attowl the blood was setted under my nails I thought myself a dying then what ? this world to me and must soon go to a world of spirits but I had not long to think for I soon fainted again and every time that I was moved I fainted tell the doctor came it was three o clock before he got here he gave me to tea sponnfuls of either he staid till nine oclock I thin was a little better this is the first time that I was a teasponn fed with ? again it is three weeks since I begun this letter I have been very sick ever since not able to sit up but the doctor thinks that now if I am careful I will be better I can knit some this ? or there days I took a very sudden cold and was in dreadful distress so that when I get up I fainted away and they tried to make me sweat all the afternoon and evening but they could not I was still burning up with fever at one o’clock in the night they went for the doctor I thought if I could been with you I should be willing to die but do for gracious sake some up and see me if you will go to Robest and get my ? this and my clothes that is to youre house my muff bay and aprons and some silk that I told you you might take to fix mothers bonnet to make me a hood I think I need it more myself till I get better my winter bonnet you know is to Robes you know I told you you might have that if you will go and get it you may have the bonnet and the boots you know and the ten shilling of ? McAlister if you will I stand in kned of my clothesvery much as I brought nothing with me but my thin dress no stockings more nothing to keep me warm. I have ? food neighbor that has let me have some stockings if you will bring my clothes I will pay you well if I live and if I die you may have what is in your possession for it seems as if I never was to see any of you again this is a new thing for me to be sick so much I find that my health and strength is gone I know that I had not any ? ask you to come but I have no other friends to go to fo a favor for James is not better than nobody for any such thing no one alone from monday till saturday he goes to rutland to work they have five children I have found them better of than they even was before ? they livea half a mile this side of where they lived before upon the hill the other side of the ? house Louisa has taken the best of care of me since I came here I have not seen a well day ? for some time before I have thought of what you told me? that when I got ? to stay away now I have got away and am not able to get luck if I wanted to but seen in sickiness and distress I am more contented than I was there it is hard work and trouble that has brought me where I am how is Elen and uncle David I hop she is well and all of you I hope you are all in better spirits than I am I want to see all it seems like seven long years since I left you is it not along time since aunt libe? ? there ann harmary and but seen any thing of her yet if I could see you come I would agive all ??lafonia if I had it I should like to hear from Mr. Smith and Mother and will the good folks give my love to all my friends I am very tired I cannot write much more to you now. Louisa sends her love to you all says she wants you to come and see her if you do not see any one else she would come and see you if she had any way to go she will make a chickin pie for you if you will ? the good things she has got she said to tell Ellen she did not think she was a going to runaway and stay so long before she should see her again her skirt is here yet and her old shoes I took to make a ? she said I should not but I told her you would not care any thing about it if you did I would give you one of mine. Mr Kelly? folks are very sorry that you could not stay with them I was there ? ?? Smiths I ? to Delia and her man was there Mary has got a pair of twin girls they are all well I have not seen any of the hesperton? folks but Lohen? Wescots folks his wife has been up here every day since I have been sick they ? over here they are a going to Wisconsin in the spring as they say I shoall have a home iwht them as long as they have one if I will ? with them there is one thing that kinders? me from going . I have written to you once before will you go to the west with me good by

Will you come
Elisabethe Irvin
Pitsford