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Description
Bishop Chase reacts to the news of the fire and applauds the fortitude of his wife in light of the news.
Date
2-14-1836
Keywords
Philander Chase, Dudley Chase, Sophia Chase, fire
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Dudley Chase" (1836). Philander Chase Letters. 1047.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/1047
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Transcript
London Feb. 14 1836
Dear Brother Dudley,
I write you this more to tell you that I am alive and well than to convey to you any great tidings. I am going on, considering all things, better than I had reason to expect; so that I have great reason for thankfulness to a kind Providence for his many mercies.
The news of the destruction of my sweet Gilead-dwelling house, by fire, reached me a few days ago. At first I mourned exceedingly. The letter containing the tidings drop’d from my hands [and] I had read it half through: It was taken up by a friend and finished in my hearing. The perfect resignation and even cheerfulness of my dear wife under this heavy affliction reconciles me to the loss more than I can describe. Yet I hear by later dates from America that the winter thus far had been [memorably] severe. This is a sad [?] in view of my family in a half finished School House without floors or a chimney. And yet my wife tells me to be of good courage and go on and finish my laudable mission without any misgivings on her account!!! Blessed be the Lord that I have such an example set before me of resignation & Christian fortitude! Submission seems to be changed into Exultation for such a [signal] Mercy--
Do write my wife and another letter to my Dear Son Dudley, to cheer them.
It is now past midnight and so with best love to all friends I am your most affectionate Brother
Philander