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4. The capitalization style in the original document is copied.

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-Mary D. Edwards Summer 2000

Rose Dale July 6th 66

My dear sweet brother

I received your very dear letter several weeks ago & can say some part of it made me very happy; I take this leasure [sic] hour to respond but how must I respond not knowing whether my letters are welcom [sic] or not but hoping they are I will try & interest you.

My health is very good & I must not murmer [sic] of my happiness for my dear Father only knows what I have borne; the chastning [sic] rod has been severe but I rejoice in Christ that he has been with me or this feble [feeble] frame would have sunk beneath the sod. yes brother you no [know] nothing when the last earthly friend forsakes you then & not till then will you know (what) what this ___ of yours has borne[.] I have felt that I was like Jobe [Job} forsaken by all but thank God he has never forsook [sic] me[.] I hope you will never know what it is to be forsaken by all for there is one that I dont think will ever forsake you[,] no never[.] I will still remember thee. I hope ere this letter reaches you that you may be enjoying the best blessing that God ever bestowed or meant & that is religion for it is the cheaf [sic] ___ of mortals here below & our ever sure happiness[.] what would I have done if it had not been for it.[?] cast down[,] forsaken by all but God[.] I ask what would I have done I know not. brother are you happy[?] I ask the question[.] I hope to get an answer from you pershonly[personally]soon[.] if you are not let me as a sister tell where I fear you are rong [wrong][.] you said in yore [your] letter you had heard repond [response] from old love; that has cased [caused] your cheek to light up with anger[.] dear dear bro [brother] do you think that is right for you to let that anger rise[?] what does our bible teach us[?] not to get angry at thou that persecute us. let me here cant [chant] a verse of two. " Wherefore my beloved bro [brother] let evry [sic] man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man worketh, not the righteousness of God you must lay a side all such things & recd with meekness the engrafted word will change my dear dear Willie if he had not which is able to save your Soul. now brother I do not think you have heard any thing compared to what I have heard but thank God it did not make me angry it made me pray for those that talked about me & you & treat them kindly & I feel that God will help me to live right though my temptations are great[.] do pray for me that I may be able to withstand all these trials.

You said in your letter that you knew that my concience [sic] did not reprove me for what I had done to you without it was for loving you Oh Willie you are cruel to think that my concience [sic] would reprove me for that which God has put in my heart[.] did I not love another or have you forgotten & did I not pray to God to Change me if it was his will & how soon did the change come[?] I do not remember of ever haveing one regret let alone reprov [sic] of concience for loving you[.] no I believe that it will all work together for our good & rejoice brother that I have more confidence in you this day than I have had for many month [sic] for God is able to change our enemy if we trust him & I believe that he already [.] I have resigned to his will what ere that be[.]

My concience [sic] never told me that I had done the wrong but most evry [sic] person told me so & I wrote to you to know if it was so & you made no reply so I thought I would confess & see if that would clear me just so you dont blame me[.] I care not for others. You say let the past be forgot [.] can you forget it[?] I will join with you in improving the future; but are you (we) doing it[?] I hear you have quit the distily [distillery] & then I hear for a short time that you would go on if you had grain[.] brother where is concience [sic][?] does not the cry of some poor little child cry for bread move your heart when you put that grain in the hopper to crush it[?] perhaps that father has spent his wages this day for the liquor that you have sole [sold] & that dear little one is crying for bread[.] Oh dear brother[,] cant I persuade you to to [sic] reflect for one moment. if you cant think then go on if you are going to improve the future commence now not for my sake do I ask you to do it but for your own; now brother dont let this make you [your] cheek flush with anger but forgive me if I do try & do it with the best of motives for your future happiness. dear brother it greaves [sic] me very much to think that you came home & did not come to see me but perhaps Walker did not tell you that I wished to see you[.] I am very anxious to see you & hope you will come at the reception of this letter[.] I was told last Sabbeth [sic] by a friend that they thought you was afraid to meet me[.] Oh Willie[,] what have I done[?] have I committed murder that any one should shun me or fear me & especially the one that was once my best friend. brother I think it would be best for us to meet the sooner the better[.] cant you take time enough to spend a day or night. I do assure you & shant[sic] hurt you[.] I will treat you as a sister would a brother & I wish to have a talk with you[,] not injure you or hurt you[.] I will avoid evrything [sic] that will go to hurt or wound in the least [.] now dont let it be said that as brave a man as you have been is a fraid of a girl[.] let me ask you to come for my sake as soon as you get this so that may not make people talk[.] I have much to right but will wait & tell you when you come[.] I will tell you all about the inform[?] when you you [sic] gave[.] please excuse all imperfections[.] yours as ever[,] Kate

[Written near the salutation is the following, "Accept my best wishes for your future happiness, Midie"]

[Attached to this letter is an envelope addressed to "Mr. William F. Branch, Alone, Rockbridge Co., Virginia."]