163 .
some contagious disease about that house as this was the third death
there in about two weeks and another a Negro woman it was thought could
not live I felt truly sorry for the Bereaved family at that house out
of a large Family only twozremained at the old Homestead and they under
the deepest affliction tis thus in life
This has been a cool March day
9th Went to Henderson to day in company with G Mitchell there was
nothing new in the city to day and no visible improvement in the roads I
Paid J McCormick $650 on note I also Paid off an Execution against me in
favor of`W J Dallam this is the last and if I have no bad luck it shall
remain the last as I have Paid near one Hundred dollars in costs this
winter
‘ 10th I was in Union Co. this morning and about home in the evening
this has been a pleasant day
llth At work on a plant bed in the morning and Planting some Irish
Potatoes in the evening this has been another pleasant day
12th I commenced sowing oats this morning &c I have felt this
evening as though I had lost a Brother for I couki hardly feel other-
wise on hearing of the death of Henry Williams who died this evening
with Small Pox his case has been truly an afflicting one confined
with a loathsome disease no friend could visit him in his sickness to
care for his wants or soothe his dying hours the one faithfull com-
panion his wife alone with none but hired officials to attend upon him
or to watch with him in his sufferings and dying agonies God knows from
my heart I Pitied him and his Companion but dared not visit him for fear
of the contagion it would have been a pleasure for me to have visited him
during his last affliction and to have relieved him as much as possible
during hisillness but he is gone tis past sickness canheer reach him
or death ere come to that land where he is gone I trust he is now in
heaven enjoying the full fruition of Glory where disease and death are
felt and feared no more Where the wicked cease from troubling and the
weary are at rest
I have known Henry Williams ever since I was old enough to
know any one he was one of my schoolmates and as memory goes back to
youth I remember him as one of my Boyhoods friends and Playmates and
_ as years rolled on I remember him as the cherished friend of Early
manhood which Friendship ended only with his death will everf
be cherished in memorys sacred shrine till like him the clods of the
valley are Piled above me
I have indeed felt sad tonight but such is life our bright-
est dreams are often dispelled before their consummation our friends
die and Pass away only to be remembered in our thoughts of the past
13th I was sowing oats this morning and this evening as I stood at
a distance and saw the Body of my friend and neighbor borne to its last
resting place by hired officials and strangers followed by his faithfull
companion only I felt as I have seldomg felt before Oh god what a sad
fate left to die without one of his friends being able to visit him
from the fear of that loathsome disease But I trust that his last
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