These letters were found with Mary Shedd Scott's keepsakes, transcribed from a handwritten book that is tied with a green bow. From the content, it seems that she must have been very ill, and these letters were sent by her friends to console her.
To Abagail Houston
Dear friend my virtuous pleasure and refined lasting Peace and contentment be forever thine.
But should these liberal favours be denied,
Should pleasures smiling form be veiled in gloom,
And friendship's voice be silent in the tomb,
Should health become a stranger to thy door,
And peace and plenty cheer they heart no more,
O may benign religions heavenly power
Be thy support in each afflictive hour.
Should every earthly comfort fade and die,
Be thine sher hope of future bliss on high
Thine by the joys the virtuous only know
The joys that from approving conscience flow.
Rachel O. Crosby
To Abagail
Farewell dear friend I bid to you
To long perhaps a last adieu,
But may our friendship never subside;
Though hills and vallies us divide.
And when the very hand of death
Shall steal away our vital breath,
Oh may our souls to heaven ascend,
Where friendship never shall have an end.
Betsy Crosby
To Miss Abigail Houston
Our friends. Alas! how soon they die.
Their bodies turned to clay;
But there's a part that ever lives,
'Twill live an endless day.
And since we must forever live,
O let us watch and pray;
And when our time on earth is past,
Will meet an endless day.
From your unworthy Friend Harris Whiting
Lyndborough Nov 15th 1831
To Miss Abagail Houston
May heavenly wisdom guide your ways
Impart its joy and cheer your days
And make your dying moment bliss.
May seraphs ever hovering near
Dispel each doubt calm each fear
And sweetly bear your soul to rest.
O may you grow in heavenly love
And ripen for the world to love.
Your Affectionate friend D.F. Wilson Lowell
To Abagail Houston
When my friend I am far away
Fondly shall memory on you dwell
And in Idea oft shall stray,
And hear that voice beloved so well;
O may the lovely gem of truth
Ever adorn thy blooming youth
Religion round thy brow entwine
Its wreath of beauty most divine;
May angels round life's slippery path,
Around thy steps their vigil keep,
And when on earth their charge shall cease
Safe bear thee to the realms of peace.
Lydia Nash of Boston
Written in Lowell June 31, 1831
To Miss Abigail Houston
Dear friend when oer these line you view
And think who wrote them here for you
Remember tis her earnest prayer
That you should every blessing share
Have Jesus for your friend below
And taste the joys that Christians know.
May you be restored to health if it be the will of the God, and your stay on earth be attended with prosperity, and may the soul experience much of that happiness which none but the pious heart can know, even that heaven born religion, that can sweeten the bitter cup, afford you joy in this vale of tears and conduct you safe to the heavenly Canaan where undisturbed happiness will every reign.
Is the sincere wish of your friend
Dorinia C. Harvey (?)
To my dear Niece
Religion; in that heavenly word What treasures all divine are stored. Descending from the realms above Her object man, her errand love. She comes to soften all our gloom, Invite earth's wretched wanderers home Direct the path and lead the way To fairer worlds and endless day.
Oh my dear Abigail, I trust we have an Eternity to spend together.
Abigail Field
