Hazel Run June the 8- 1821
I rote my dear Stephen by Mr Honey on the third Inst informing
him of his Fathers Illness—and I now rite you by our old friend
Mr Bruffey and am truly sorry that I have nothing Encouraging to
communicate I found your poor Father very ill indeed, Dr. ben
Hiser [Bernhisel] thought his disorder dangerous, it being a Violent
attack of Inflamation on the brest and lungs, attended with a high
fever— the Dr staid a day and night blistered and bleed most
copiously and when he left us two days past I flatterd myself he was
much better— but oh my son I greatly fear it was only a delusion,
so apt are [we] to flatter ourselves with that which will contribute
to our happyness his fever has returned this day with great violence,
he breathes with much difficulty and seems in great distress boath in
body and mind—in short my son I feel much allarmed about him,
I shall send for the Dr by Mr B he is lately from Philadelphia
studied with Dr Physick and is well recommended by him and the
bord— his yoth and Inexperience is the only objection I have
against him, but our chief dependence must be in him who is only able
to save oh my god, thou has in thy great mercy heretofore
supported him through many dangers—tryals and difficulties of various
kinds, extend thy mercys we beseech the and raise him once more
from a bed of sickness and thy grateful servants will sing praises
to thy name forever and ever— your Father had completed all his
business in this quarter much more to his satisfaction than he ever
expected to do—appeared to be surrounded with friends Anxious
for him to go on with his enerprise in the province texes— everyone
has the highest opinion of his plans and many only waiting till thay
know he has made the Establishment when they mean to follow him,
several young men has already gown and manjr now waiting to start
with him all those things distracts his mind and increases his
disordor he called me to his bed side and with much distress an
difficulty of speech, beged me to tell you to take his place and if god in
his wisdom thought best to disappoint him in the accomplishment of
his wishes and plans formed for the benefit of his family, he prayed
him to extend his goodness to you and eneable you to go on with the
business in the same way he would have done had not sickness and oh
dreadful to think of perhaps death, prevented him from
accomplishing— this my dear son is your fathers unhappy situation, and you
can better Judge of your Mother miserable feelings than she can
describe them, although my mind is filled with anxiety and my body
weied down with fatigue and distress— I will indulge the fond hope
of his recovery and communicate the pleasing intelligence to my dear
Stephen by the first opportunity— I was so disireous to be with your
Father when I heard of his illness—I did not take time to write to
your Brother, I inclosed his letter to you, by that you will know
his situation I hope the bill he sent on will be accepted in New
Orleans, when the poor fellow will be Liberated and once more
restored to his friends who will rejoice to see him tho poor and in
a different situation from what theay was when he left them. Emily
sends her moast affectionate love to you and would write if she had
time though you are a letter in debt— she has three lovely boys—
Austin grows very like you and is laying all parsiality aside the
most interesting child I ever saw— the infant is very butifull, I
only wish you could see it and you would thing so two, he is called
after Guy Morroson— farewell my son, heaven only knows what
events may take place before I write again the book of futurity is hid
from our eyes—for wise purposes and we ought to think it all for
the best— may god bless and prosper my dear son in every just and
Laudible undertaking is the sincere wishes of his ever affectionate but
unhappy anxious Mother
M Austin
[Addressed.] Mr Stephen F. Austin Natchitoches Attention
Mr Bruffy