Letter: Andrew Blair, Sr. to his daughter Ann Hays Blair Murray, 1851
“Mr. Weaver took cold the night of the fire.”
Mr. Blair has been ill, but he is getting better and has his corn to plant. He is very worried about Mr. Weaver who has become deranged and describes his condition.
Carlisle May 6, 1851
Dear Ann1
Your line by Mr. [?] friend was very gratifying. I felt anxious to hear from the child although I was under no apprehensions from what Holmes2 told me. I have thought of going down tomorrow but will now defer it as I have my corn to plant and am under obligation to go over the mountain next week if well. I suppose that you know Tom [sic], Ellen, Martha, and Jane have been in [Philadelphia ?] a week today. I had a letter from Tom [sic] after they arrived. They seem to be enjoying themselves and expects to return today. So it goes.
We are all well, at least so nearly so as we ever expect to be. I have had a attack of the fashionable complaint but I am better. Mr. Weaver took could [sic] the night of the fire and although free from any effects of cold yet his nerves have become so much affected that he has been in a deranged state since Saturday last. It takes two persons to be constantly with him. I did not get to meeting all Sabbath. He has been more quiet for 24 hours but is still in a deranged state and will not suffer his wife to come into his sight; not will he eat a bite that is cooked in the house. He thinks she wants to poison him, it is distressing. I don’t know what the result will be but from [his] present symptoms I would not be astonished if the complaint (unreadable). I sincerely pity his wife. You know he has been a little strange in his disposition. I believe he is a good man, and even in his derangement he gives evidence of a mind that has been under divine teaching. I do pray that whatever affliction it may please our heavenly father to deal out to us may be (unreadable) from derangement.3
Say to Murray that Dr. Krebs has been here on his way to Assembly. He told me that he had a conversation with Mr. [?] brother John a few days since and that Mr. [?] has left his congregation and what is to me almost incredible is that he is preaching in the neighborhood to congregations of that denomination, and he has rented a house in New York City to (unreadable). His brother thinks he intends practicing medicine. His brother thinks he is a downright fool.
I will be glad to hear from you often. As soon as returning from P. County4 I will go to see you.
Your father, Andrew Blair