happy.  This I can say in the fear of God.  Do not examine and criticise every part of my letters to see if you can discover any thing which can possibly be construed into discontent.  The anxiety you discover for my happiness and the fears that now and then escape you that I am not so, reminds me of a doting mother who anxiously watches every feature of her favorite child to discover if possible if there are any symptoms of disease upon it.  I. says, there are evident marks of discontent in my letter.  But I guess you would never have discovered them without his help.  When I asked him in what particulars you I discovered these marks he replyed "teasing for letters so often, requiring more particulars, and writing so often."  But I cannot persuade myself that this is the reason why you fear I am discon.  I rather imagine it is because my health has not been quite so good as usual.  You often say "write soon-write often-write me long letters."  But it never entered my heart that discontent prompted these expressions.  My dear, do you now believe I am discontented, and have you seriously suspected that I have been so?  I wish if possible to convince you I am not discontented.  But Br. J. says professions to the contrary are vain, while every syllable is mixed with the stuff." You will discover my perplexity.  If I know what the word contentment means, I believe I enjoy it, and yet paradoxical as it appears every thing I write is tinged with discontent.  I am not wrathy my dear, but am am [sic] a little unhappy that I cannot remove from your mind a suspicion which I know must distress you.  Do not take what I have now said for discontent.  I have made so many words about it I some fear you will, but nothing can be further from the truth.  Give my love to dear Br. J.  I fully intended to have devoted part of this sheet to him, but have not had room to write near all I intended for you.  Adieu, my dear, may the smiles of God attend you and the choicest of Heaven's blessing rest upon you; and may you enjoy all that happiness your best friend aspires for you.  Your affectionate and devoted 

Sally