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Thursday May 1st [1851]

My dearest Emma. You were very kind to write me that dear letter this morning and it was a great consolation to Susan & myself to receive it.—

It is indeed quite true that we valued and loved your poor lost child; Susan was quite affected by hearing that you remembered, that she had [illeg] how much she should like to take her a tour;— she is a great loss to us, in the hundredth post after you, for I often used to think in my solitary old age, if I lived on [illeg] Common, what a bright affectionate little niece I should have in her, and how she would not despise me, but be

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always so cordial and kind here which was so entirely her nature.

It is indeed a most deep and bitter and unexpected sorrow and grief;— and like all other deep and sad sorrows, with no comfort but time.

A little Sunbeam Susan truly calls her.

Thank you dearest Emma, for letting us see that affecting letter of Fanny Hensleigh's; I hope you will not mind my having lent it to Marrianne & Caroline; it will be carefully returned to you, you may be certain.— They are hurt, if we do not send them everything we can.—