Philadelphia
7-11-'67

Illness alone detains me.
Death alone
can end my labors--

I wrote this telegram--Dear Mr May--to send to the Festival;--but as none of us knew where it would find any one--that day;--not knowing where it was to be held;--it was not sent. We fully intended and were exceedingly desirous to be present;--but when I reached here I found I could go no further--but took my bed and kept it till yesterday; when I came to my brother Thomas's to complete the rest--As soon as I can bear the journey, I shall go home--The Summer heats with accumulated fatigue, quite conquered me--at the close of the term; and we took the Mammoth Cave and Harper's Ferry on our homeward route; hoping to gain more strength and color to meet the loved ones at home with--than if we went directly--

And it did us much good--I think--besides the pleasure we found in it:--and I know had I got home any time previous to the 11th I could not have taken part in any festivities small or great. Now that I did not have the satisfaction of being at the reunion--(which we the more desired, as we have never been able to be at one--; for the first year we taught through the Summer and have not been able to leave the South any year in season until this year) I regret I had not staid a little longer with my people--after our schools weir closed, to look after the improvement clubs, societies, ect. I had started and to work in many would satisfying ways that I thought of and longed for. Thanks for the tracts which I doubt much will accomplish something--How I will tell when we meet and all else you may wish to know--I have not strength to write more than that my last experience has been most satisfactory--and my one thought now is, how to get strength for the next campaign--

The growth, and the coming wisdom, and the promise of the infant Nation is wonderful:--and the old do behold it, and are convinced--that the Lord is doing these things--

Ever yours
S.E. C.

Haverford, 7-19-'67

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