The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

John H. Wylie to Andrew Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana
Richmond June 15 th 1849
Dear Father
Your kind long letter is just received & although somewhat sorrowful & melancholy in
its character it is on that account more acceptable to me, as agreeing with the tenor of my own
reflections for the last few days. Since I last wrote you my health has failed even more, so much
so that for the last three or four days I have been unable to attend to business & have been most
of the time in bed. But I am some better now, but can’t tell how long that may continue. This has
been the subject of much of my thought & I have considered the possibility nay the probability of
dying before the lapse of many years or days & if such must be my fate I trust that I may be able
in my last hours, to bow to it submissively & serenely as becometh one who, at least at times, has
considered the end to which he hasteneth.
I have sometimes thought it would not be as hard for me to die as it is with some My life
has not been a happy one Circum stances have not conspired to wed me much to the world -- Prosperity
hath not shown upon me nor lifted me up, nor yet has sorrow cast me down But still I have
perhaps no good reason for complaint. I have yet a good comfortable house to which I can retire-
-have kind friends & dear relatives to whom I am much attached & who are always ready with
every mark of kindness -- Since I have been sick--that home with its shady groves, cool & balmy
breezes, good milk butter &c with Abby to nurse me and therest of you to care for me, with Jane’s
sweet song “Tis home where the heart is” have dwelt in my thoughts by day, in my dreams by
night.
I have had a long talk with my partner & he thinks it best for me to quit business until my health
shall be regained and after deliberately weighing the matter (and although the idea is a bitter one)
I have concluded that I must give up all ideas of business -- as my health now is I can’t work & of
course I had better nurse myself. So that I shall accept your kind invita tion; & should I be able to
travel & should the roads continue good you may look for me the last of next week. (I shall not
go however should any great change for the better take place in my
health.)
The Cholera is much on the increase in Cin. [Cincinnati] & I have felt uneasy about Sam.
I think he should go home & I wrote to him to that effect -- George Fiske lost his only son, during
my absence, of scarlet fever--thinks that had I been here it might have been saved.
I think you are rather unfortunate in buggy driving & fortunate too in coming off unhurt -- It has
learnt Sal a bad trick I fear--
Give my love to all
affectly your son
John
Rev A Wylie
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Andrew Wylie to John H. Wylie, Richmond, Indiana
Bloom n June 20 th --49
Dear Son:
Since your attack of pleurisy more than two years ago you have not been out of my
thoughts scarce a moment. Should you be called away by this visitation, I know of no words
to express my feelings better than those of David for Absalom. Not that you have been like
Absalom. No: you have been a dutiful son – But enough on this strain. God knows what is best
for us. The event is in his hands. Still it is our duty to take all the care to prolong life that we
can. For this reason I think you ought to come home. Mr Fiske will be coming to Indianapolis to
Conven tion. It meets on the 28. I hope to be there a day sooner to deliver an Address on the 27th.
I have just written to Sam. stating these things and advising him to come home. On receiving
your letter my first impulse was to go for you at once. But when I reflected that my buggy has
no top and on other circumstances of the case I thought it best to advise you as above. Fail not
to write or get some one else to write of your state by each mail. We are in usual health. though
your mother had a chill and fever after it the other day. My health with the labors and cares that
are upon me would fail were it not that I sweat at the hoe every day.
God bless you my dear afflicted son
A. Wylie
Dr. John H. Wylie
Andrew Wylie to John H. Wylie, care of Rev’d G. Fiske, Richmond, Indiana
Indianapolis June 30 th [1849]
D r Son
Had the roads weather & my health been better, I would have gone to Richmond from
the Convention with a view to your case. As I am weak from the effects of a diarrhea, which,
however, has now nearly left me, & as the roads are bad & the weather, I have concluded to return
home on monday. Your mother & the rest of the family are exceedingly anxious that you should
come home & be nursed.-- So, indeed am I. But yet there are considerations on the other side
not to be overlooked. Were you at home, & nothing to do, your mind would turn in & prey upon
itself. And it would be difficult for you to get into any train of thought which would give your
mind a healthy action. With this view of the matter Mr Fiske concurs: In short, let me earnestly
entreat you to look upon this event (I mean your sickness) as being, on the part of God, sent for
a gracious purpose--sent to teach you your dependance on Him; to call off your desires from
earthly things & to turn them into the channel of pious resignation, Faith & Hope & a Divine
Charity. The message had not been sent had you not needed it. You were in danger greater than
common & it required a greater means than common to rescue you. You were, though you may
not have perceived it, beloved by the family & by almost every body. Your talents and personal
appearance were more in your favor than is common with young men. In your case also there
was a native modesty which spoke in your favor. Nothing was wanting to encourage & justify
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