Subject: Caregiving
From Boxes 1 & 2

-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- Newark, N.J. [New Jersey] April 7, 1866. My dear Elizabeth,             Your favor of March 14, is before me.  I deeply sympathize in your very heavy trials.  It is obvious, that they are occasioned by disease of body, affecting the nervous system & the brain.  No pecuniary aid, no arrangement of kindred & friends, not even the presence of filial affection, & unvaried attentions of your children can afford any permanent or essential relief.  You need the best professional skill, of some physician, that understands what <medical> treatment has relieved others, similarly affected.  This is probably your only chance for recovery, entire or partial.  Without treatment you must undoubtedly find your difficulties of body & mind increasing.             I am glad your presence & aid have been so great a comfort to your father & mother, & to Caroline.  There is perhaps no other condition in which you can be so useful, as the one you are now in at your father's house.  Where you in good health, & spirits, it might be as well for your sons to struggle on alone, & by bearing the yoke in their youth, gain strength of character by trying discipline, as other young men have done, Our heavenly Father who appoints our lot, knows the lessons we need for our highest & best education for our good in this world, & ever so many myriad of ages hence.  It is wise for us to receive filially what he appoints for those we love, as well as what he appoints for ourselves,  Instead of rebelliously seeking to get rid of trials, we should seek to have them sanctified to us.  Our heavenly Father chastens us for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.  (See Heb. [Hebrews] 12.)             It must cost money to you to put yourself on trial of a three month's medical & remedial treatment.  If only one chance out of many for recovery or even relief, it is a call to you to appropriate your own funds in this way,  How much more to be desired is your delivery from the burdens that press upon your tho'ts [thoughts]; & oppress your spirits, <even> to the cost of all your pecuniary means even to your last dollar, than any amount of cash in your hand, or in stocks, & your present wretchedness.  Let your prayer in this matter be, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"  I enclose a little tract, adapted to your wants & mine.  Jesus Christ died, to save sinners from their sins.  Will we allow him to save us?  I came here yesterday.  In the course of this month, I hope to be at Millbrook [Connecticut], & see you all.  I love each one of you, & I thank Caroline for her letter.  In tender sympathy, your aff'te [affectionate] aunt, Z.P. Banister, [Zilpah Polly Grant Banister] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---