My Dear Daughter:--It is now more than a week since I left my home, with its dear ones, the thoughts of whom fill my heart, and my secret prayers often arise to my Heavenly Father, that preservation may be extended unto you all.
Two sessions of the Yearly Meeting have been held, and now (Fourth-day morning)we are to have a meeting for worship. Since I wrote to you at Lloydsville, I have had a very interesting time among Friends and others. On Sixth-day evening last I attended an appointed meeting in the Meeting-house, at St. Clairsville. It was a season of Divine favor, such as it has not often been my lot to experience. The people appeared very tender, and expressed a desire that my lot might be cast among them again.
While in St. Clairsville we were entertained at the home of Jane Edgerton, who is a relative of brother John C. Lester's, being the daughter of Issachar Foulke, who removed to Ohio from Richland, many years ago. When I went to her house I did not know of this relationship.
On Seventh-day morning, Benjamin Tomlinson and myself left St. Clairsville, on horseback; the horses having been provided for us by Samuel Tomlinson, the Friend at whose house we are now stopping. The distance was over ten mile's, and the road such a one as thou never saw. The hills, very, very steep, and the great rain that occurred a few weeks ago has made them almost impassable for equestrians. We got through safely, however, and arrived at Mt. Pleasant in time to attend the Select Yearly Meeting. A small-one it was; and to me a very trying one. I obtained very little relief from expression--great contrast with the meeting held the evening before. Returned to S.T.'s, and on First, day morning attended a large meeting in the old meetinghouse at Mt. Pleasant, where formerly had stood many of the noted ones among Friends, but now they are gone. In the afternoon had an appointed meeting for Friends and others; and the invitation was extended to "'Orthodox" Friends, some of whom were in attendance. Of this number was Caroline E. Talbot, who spoke most interestingly. She is a dear Friend, and so sweet-spirited; she wanted to take me home with her, but I did not go then.
We have, at Yearly Meeting, the company of Bennet S. Walters and Nathan Thomas, from Iowa; Rebecca John and Chas. Teas and wife, from our own Yearly Meeting, and several other Friends. The burden of the word has rested principally on myself in the public meetings, which have been comfortable. Last evening I had an appointed meeting about two miles from my lodgings, at a place, called Berg, or Hole in the Ground. The company was an interesting one, and the Word flowed freely toward them. We were baptized deeply together, and the meeting closed under a solemn feeling.
I often experience a deep sense of outward loneliness, and at times feel almost, discouraged by the prospect of the work that is before me.
Write to me at Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio; after that at Columbus, and still later at Springfield. I have not yet heard from you. I am getting along right wee as to the body.
With a great deal of love, thy father, affectionately,
Samuel J. Levick
1. 1.. Pages 219-221.