Pierce, Franklin (1804-1869) to John Aiken re: letter of condolence to his brother-in-law

Washington
August 19th 1854
My dear brother
There has been much consolation mingled with the tears shed over your long touching letter received this morning. Altho [sic] Charles letter was much kind and thoughtful, he had not time all the details ar [sick] so much desired & which you have so fully supplied. We dwell with satisfaction upon that fact, that all children except William were with you at the last sad office He was there, I shall always remember, with ready sympathy , when the two families gathered around the remainsof Alfy's dear companion, so suddenly snached from life. It will be hard for him to receive the news among strangers with no kindred heart to beat responsibly to his own- He will long return early to the broken circle thu [sic] he must search the familiar threshold with tears of sadness. We knew so little of the course & unusual termination of this disease, that I had looked for gradual decay& possibly long, protacted suffering -And hence this sudden change could hardly have been more unexpected-Painful as the dear Mothers must have been in the sudden & trying emergency away from husband & home-Still the sufferers desire to revisit this sea shore seems to have been s earnest that one cannot regret the experiment-Poor dear sister Mary & dear strong brother: My heart responds to that great true sympathy, which yo gave us in that great sorrow, which like your own, must be as hiddering as life but I feel that I could such sum, if present, with you the comfort and support, which you love able to impact to the. With you as you as with obvious memory will ever bring these beloved boys before us together. What chastenings, admonitions and calls to a higher life have marked our experiences within the last ten years! But atlas for my poor dull heart-brief and desolate-Earthly objects and persuits deprived of their attractions could yet heavily hopes & aspirations SO wrak and languid: I can admire your clean established religious opinions and your high, firm faith, but instead of participating an like one thinking admiring in the distance. I believe Jane has written to dear Mary daily since he received Clarks letter. This way is a great privilege, but these two sisters-sole survivory of their family must must [sic] the coming autum and I see no way but jane & dear Mary to come to us. We have been and are proposing a short leave of absence, but my constant engagements and the nesessity of my presence have present constant obstacles to the execution of such purpose- If we go atah [sic] we shall probably half away next week cut past ten days in a part night on the sea such as some point on the Jersey Shou, or camping the mountains of Virginia. Perhaps at 6 upon or the White Salphire ship. I have been drinking Bedford water for several weeks with such improvementd in health, that I do not feel particularly the need of exchange- Still a few days of relaxation would be very agreeable- And I have two doubts that an excursion either to the mountains or to open sea expecting advantage to Jane- My administration is cast whom eventful [sic] times, and our foreign relations, as work as over last & diversify domestic interest involved in the working of this great machine are constantly presenting questions for have consideration- Still I am neither annoyed nor painfully anxious- To the extent of thy responsibility I shall be willing to judged by the results.
I hope William receives my letters an Paris and that you had favorable accounts from him by the last steamer-
With love & tru [sic] Sympathy to all-
I am-ever
your appreciated brother-
Franklin Pierce