Dear brother And Sister this is to Let you know that we Are All In Good health At this present tume hoping it will find you the rond to fond to my Children All I Same thanks be to God for it Loving brother And Sister I but I Don't Exspect that role Again Come for I Crintry ++ you have A Great frimily And I Don't See how I Can Lore my family to undertake Such A Jorney for things is very Searce in this that will Answer for to take there AudMother Swaine is well And Gives her kind Love to And brother William Twaine is Dead And has Loft & wife Eight hat Children And brother Edward Swaine And his wife Is well And hath three Children And brother francis Swain, And his wife is well And hath Six Children So no more At presents but I wo Romain you've Ever Loving brother And Sister till Death this is the mark that my mother bade wie for to make XX XXXXX Аид me Robert And Sary Lamborn Sister mary I Davire thee to Loting brother Thomas know that we are All well, And I would not have him to be Displeased It ne for I had not time to Sond him A Lotter And to Lot my Sister Ann know how we are As to our health And I Did not Know where to Direct A Lotter to her LETTER FROM ROBERT LAMBORN (1). thing available, almost all that could be driven or carried away, beating the wheat battons against the posts in the barn, to get the most of the grain out, and then throwing back the balance into the mow, saying, 'There, Lamborn may have that.' "Well, to reflect honor to the memory of his brother William. When the sale was made he (William) was the buyer, and after selling off about one hundred and twenty acres, sufficient to about clear himself, he gave the balance, one hundred acres to his brother Thomas, my grandfather, for which said one hundred acres, my father and his sister Miriam maintained their parents in the last of their days-grandfather being afflicted with asthma and grandmother with rheumatism, so that for the last eight years of her life she could not walk. Father had prospered so that he bought back the one hundred and twenty acres after it had been out of the name forty years." Dinah Lamborn (8). After her marriage, which was about the eighteenth year of her age, she settled with her husband at London Grove, and became a member of that Monthly Meeting. It appears from some of her memoranda, that in early life her mind was often turned to pray for and seek after an inheritance in the truth; and being but a child that had need of instruction, she greatly esteemed the company, and conversation of those whom she apprehended were further advanced in religious experience; and hath since at times expressed with a sense of gratitude, and lively remembrance of Providence toward her in those youthful days, and fatherly and motherly care of divers friends. After many refining baptisms, she came forth when about thirty-five years of age, with an acceptable acknowledgment of the goodness and merey of that Arm of power which had been revealed for her help; to the efficacy whereof she was many times qualified to bear a sweet and consoling testimony amongst us, and in parts adjacent, as also in some of the neighboring governments, performing some of those visits under great bodily infirmities, some of her joints being drawn out of place by rheumatic pains. Her concern for the rising generation was great, frequently calling upon them in public testimony, with inviting language, to come and partake freely of that fountain which would heal them of their maladies; often manifesting a desire to have them in her company. For those of her own family, her tears and prayers were often poured out, that they might not only be called, but the chosen of the Lord. She was careful not to reprove in a light or hasty manner, but to seek for a quiet and retired opportunity, speaking in mild terms, and endeavoring so to reach the divine witness that they could not gainsay; whereby we believe she was made a blessing to some both in her own family and neighborhood. In the time of the Revolutionary War, it was the lot of the family to meet with much stripping for military demands, wherein she bore her testimony with firmness, saying, "Let us trust in the Lord." She much prized the unity of the brethren and sisters, and knowing the comfort and advantage thereof, guarded herself against a disposition to speak disrespectfully. She manifested much desire, even under great bodily infirmities, to attend religious meetings and promote the attendance of her family, and was exem plary in her deportment toward them. Thus from small beginnings, in much simplicity, she was raised up to become a nursing mother in the church. About eight years before her decease, she became so enfeebled as not to be able to walk or stand alone, nor even to use her hands for most of that time; under which dispensation (although her affliction was often great) she was so divinely supported as to manifest patience and resignation, which proved very edifying and affecting to many who visited her, imparting much excellent counsel. Her conversation was instructive and cheerful. She esteemed the Holy Scriptures as a peculiar blessing, frequently reading and meditating thereon; and was concerned to promote a similar disposition and practice in others. In the evening of the 15th of the Fourth month, 1807, she quietly departed, as one going into an easy sleep, in the sixty-third year of her age. Her memory still remains precious, having "through faith obtained a good report." On the 1st of Twelfth month, 1799, she addressed the following epistle to New Garden Preparative Meeting of Women Friends. "Dearly beloved Friends and Sisters:-Though absent in body I am often present in spirit, greatly desiring your growth in the unchangeable truth, and that none of you having begun in the spirit may now think to be made perfect through the flesh. He never said to the wrestling seed of Jacob, Seek ye my face in vain; therefore 'Seek and ye shall find;' 'Knock and it shall be opened unto you.' But we may remember there were some formerly that asked and did not receive, because they asked amiss. Oh! that we might ask in faith, nothing doubting, but that we shall receive in His own due and appointed time; because He that has called us to a high and holy calling, will not leave nor forsake His truly dependent children, if there is but a looking unto Him with a single eye for help; for if thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light, but if the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness.' "Dearly beloved, that you may be found children of the light and of the day, labor to get your day's work done in the day time, for the night cometh wherein no man can work.' Therefore 'gird up the loins of your minds, watch and be sober, and hope to the end.' "Dear Friends, I know we are poor, weak creatures, and of ourselves we can do nothing that will tend to the glory and honor of His great and worthy name. As the 'branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, neither can ye except ye abide in me.' As the fruit bearing branches themselves sometimes have need of purging, let us be willing to be washed, cleansed and purified throughout body, soul and spirit, that so we may be vessels fit for the Master's use. Then all will be willing to improve the talents given unto them, whether five, two or one; everyone will be willing to improve his own gift. As there is a keeping near unto Him who will direct aright, all will know the part there is for them to do. As you are thus made willing to be what the Lord would have you to be, I do most surely believe your hands will be made strong by the power of the mighty God of Jacob. If you are faithful in little, you will be made rulers over more,' and will become one another's help in the Lord. Then you will be strengthened to encourage your younger sisters, that they may come up to the help of the Lord against the many and mighty wrong things that now appear. "I feel a desire for the growth and prosperity of the younger women. Now, while you are young and strong, is the time to labor in the Lord's vineyard, for none shall shut a door in the Lord's house for nought. As you are thus exercised for the honor of the truth, how this will encourage the dear children to come forward, for whom I feel a desire that they may not only be called, but the chosen of the Lord. I believe the call of the Lord has gone forth in a powerful manner to the young and rising generation, for the gathering of these into the true sheepfold, where they may hear His voice and be preserved from following the voice of the stranger. "Dear Friends, when you come together to wait on the Lord, endeavor as much as in you lies to turn the eyes of your mind inward in the early part of the meeting, laboring to draw near unto him who is perfect in goodness, that you may witness Him to draw nigh unto you and favor with His living presence, which is more than the increase of corn, wine or oil. Then there will be no idlers; none sitting at ease, none giving way to a drowsy spirit or falling asleep, but all will be laboring for life to arise. Although the life may seem low at times, and the well deep, and you nothing to draw with, yet as there is a wrestling for the blessing, and not giving out, He will arise for the help of these in his own due time; and as you are thus engaged, the help of your spirits will be felt even amongst the brethren. Oh! then how you would be strengthened to wait upon the Lord and worship Him in spirit and in truth. For, Friends, 'we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Now, Friends, I do not write unto you as one that has already attained, but as one laboring to get the day's work done in the day time, so that I with you may have the answer of 'Well done,' when time to us shall be no more." From your friend and companion in tribulation, [From The Friend, Eleventh month 9th, 1850. Robert Lamborn (13). DINAH LAMBORN, Was born a member of the Society of Friends in Chester county, Pa., April 8th, 1751. He is described as being a man of large frame, six feet two inches high, angular in youth, brawny in middle life, and rounding into a comfortable portly figure later on. He was a man born to command, judging from character and appearance; he had the acquiline nose so often found in the family, the large gray, expressive eyes, burly brows with a well grown brain and a fund of humor which served well on occasions. He was an intelligent manly man with a statesman's breadth of thought, sagacious, wise and independent; one looked to to arbitrate differences, to settle estates among contentious heirs, or when difficulty is anticipated and; thus he was called a "natural lawyer." His fearlessness in such positions led some one to say of him that though a Lamb-born, he was lion-grown. He was a dangerous opponent to a dishonorable transaction; he did enjoy straightening a tangled business or check-mating a manoeuvering rascal, yet he was not contentious with a good cause to contend for, but a peacemaker in spirit. He |