[Address on front of folded letter]

Neil Bull Esq.: P. M. Montgomery

     Sir, would you be good enough to hand this letter to Mr. Shelton or some friend of his tonight if possible. Mr. Shelton may probably call for it on his way to Tuskegee.

Stephen Shelton Esq.
of Autauga Co.
at the Post Office Montgomery

[Body of letter]

Tuskegee, 10 August 1844

Dear Sir

     I confidently anticipate that I should be able to give a more favorable account of your daughter’s sickness than the one I gave yesterday, in the letter which I did not close until the last moment, viz. 2 o’clock in the afternoon, unfortunately, however, in one hour after, a most remarkable and sudden change came over her and although but a few hours before she had been laughing and joking with some of the schoolmasters she began to sink in a very rapid manner, the Doctors did all in their power to arrest the progress of disease, but all was unavailing and your poor daughter finally sank to her everlasting rest, at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. It would be useless for me to attempt to offer consolation to a parent under such awfully melancholy a circumstance. I know what such a bereavement is and that there is but one source to which we can look for consolation, yet, it may be a subject of future solace to know that your daughter’s amiable deportment had endeared her to all, teachers and schoolmates, and although she has left us when far away from those most dear to her, and who were ever present in her thoughts, yet I would assure them that with the exception of their of their personal presence she had every attention that could be given to her. All that I feel I have to reproach myself with is not having written sooner, but all the symptoms were so decidedly favorable and two cases of measles having already terminated so favorably we all thought it would be creating alarm in your minds when there was really no cause for it and I have no doubt since the case has terminated so fatally that there was a constitutional defect which was perhaps increased by the attack of measles and which would under any circumstances when so developed have withstood the power of medicine.

     We are making every effort to preserve the body until tomorrow evening until after the arrival of the cars from Montgomery, this being the only thing we can do for your poor withered flower on this side the grave in the hope that you will arrive in time.

I remain, Dear Sir, yours with commiseration and respect,

J. H. Lloyd