Boston Sept. 28th. 1756 Brother Paine,

Yr. father continues as bad as ever, his Nights are rather worse. The Night before last was so bad that yr. Sister was call'd up five or six times & every Night more or less and often finds her father on the floor for he will not keep in bed. Yesterday all day quite Lost & bewilder'd and the Labour & fatigue both of Body & mind to see and attend on a poor afflicted parent will soon kill your poor Sister unless she has some relief, which she has not had of any kind since Saturday last when our Maid left us. We have no help nor can get any & therefore you must produce us Some assistance, even tho' you work a Miracle for it & Tis sd. Miracles are are not Ceas'd. Inquire about the Girl Sister Susana1 told me of & of every Body you see. Pray Mr. Foster to send me on board Mr. Quincy's Schooner one Qr. Hundd. Sugar & as much Flour & 6 Starch. Send yr. Fathers thick Jacket & old Shirts. Tell me abt. Capt. Patten's Rum tell him I'll send him more & I'll take the pay in his Shop and Insist upon his taking (if he has not yet) the Barrel at Henshaws. Remember Steel & my other Chaps & the million other things Committed to yr. care. Don't forget my Tenent. When he has pd. You tell him I Expect a Quarters warning unless Mr.Coffin will take the house.

The whole world Lay's it seems upon yr. Shoulders. You had need of a Tortoise to Support you. Behave well now, & I'll gett Samll. Quincy to Celebrate your Praises in Some new-fashion'd Poem. He shall mount you up, upon the airy wings? of his Muse & Suspend you in the Middle Regions as Saint Ignatius was, nor would I have him desend with you 'till all the world know for what reasons you have been thus Exalted.

But what am I talking of! Let it Suffice that you have the approbations of yr. brother in Law,

JOS: GREENLEAF

P.S. I've sent Baggs.

RC ; addressed: "To Mr Robt. Treat Paine In Boston"; endorsed. Also on address leaf some mathematical calculations; and in Greenleaf's hand: "A small Loaf Sugar at Mr. Fosters if no Small a Large one."

1.

Greenleaf's younger sister, Susanna Greenleaf (b. 1725).