New York January 20th 1881   J.H. Fairchild Esq  Dear Bro.   I have Recd your letters in Relation to Inspector Pollock and trust I Shall be able to Meet and Explain any objection he May Make  to our doings.  I know Not how to express my present affliction here, on the account of the Sickness of Mrs. Wilbur. I have Not known her as dangerously Sick, it Seems to me in twenty five years. Her Lungs are most fearfully involved. We came here Something over a week ago and She was well indeed better than  usual but after arriving here within 3 hours She was taken with a Chill and then a very high State of Inflamation in her right lung. Never before much affected and the Inflamation extended to the left lung So She has been Suffering greatly Since The Drs think She is better, but I do not  and I entertain fears She Never will recover. She has become very weak and I am attending   
        her day and Night. I am unable to Make any Calculation when I shall go to Washington  amp; when we may be ready to Start for home. My whole thought and time  amp;  Care is taken up with her. I have not written as I should have done if I had not been away from Washington and had recd the letters you had written  regularly. And Since Mrs. Wilbur has been down I have not found time to do any thing but take care of her.   When I can and I will try dayly to keep you posted from this time.  I write this in great haste I have Sent to day by mail Sabbath Schools Books.  Pray for us. I realize you need me there to lighten the load that is upon you. I hope the  Lord will give you Strength for the  great press now upon you.   Yours truly   James H Wilbur   U.S. Indian Agent