1838 Wisconsin Travel Journal

APRL Th 21ST 1838 Th ST F M MND HS BN FRE
NSTLD FR SM TM PST I D NT FL Th L T G N MN
Th DNSTNS N NSITE O M SLS ETRNL WLFR Th I OT
NRT O Th EFN+ I FLT TLRBL WL I HP Th I WL SN
B BTR SBLSHD N NABLD T D M DTE BTR

April the 21st, 1838.  The state of my mind has been very
unsettled for some time past.  I do not feel that all too good in mind.
The disturbance and uncertainty of my soul’s eternal welfare that I ought
unroot on the evening. I felt tolerable well.  I hope that I will soon
be better established and enabled to do my duty better.

[…]

LMITE FTHR I PRA TH T H MRSE O M B W M
GDE N DRKT M ThRU LF SF M FRM L M SNS
N GRNT Th M LT MA B KST N ThS S STNS Th
WL NABL M T D Th MT G GRNT Th I MA B
DLFRD FRM L Th DNGRS T W I MA B NPSD
N MA I RTRN W A HRT MR DFTD T Th ThN I H
HRTFR H L I PRA BLS M W A Th BLS+
Th ThOU SEST I ND ThO I H NT SKD F Th
S I OT T H D I D NI WS WT ThOU KNST
WL B FR M HRM Th RNST SOT B M L
SF M I PRA Th FR GSU SK AMN

Almighty Father, I pray to Thee: have mercy on me.  Be with me.
Guide and direct me through life.  Save me from all my sins
and grant that my lot may be cast in these stations. Thy
will enable me to do the most good. Grant that I may be
delivered form all the dangers to which I may be exposed
and may I return with a heart more devoted to Thee than I have
heretofore had.  Lord, I pray: bless me with all the blessings
that Thou seest I need, though I have not asked for them,
as I ought to have done.  I did nigh was what Thou knowst
will be for my harm, the earnest sought by me. Lord
save me. I pray Thee for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

[…]

O G H MRSE O M N PRDN M MNE SNS O L H
MRSE O M I BSEChH TH O Th ThOU WLD B W M N TCh M
N Th WA N W I OT T GO PRDN EFRE Th+ Th I D AM
LK N MRSE O M FRNDS N RL+ WM I H LFT BHND N MA
Th B BLSD W HLTH MA ThI KNSL PRFD ThR NDRSTND- N SF
ThM FRM L ThR SNS L BLS M W L Th BLS+ Th ThOU
SEST I ND N GRT Th I MA B DLVRD FRM L EVL
N GRNT Th I MA B NABLD T B UF N M TM
N N M GNR+ N T Th WL B Th GLRE FRFR AMN

Oh God, have mercy on me and pardon my many sins! Oh Lord, have
mercy on me I beseech Thee!  Oh, that Thou would be with me and teach me
in the way in which I ought to go.  Pardon everything that I did promise
lack and mercy on my friends and relations whom I have left behind and may
they be blessed with health. May Thy council provide their understanding and save
them from all their sins.  Lord, bless me with all the blessings that Thou
seest I need and grant that I may be delivered from all evil
and grant that I may be enabled to be useful in my time
and in my generally and to Thy will be Thy glory forever.  Amen.

[…]

M MND S MCh NRSD O Th Th+ F Th WRLD N NT S MCh S
Th* OT T B O Th TH+ F ETRN O L LT NT TH RFRS F Th
WRLD GN Th SSTNSE O M L H MRSE O ThI SRFNT N GD
HM N Th WA N W H OT T GO GRNT T PRSRF M
FRM L DNGRS N NABL M T D M DTE O L OK- L MK
M UF  N M DA N GNR- BLS M W L Th BLS-
F Th KFNT F HS BLS M FRNDS N RL- N MA Th B
KPT N ThI FR MA Th B BLSD W A SFNSE F A Th+
N SPSL* MA Th B BLSD W ThI GRS L FRBD Th
Th K KNTNU T SN WLFE AGNST Th D FR ThM N M
MR Th G Th ThOU SEST W ND BLS S W
A Th+ Th WL B FR R G N N ThI K+DM WL PRS ThI

My mind is much considered on the things of the world and not as much as
they ought to be on the things of eternity.  Oh Lord, let not the reverence of the
world gain the sustenance of my life.  Have mercy on Thy servant and guide
him in the way in which he ought to go.  Grant to preserve me
from all dangers and enable me to do my duty.  On all occasions Lord make
me useful in my day and generally bless me with all the blessings
of the covenant of His.  Bless my friends and relations and may they be
kept in Thy favor. May they be blessed with a sufficiency of all things
and especially may they be blessed with Thy grace.  Lord, forbid that
they can continue to sin willfully against Thee.  Do for them and me
more the good that Thou seest we need.  Bless us with
all things that will be for our good and in Thy kingdom, we’ll praise Thee.