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Jan 1st, I wish you all a Happy New Year: I am glad that Charles teaches school this winter, but he will need to walk very straight, and exert himself to the utmost; there is such a spirit of improvement about snow with respect to common schools, that an old fashioned good teacher will hardly give satisfaction, however if he only becomes as heartily engaged in the improvement of his school, as in his barnyd no doubt get but what he will keep a good school, you did not write whether the children had much desired or make much exertion to improve their minds, of course they all go to school. I feel deeply for poor Naomi and hardly realize that she, so sensible & so agreeable is indeed Immoral but the purposes of Providence I cannot fathom. I have as usual, many plans for the future, whether any of them succeed is extremely uncertain, - as to your project - though my respects very pleasant - I hardly think it would be expedient I fully respond to the spirit of the old maxim, that "home is home be it ever - so homely," and, I have had occasion to feel the truth of it too, but after reading so much as I have, to gain a competent expectation, ought then to do better, than to keep a few weeks in a year, a ? but fatiguing school & teach a,b,c, which the common set "country girl round here can do , and probably, too at less wages have the sense" girls receive! and if I should not keep at all, I should earn nothing and of course have nothing, while I should be constantly spending something, and I should have to regret that I had spent considerable time and money, to gain accomplishment and acquirements, which would be above my station as such would not probably increase my usefulness, & which would be of little real use to me. I believe that one who watches the indications of Providence with the sincere desire to be guided by them, will be directed in his counsel, but, not without the exercise of the reasoning powers, in comparing, and judging between advantages, disadvantages etc. Select schools taught by females, and very popular in every little village, and it seems to me I had better try in this way, and in this vicinity, or in Maine, I should very much prefer the latter, if there was equal prospect of success. I wish I could be situated in Bangor, either in a private school or assistant in the High School established there: what do you think of this plan that I have for forged - to ascertain, by writing to Mr. Pomroy whether there is any tolerable prospect of an opening there, for me next spring; and if so, do up my visiting, after closing my school which will be in three weeks, and go to Boston, spend a few weeks there in reviewing my studies perfecting myself in drawing & preparing to go to Bangor as soon as spring opens, I have been engaged in teaching in Boston since I left there, & possibly might succeed better on that account, but I wish Ann Foley had really got married. I think Mother that if you consider the matter all round, you will think I had better persevere, & not now give up trying to earn something; there is the apparatus and glove which will be of little use if A nor I do not keep school, besides I have spent money for nothing which I shall need to keep school but which would otherwise be unnecessary. Elisabeth Ann Rich. [right hand side] corner folded over I was to a Lyceum here this winter, well attended and interesting, there has been each evening a lecture and debate; and the question was whether West Point, Military School was or not a benefit to the nation. Uncle debated on the ? side of the question. A new Physician has moved to town. no doubt, chiefly because Dr. Taylor has left. Mr. ?? and joined the new Society. There is great bitterness of feeling in regard to ? and I think Mrs. _ and especially Mrs. Smith feel differently towards me because I go to the Orthodox.