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sometimes I feel anxious and troubled when thinking of your cares, and C's difficulties, and what shall be done with the children, and then I find it a great consolation to think of the promises of God to the widow and fatherless and as a family plead those promises; no doubt these promises are precious to you ,are, and have been, the source of rich consolation in all your trials. With regard to Joseph must be thinking what is best for him to do ; I suppose, without doubt a place might be obtained in a store for him in the spring, in every respect eligible; but he would have to give his time and probably more for the first year; James and others think some wholesale store would be best, and, in such, boys rarely receive more than a dollar a week which you know would not pay his board. A few weeks ago there was a chance for him to go into a small Unitarian bookstore for 2$ per week but we thought not best for him to go there, so did Mr Bush & Whipple whose advice was asked. Mr Whipple's partner wants an apprentice to the printing business & he asked Joseph if he did not want that place, but James thinks that would be very poor business for him, so much is done by steam and girls. If he should learn a trade his board and clothes would be provided; James and others think that a wholesale store would give him a better knowledge of business and more opportunities of rising in the world, than any other store have the advantage he would enjoy here, make it desirable, I think on any counts that he should stay rather than go back on to a farm, he will I hope become favorable known as a boy of religious principles, and intelligent mind, and from the influences he will meet with, he will be more likely to make a decided and useful Christian, here: he has told his Sabbath School teacher that he hopes he is a christian, & if his future conduct and feelings show that he is truly a child of God, it would be highly important, that he should make a profession of religion as he would be less apt to be led away from the path of duty. He does not express a great desire for staying here, though I believe it is rather his wish, but if it is not best for him to have a permanent stay and business here it is not best for him to go into any store, because he would get no wages at first. Almeida's situation and family will be such new spring & summer that she cannot board him, and the expense besides what he can earn must be furnished somehow;-- if my school should be as good as it is now I could probably do it, but that is uncertain; you & C., must think it over and write very soon so that we can know what course to take; I am thinking some of finding another boarding place for Joseph & I especially if he does not stay longer than till spring; it would be a great relief to A. on account of her health, and the additional expense would not be so great as the additional benefit to Joseph, to be in a good boarding house in (good society a little.

[top of page] Joseph does not wear flannel but I have made him 4 very thick, large shirts; I have the use of the sewing & wish you had thought to send some pieces of his jacket, pants, so i am very sorry about his surtout it is so small that it looks badly on him as if made 2 or 3 years ago and out grown. J. studies well, it took 2 sheets of paper for his last composition [down left side is written on the previous page] ]