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to Bangor & to Miss Cornelius' school & do not think the distance will be too great but beneficial, after she has recovered her accustomed tone of health. I am glad Hattey has had the experience she has at S. Hadley, it will prepare her I have no doubt to profit by other advantages: She has not aptitude for close mental effort & research, much less for the reasoning of higher mathematics; will never make a very thorough or finished, mere scholar, but she has good sense much quickness in the apprehension & appreciation of common & outward things: She has too much depth of good & correct feeling developing more & more, In the right circumstances I am sure she will improve constantly & make a useful christian lady I feel that the present way for her has been directed from above & is right & best. I do hope you & Mallie will not fail to indicate to her any deficiency or lack in any respect, & check, restrain or reprove, if her good requires. She will receive such things well & be benefitted. In small, unimportant matters she is too apt to lean on some one else & not exercise her own judment it has been so I presume at her school, among so many her superior, so more self reliant than she is. I judge her self-importance has not been increased there, she is in danger perhaps of discouragement as to her own capabilities & possible achievements. I have thought much of late on the importance of a healthy & truly good growth of individual character - perhaps I have tried too much to bring every thing to a particular model rather than to train up & develop the faculties that are given - the abilities & bent of native character. We that are older are apt to forget the gulf between youth & mature years, in feelings & tendencies & not make enough allowances for the thousand things that experience only can modify or correct. perhaps I have erred in expecting too much in this direction & I suggest to you not to be disappointed or troubled because of the many foolish? (to us) ways of youth. There is a time you know, when girls must be girls & not older people. Nettie is