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To all the folks whom it may concern, Foxcroft Aug 24th 1843 Almeda I have thought considerable about your Lucy's state of health since I came from there and I wonder you don't all of you feel more the importance of doing something about it. It would be no sleight evil to have her a poor, sickly, deformed, humpbacked invalid all her days situated as you are, you will very much need the efficient help of an eldest daughter: I take it the best remedy is a great deal of free, healthy physical exercise, accompanied by a pleased interested state of mind. I would have her today with other children as much as practicable, and ride whenever convenient, and especially learn to jump the rope, which you know exercises the shoulders and expands the chest. I should think if James comes up here with his wool, he might as he has not a large quantity, take in both the children of a Saturday morning early, and carry me back with them (have a cricket in, the wagons) then Lucy or Eliab could come back with me Mond. morn and they would either of them in my opinion do the more work in a week. It seems to me that all of you are too much absorbed with the corroding and contracting rest of anxiety to gain the means of living and do not think enough ever for her pecuniary illness, - of the embellishments and enjoyments of life, since occasional relaxation. How rarely is there anything among you to call forth the pleasurable emotions of gratitude to God in the enjoyment of this passing life, or of kindly feelings of enjoyments in each other, to counteract the many rough, grating, disconsolant feelings that are daily brought into excuse whose effect is, to blunt the finer feeling of the soul, and produce sordid selfishness. A want of interest in, and communication with others around is, it seems to me, a prominent fault in us as a family, and has had it, legitimate effect upon our own interests and circumstances, as well as upon our minds and characters! We are looked upon rather with suspicion than interest by others, and lose how many opportunities of gaining advantages. How differently should I have been situated now, in all business probability had I improved all the opportunities I have slighted of gaining benefits. The bump of caution is too largely developed in all of us from oldest to youngest, we cannot run any risk, or take any step out of the common course, for fear of something, we know not what; I expect Joseph's excellent plan of going up the Arostook and taking a school there will fail him want of courage or from being too late about it: young Carpenter has lately, returned from Dennisfield Washington Co, where he has been teaching nine months at 25 dollars per month; I heard him say that they wanted him again, but he was not going: perhaps if Isaac had courage enough to take the necessary pains he might get such an opportunity, they have a school fund and do not employ female teachers. Had you not better fix Eliab out to commence the term, and let him have one whole quarters schooling at once, which he has never yet had, anywhere, and study Algebra and Surveying. If Joseph could make himself thoroughly acquainted with surveying and go up to Aroostook he might perhaps do well. I have not said anything about this school for I and I suspect there will be two or three applicants here, I wish Charles instead of painting his house, would lay out the money in preparing to go to housekeeping, get two rooms done marry Lucy Hale, or some other clever girl before thanksgiving, and live there this winter all alone with his wife, while he is finishing off the rent, and let the painting go till another year. And now to the business part of my letter which is to propose for the consideration of all of you, a plan which popped into my head a day or two since, and has rested there ever since, Miss Cavenne the famous new teacher, will have six or eight scholars in music: she has a piano, and will board next house to me where she has a room to receive her music scholars separate from the school, or school hours, at $5,00 each ear quarter. Now I could probably take lessons of her at most any hour I should choose, and by paying a trifle more, could practise upon her piano and should be here four weeks without any expense of board then by staying three or four weeks longer, I could take the quarter's lessons (24) practising most all the time when my school was finished, and with an expense not exceeding $.10 could get a quarters instruction which is the common price of tuition only: then if I could procure Mrs. Wilder's instrument from Williamsburgh at a reasonable hire, I could practise and practise all the next long winter: the music would be expensive, if I had it to buy, but I could undoubtedly borrow a music book of Mr. Walker, that would answer every purpose and my Kingsley's choir too, is set to the piano. Now it would have been better for me to have spent two hundred dollars few years ago to learn it, but though I have had several good chances to learn music during that time, I have had none to do it with so little expense, or when I had so much time to practise which is I suppose the greatest part: it is true, beginning so late would be a great disadvantage, but it is frequently &c, Miss Eliis teacher of Bluehill academy older than I am, boarded at Mis. Sylvesters, last summer and took lessons on purpose to teach it, and I suppose if one is a correct player, they can teach without being very accomplished at it, besides with pains and perseverance, I might make considerable proficiency, and I might take a school next winter or the one Lydia Ann is keeping, perhaps and then if we go west I might stop at Lowell a while and perfect myself under Isaac Metcalfs tuition, or of some first rate man in Boston, enough for a name, and then I think that either north, south, east or west, I could find a situation to get my living better than to take any chance at common schools with all the little country girls about here; where the more ignorant and poorer teacher is likely to be prefered. I spend four months of faithful laborious toil, and gains $.24 Miss C. in three months easy, and honourable living received more than twice that sum, I have spent considerable time and expense to get fitted to redo and have laboured faithfully almost seven years, and it seems as if I ought to be able to be something better than a mere "tyrant of childhood!!" If I could in any other way than teaching, gain a comfortable living I would gladly give up 'the struggle on the arena of public life' and according to Isaacs idea settle down in 'quiet,' but I have not any near friend who could afford to give me a living for all I could do for them, to say nothing of laying by for old age.- Now I want you all to take this subject into consideration, and help me determine whether I had best make the effort, the very first step would be to ascertain whether I could obtain an instrument from Williamsburgh, as if I could not the plan of course would fail: Lucy might go to Ellen's and get her to go up to Williabh with her, and engage it, if it is best to do it; Dr Snow's daughters are going to learn, and if their father is not able to purchase a piano she would perhaps try to get Mrs. Wilder's. Now it seems to me that if I could take a quarters, lessons, and have the use of a mans for $.20 it would be worth while to do it; but must be decided soon, as the school begins in the fortnight after this week and before I could make any bargain with Miss Cavenne it would be necessary to know that I could have a piano to practise upon, after I got home, as without that, it would do not good to take the lessons. The more I think of the plan, the more it seems to me worth while to do it, if I can get a piano, and if I do any thing about that must decide the question. What do you say, and what will you do about it?