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vehemently set forth, after having oddly enough for the time an occasion, read all the prayers for sabbath worship - a quotation from "Thanatopsis,' all that was worth hearing, a few common phrases, unconnected, without point or appropriateness, those sturdy men went away, turning into ridicule what was said, with scarcely a salutary impression on the mind. Eve went to Festival of S.U.T. with Mr. Hopkins, saw a crowded motley mass of coarse looking men and women, - young girls arrayed in ballroom style: - walked around a few moments and came away; after we left a regular ball commenced, which continued most all night. This is rather a long extract I believe, fear you will think it is tedious by the time you have read it. We have had a real New Eng.winter so far, - fine sleighing and clear cold weather for the last six weeks; thermometer is about 0, to 10 or 11 below. A gentleman was in last evening, who has been journeying west 200 miles to Mississippi to Cassville, he said the river there is two miles wide, was frozen over, so hard that heavy teams were passing and going on the ice 200 miles to the Peters'. He described the capital, Madison, as a flourishing place situated on high ground between two lakes in view of both: 1500 inhabitants; - he visited the mining district. - Potosi is a place of 2000 inhab. but of the character too often found in mining population, no church - no minister - no meetings but that of bowling alleys and billiard rooms - stores open on the sabbath - business only interrupted by amusement.

   Sat. Jan 28th. Mond eve I brought down my portfolio seated myself by the stand to write this letter, just as I was commencing the bell rang two gentlemen came in, spent the evening - the next eve I wrote the above though with such a poor light that it gave the headaches - they burn candles and they happen to be poor, - the next eve was prayer meeting, Thurs. eve attended a large party. Frid. eve there was company here, 

Do write me a good long letter soon and make no apology for writing of yourself for it is the very subject that I want to hear about.