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I am astonished at myself and ashamed my dear brother, that it is the fourth of July and your letter dates last of Apr. not answered yet. Shall I begin with an apology for so long delay - I fear you will accept none as good that I can give - I think I had better promise to do better in future. ask you to excuse me and generously answer this immediately for it is a long time since I have heard from you, my delay is the greatest loss to myself, for a letter from any of you is a treasure to me. I have recently written to Mother Joseph, [Eliab, Lucy and Lizzie Doe which with some needful plying of the needle has occupied my time out of school of later. We have closed a term since I wrote and got well along through another - had examinations three successive afternoons - many visitors - two notices were put in the papers, one by a lawyer who was formerly from Belfast Me. Wish you could have seen my class in Calisthenics perform some 15 or 16 figures as complicated as dancing though unlike, being not so rapid movements and exercises with the arms as well as feet, designed to promote health & develope gracefully the whole figure: - I had last term four classes each of sixteen - they keep step to music singing themselves; it requires much pains and labour to train them to do it well and keep time. This term I have quite a large class of beginners in Drawing for whom I am obliged to prepare patterns in part there being no good ones to be obtained here. I congratulate you on your good fortune in obtaining so good a station: Providence has favored you remarkably: be thankful and do good. I fully appreciate your disappointment in your