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Anne. Dec. 6-9. Westfiesld N.Y.

Jonesboro Dec. 23. 1851 Westfield Dec. 6 My dear brother Yours of Nov. 19th I gladly enough received yesterday morning. I had been anxiously expecting to hear from you for some time -- your last previous letter was I think dated more than two months ago, and I began to think you had concluded to return home this fall, was either on the way or gone. My last letter written more than a month since it seems you had not received. It is no doubt for the best that you did not get the situation you mention: it might be too great inducement to a permanent location there which is certainly undesirable if business in a more eligible situation can be had, and no pecuniary advantages can compensate for loss of heart or a shattered constitution. I think you have been fortunate, have no reason to quote the poet's direction though a good one and applicable in one sense or another to all. Your present salary is a handsome income for a young man, your expenses must be trifling and I hope you will be able to add a little to the fund in store for future times. I have kept a week on the new term another academical year. The trustees met after the school commenced and voted to continue the teachers! No definite engagement [top left upside down] Mr. White a Kentuckian is lecturing here upon temptation. A young man here was accidentally or rather in play, shot through the head and killed