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Bangor Jan. 3d 1846 Dear Brother I wish you a happy new year.- I have begun a letter to you, two or three times and thought I would begin one a great many more times, but still your last kind letter remains unanswered. I will not take up time and spare in telling the seasons of my neglect but redeem my past negligence as well as I can, by writing all I can think of that will interest you. Joseph's health is pretty good now, but it would be better if he would come down from his elevation, occasionally, and find amusement, though it were in triffles: there is too much sameness in his life he has too little variety, nothing to give versatility enough, to his subjects of thought, and pursuits, to render his mind buoyant:- he very seldom hears a lecture in the evening, and has not made a social call or visit since he has been here: he went to Uncle Natty's one evening to bargain with him about the land for my (i.e.) his schoolhouse, but that is the most like a social call that he has done: I mean to make him if possible go with me and spend an evening at Mrs. Brown's soon, I have bought some Battledones almost on purpose to have him exercise in playing it with me, but he seldom does: he is however liked by his roommate Mr. Weld, and by the way: they say of him, 'where he does give a joke, it is worth something' and, 'though he do'nt say much, when he does speak it is something worth hearing:' I take some credit to myself for his being liked, for without me to help him along, he would not be understood;- I do'nt think he was at all at Browns.- He has built me a schoolhouse since last Nov. all completed and paid for. I have been keeping in it, about a week have 35 scholars: 5 of them at $3,00 per quar., the rest at $2,00: Joseph agreed with the men to wait for part of pay till next summer, but they (the joiners) were in want of money, and made a discount to have the pay now and he has been able to do it, by taking up wages in advance, and by means of a note against Brown he received past payment from Charles. The schoolhouse