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My visit home last Summer was as you say short; it was hardly worth the while, and almost vexations: but I was very anxious to see Joseph. I thought then that I should go again before this time, but have been unable to get away. I do mean to however in the course of the Winter. It is indeed very possible that I may soon be out of business, and have leisure enough. This New Hampshire Central Rail Road Company are at present very much pressed for want of money, almost unable to struggle along anyhow; obliged to curtail very much, and indeed if they do not get help soon, liable to be obliged to suspend operation entirely. If they do not succeed in raising funds to go on farther with the work, I shall of course be out of business before a great while. The news from Maine I suppose you hear more directly than from me. Joseph you know is at Waterford, Water Cure Establishment. Mother was very much afraid the journey either? would hurt him, but I believe it was thought rather to do him good. I suppose they can hardly tell whether the treatment benefits him or not. I do not believe that he will stay there a great while longer. They are getting the East part of the house at Milo finished off in good shape I expect. We mean to have it furnished in good & suitable manner; so as to have it a proper home for our Mother whenever she wants it, or for the benefit of Joseph if he continues lane as he now is. I expect it is pretty well finished by this time. You say that "disappointment & suffering must sooner or later be our lot." I have sometimes almost trembled to think how much I have been blessed and how little I have ever been grateful. I have never met with trials or disappointments, hardly of every kind. All things have ever seemed to work out in my favor. I have never been really sick as others are. I have never seen the death of a human being. The shafts of death have not, hardly even has sickness, seemed to fall