.MTc1.NDA3MzQ

Mount Washington Jan 7 1869

Dear & much loved Mother

I have, in imagination, seated myself this evening by your side, far away from here in my [unclear] native New England. It has been a long long time since we met, almost one whole year. I am sad this evening I know not why, but I trust that a few hours spent with you my own dear mother will cause me to be myself once [unclear], And yet methinks it may be the harbinger of thoughts akin to those of [unclear] for I [fain] would be able to place you, dear mother, above the reach of want in any shape. I say that I am sad & yet I know not why : have you not Mother on times felt within your heart an aching void a longing after something you knew not whole? If you have you [unclear] appreciate my feelings. As I look abroad into Nature & see all her works acting in obedience to fixed laws, & all of them seemingly sending life one Universal diapason of praise to Nature's Gods I am happy; but as I turn my eyes to the moral world