.MTcy.NDAyMDE

but as it is, it is necessary for us to use much judgement & caution in selecting our homes. Mr. Osgood & Mary ought to take into account Mr. Osgood's professional abilities, habits & tastes & turn them to the best possible account without any injury to his health. Health is & ought to be the first consideration. I hope it will be so that we can have our homes near each other. So far as you & I are concerned, it would be for our pecuniary interest to live in Kankakee till we could dispose of this farm & our lots in K. But the next question is would it be for our health. If we go south it will cost so much to look after our property here & I shall have to be away from home so much that I do not relish the idea & yet I am willing to do any way to make your health better & to contribute to your happiness. I would much rather die myself than to have you die, as you could keep the children together better than I can. I am anxious to live for your & the children's sake but it does not seem to me that there is any thing else worth living for that is within my reach. My health cuts me off from all active exertion in the literary or religious world. I wish I could be better & you could be well. If Western North Carolina will make us well it will pay us to go there even if it takes all we have to situate ourselves there. In your good letter of sympathy you said that we both know very well that had we taken our choice we should not have neglected our dear little Artie for the sake of saving this property here. No dear wife, had I neglected Artie & you I am almost sure I should have lost you both & I am thankful, very thankful to our Good Father that he has spared both of you to me. When I left you to come out here I thought this corn would bring us in from 1200 to 1500 dollars. Had I been out here in June it would have done so at the crib: but you know I was very unwell then & perhaps had I come out here then in the dust & lived as I have to now it probably would have cost me my life & is not my life worth