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in his school, - young men with whom he had been acquainted for years, & whom he valued as his friends, were circulated he thought it would be treating them unjustly to pass it all by etc. He had no notion of letting the matter drop so easily. Mr. C. knew not what to say, but seemed very certain that 'twas best to let such idle tales die a "natural death". Joseph talked well to them, & aid such things that if Cook, Holman etc. had not been friendly before, that would have made them so. He told them that Cook was there & could speak for himself. They questioned him & he said" he knew of nothing out of which such a story could be manufactured" etc.etc. They both found themselves mistaken & were evidently abashed, - both labored hard with many words to convince J. that they had the most friendly intentions towards him. Chad. in his remarks to the scholars said he was & had ever been friendly to him & to his family. Said he, "we respect him, we love him"- we are well satisfied that he is fully competent to instruct you in everything you wish to learn" Macomber said he should be willing to affirm under oath that he was amply qualified etc. etc. Told the scholars he understood that Mr. Metcalf thought him an enemy, but that it was a base slander, whoever had told him so etc.etc. Oh, they did talk silly. The "self convicted felon dies" you know. Well, you see Billington told Charles that very day that Macomber, before he went away, after J. had engaged the school, had been round prejudicing the neighbors against Jo. & trying to make trouble. George Stineford said that if the Committee did not turn him out he & others would put him out. Philbrooks was outrageous because he was not turned out, - but I do not apprehend the least trouble. Joseph is a match for any of them, & they will find him so.
But Chadbourn brought himself out at last finely - after he had finished his long & tedious, palavering speech to the school he turned to Joseph and said, "from the manner in which you confronted me; when I first came in, I conclude you suppose I am? unfriendly" etc. etc. ( a long pomade) He then went on to apologize for? his lack of words, wherewith to answer, when thus assailed! Said it? was often the case, in matters of business, when he had a great many cares on his mind, (as at present with his school) that he could not collect his thoughts, immediately, enough to answer a question, when put to him, but it had just now come to his mind who it was that told him. Well you see the droll of it was, that not two hours before, he had told Charles of two or three who had been to him with complaints, but he dared not, just in those circumstances bring up for authority the names of a few unruly boys, who had threatened to turn the master out, before school begun, - But what a long story I have made; I am afraid I might have written something more interesting, though I believe you want to hear all about this. I did really intend to write a very serious sort of a moralizing letter this time, but I have filled it up with trash, as usual before I was aware of it. In my next I shall endeavor to moralize a little more. Our temperance Society, we ladies have named it the "Phenix Temperance board -how you like it? Almeida gets along comfortably. They are all well. Judging from all accounts, Eliab gets along swimmingly- He has tact, you know. Joseph has got the scholars to writing themes; & intends to have them disclaim some. Your stationery was very acceptable to us all. Charles says he will pay you next time he goes down. Your copies are very well done. I did'nt know you could write so well. I have only this evening to write, & am sleepy & eyes sick, or I would write to Ann. If you have a chance you must let her read this. When you write next time, fill your sheet all over as thick as this page, will you? Let it be better worth writing, however - good night affec'y Lucy.