.MTIzNA.OTc3MDE

                                                                                                                                        Feb. 1 1846

My Dear Son we had a bundle and letters from you Saturday Thank you for the letter especially the one to Joseph what he needs hope it will do him good - have been hoping you could spend a week at home after your school closes, but perhaps it is not best I very much approve of your plan about coming home. C. would go down after you if we had a good horse and sleigh possibly he may hire one if you think it best Could'nt you coax somebody there to offer you one or if you could leave thursday noon you could come with Cutts. I want you should come next week which will be about the middle of Feb. because if you put it off till the next week I am afraid something will happen to prevent. I hope you'll have a better visit than before but perhaps it is not best to expect it, & what if we dont ever have things just as we could wish 'tis but for a short time and if we could always feel that this state of existence is only a little space allotted us to prepare to live and be willing to wait for all our glory honour happiness and rest till we pass these narrow bounds wouldn't it be better for us - you'll say that my practice dont agree to it but I believe I dont in reality feel so much vex'd at vexatious things as I appear to. I haven't any cloth but we must get some and you must have at least 2 pr of shirts made up to carry with you. Thursday 6th I wanted to send this to you yesterday but I couldn't & dont know when I can have a chance I heard that Mr. Dolen is going down to his son sometime soon perhaps I can send the bundle by him but the time is short only three weeks after this & the weeks are dreadful short nowadays. I'm so afraid you'll miss of comeing home and that we shall not get your things ready i.e. do what little we can to them. if you dont find out some other opportunity wouldn't it be best for you to dismiss your school thursday noon & make up one day of the time next saturday & the saturday after your term & if you close the school one day short of the time they wont come perhaps- if you have anything to make or any work you want done fetch it along. Eliab had kept 6 weeks all the money out & they hir'd him a fortnight long, as which will be out this week & they have spoken to him to keep the Hobbs school to begin 17th this month