You ought to have gone to the Dentist sooner Lucy. I think I have told you so before. It costs more and is less efficacious beside after the teeth have become so much decayed. I had mine filled three or four holes, two or three years since by a Dentist of Reputation in Brattleboro for $.50 per cavity. So I should think you paid a pretty good price.
Another thing now I think of it, I want to give you a lecture upon the Subject of health, as I have lately to Eliab. There is perhaps no need of enlarging upon the excellence of the blessing, or the importance of preserving it generally; still you & Eliab do need warnings. With you as well as with Joseph there is a great fundamental defect of character : the great primary preservation principle of Laziness. is almost entirely wanting. With Josepha hundred thousand dollars would not be a fair equivalent for the injury that defect has caused him. We cannot tell the extent of the injury already caused to Eliab; perhaps twenty years of life. You all started in life with a wrong principle, a wicked sinful principle: viz. that your own personal ease comfort & convenience, were of no sort of importance or at least secondary: instead of being as in truth the great principal all important thing. "Self preservation is the first law of Nature." A benevolent God has implanted most minds sufficient Laziness & selfishness to secure this. In some few cases, either as a furnishment for sins of some preceding generations or to give opportunity of trial for a new triumph of Right reason over difficulties, He has withheld the Boon. It is your imperative moral duty to consider yourself of more value than many sparrows; your own ease comfort & feelings more importance than any else whatever. } I guess I will omit the remainder of this occasion until some future opportunity.
Mother ordains that you come up here again as soon as possible.
How long I remain is uncertain; am liable to go about every other day. Think some of going Down East. St. Andrews & Quebec R.R. Expect to hear from there very Soon. Did Mother write that I am lazy? I have cleansed the Augean Stables, and performed various other wonders upon the Old Book Case & Newspaper Shelves; have burned up with fire, and sold for paper rags 100 cords old worthless books and papers; and should like to do the same by double quantity of old clothes etc. If I find some opportunity when Mother was out of the house. There no telling how I find the Way through 'em to get up stairs to bed a nights.