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Northfield. Jan. 12th. 1848. Dear Brother Your last letter was received I believe on New Years Eve. It contained a request that I would answer it about Jan 1st. so as to renew the system. I would gladly have done so, but as I had written you twice within a shortly, I thought it best to wait at least until I obtained some thing to enclose to render it worth the Postage. Said something has been expected daily ever since. it has not yet arrived. Soon afterwards I will endeavor to dispatch this now begun upon sheet. Simultaneous with the reception of yours was that of one from Nancy, inviting me to present myself at her Wedding which is to take place tomorrow Eve. That I cannot so do is at present a considerable source of mourning to me. I am much obliged to you for the unusual amount of fact on the first page of your letter, namely the incident of your late journey. How does your frozen ear trouble you? How many weeks did it take you to - Outside Creditors are all except a few 'friends perhaps,' specially secured. Whatever the other effects of the Lyceum difficulties may be, it has probably benefitted Dr. Pomroy. I do not mean his reputation, for I know nothing of the effect there upon; but it was a good thing to stir him up. Your quotation from Festus just now strikes me. I should not say "sorrow is the base of all great thoughts. but sorrow is the spur inciting the thought of the Enlarged Mind. L. F. Pomroy D.D. is a large man but for years the even easy tenor of his life has lacked the spur which trouble, vexation, corners, embarrasments - sorrow would give. Your remarks upon correspondence are excellent. I have not just now thought enough about me to frame an excuse for my deficiencies. It is very natural, for one constantly occupied with with thoughts of very different things, when trying to write letters, the mind feeling that should be only a change, as an unbending, or relaxation, to write many words and few thoughts.