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and crowd out the fresh happy feelings of boyhood's days, nor has Eliab, but how is it with you now? I fear you are fast becoming the man of business merely. I often think of the happy times we have had, how much we have enjoyed in each other as a family, and the thought comes that perhaps these times will never return, yes I believe it is possible to retain in the heart' the dew of youth' and not suffer it to become sour, withered and callous with cautious care. There is much of emptiness in the fashion and [gamiture?] of society, in the hollow heartedness of friends and acquaintance, but family affection when duly cherished is the sweet drop in the bitter waters of life, and becomes the fountain of happiness supplying all its streams. I feel rather sad for my thoughts have dwelt all day upon former scenes; A year ago this day I went early in the morning to Lucy's quiet home at Hampden where I enjoyed the day with her, Charles Samuel, I and E. coming to dinner going back to celebration at Bangor, again all there at tea after which we took a ride down through lower village. two years ago, Joseph, Eliab, Lucy and I (she was assisting me in school then) went up to Milo in a carriage by ourselves two days before the fourth, I picked strawberries took a delightful sail with Eliab alone up the river, had a ride up the new road with Charles and Mother then I. E. and I rode back to Bangor arriving just after sunset while the fire rockets were going up into the clear sky; now I am 'way off surrounded by strangers who care not for me have been in my chamber most of the day sewing and writing; this has been quite an exciting day here for they have had a famous celebration nations public dinner, on a smooth green public square skirted by large old oak trees near the bank of the lake a beautiful spot and a great crowd, I went out a short time but became weary of it.