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"You shed tears at the thought of Sarah's marriage". How strange! Strange to me! I love my sisters well, dearly, strongly. But no event in their like could make me so happy as their marriage with my full approval. Perhaps you do not estimate marriage as I do. But you will by & by. How glad I am of your arrangements with Josephine. My heart leaped for joy when you told me. She is a sweet, choice, noble spirit, with a heart as strong in love as any one in my acquaintance. Perhaps I know her better than you. Her affections are the most powerful elements of her character. I know of nobody that can love harder than Josephine, or that has a sweeter, purer, & holier soul. Next to Sarah, stands Josephine, in my esteem & admiration of living women. You do not know her worth yet. The loveliest hints of her beauty of soul are unrevealed. I dreamed not of them till I examined her mental constitution. She will not reveal them ever to you, till she does it in the sacred sanctuary of marriage. Mark, my words! You have not yet the charm & blessedness which come from her beauty of soul. It will bear you up in its own elysium of blessedness by & by. But see here! In two terms you will be able to know what your school will be. If you are prepared, may you not then be married with Sarah & I. We will all be married at once, if it may be. Somebody else shall marry Sarah & I, & then I will marry you & Josephine, then we will kneel around one common altar & ask God to bless us according to his gracious goodness. Then what you fancy you will loose from Sarah you will more than make up from Josephine. Think of it. But you will loose nothing from Sarah. You place will not be disturbed in her heart by another; occupying another place. She will love you all the better. I shall send a letter tomorrow to Sarah, which I have partly written, in which I have given her a brief history of my feelings since she left Marietta. If she is willing you may read it. Sarah wrote me a doleful letter about her health. It frightened me almost out of my wits. She now says she is well. I said so much against her going to Marietta chiefly on her account, I thought she would be happier & healthier with me. I believe few prize health as I do. I enjoin it upon you to see that Sarah sleeps well & much