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hardihood, he would never have possessed without it, or something of it. but - it has become a habit, too great a Change is injurious. I am sorry that he feels so as he does about Society &c. He has been unfortunate, very unfortunate, more so even than I have in his 'bringing up' in that respect. I have had some opportunity to see and feel & to suffer from the loss, to try, in some measure, to retrieve it. Joseph must feel it deeply, but I suppose he sees no way to help himself, & has no courage to try. I have seen a good many folks in several different places in some years past, & had considerable opportunity to see how young people 'come up', or 'are coming up' in different circumstances, brought up with so little intercourse with others, then young people, as we, especially I mean, Joseph & myself. It is a great misfortune, I feel it so. I do not know as we are so much to blame for it, or 'circumstances' My own speculations would make me think that in my case it was some defect of natural disposition, in Joseph's education, As for Eliab, I guess his physical & temporal interests are doing well, but I am a little concerned about himself, his own mind & heart. I hardly know what B.F. Brown is. I fear his influence is not the best. I do not know. I have not so great confidence in Eliab's firmness, and self preserving power of Character as Joseph's. He is young. Temptations abound, insidious ones too, unknown, unexpected one. From his very Character, he would meet his temptations to Joseph's one, without this power of resisting them either. I feel as if I knew nothing at all of his state - hearing from or of him so rarely.

Written upside down across the top: at least a dozen school masters went to school to me last fall, school marms in number the best & most popular teachers they have about there. and the highest wages any.