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                                                                                   Sep 18 1858

Dear Brother Joseph

 I wrote you quite a letter the other day I guess in advance; though I do not know as there was really any thing worth awhile in it: And I do not know as I have any thing particular to write now: bit then I want to write to some of them and you seem to be the general convenient medium. Moreover I guess possibly there may be some things in that other letter which you better answer sometime, & so if I write this after receiving yours there will be no excuse. I have just been writing a long strong of twaddle to Lucy on another sheet, about my late important sickness; which if you are curious in such matters, you can learn the particulars of from her, or read it yourself.

The Exordium of your letter is much to be admired. As for your grating & grinding, regrating & regrinding your teeth, it is by no means to be commended: it is a bad practice: it injures the enamel. Dont you do any such thing. Especially do not do it on my account, I never find any occasion to do it myself; and yet my teeth are rotting somewhat. What "troubles, vexations, miseries" did you refer to? any you have been called to experience? Let me condole with you: though in fact I have very little faith in such things as long as a Benignant Providence is pleased to spare us those near relatives in this World, whose loss would indeed be trouble & affliction, though perhaps even that ought not to be misery.

 "Will there be Wealth in another World?" Yes indeed, vast amounts of the highest & purest Wealths of Earth, these become still higher and purer. the Wealth of Mind, the mighty treasures of Science, the untold riches of Affection; and of a good conscience. How all these & such like will be there enlarged magnified, and made excellent, with that greatest of all treasures, pearl of untold price