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             [DUPLICATE OF EARLIER LETTER]                                                                                         Milo Dec. 22nd 1835
My Dear Son, I have suffer'd considerable anxiety about you because of the extreme cold last week- was not you very cold before you got there how do you like your place and employment? Did you call on Mr. P. what did you say to him and what did he tell you. You will of course try to be a good boy & do your duty in every respect toward Mrs. Parker and her family endeavor to be cheerful and pleasant constantly - I advise you to make a confidant of Mrs. Parker  I know or think I know that she is a kind hearted Christian woman therefore tell her your feelings and troubles if you any and write to me all you feel and think - be earnest and engaged in trying to benefit yourself -now is your time for improvement. I charge you my Dear boy not to neglect reading the Bible and prayer consider that your Safeguard your talisman I want you should attend the sabbath school constantly  and endeavor to get your lessons and understand them well and pay good attention and try to profit by the sermons you hear. Remember you are hearing and learning in action for Eternity and not think to much about what your fellow creatures will think of you - probably very few will notice you at all  and tis of very little consequence what those few think of you compared with the approbation of God and of your own conscience
  You know and believe that "one thing is needful,, be often at the throne of Grace God is equally accessable to the humble praying Soul from every place and though we are seperated for a time may our prayers often assend together to that God whose ear is always open to the petitions of the humble penetent - let your first thought in the morning be towards God in praise and prayer for direction and Guidance through the day. 27th I expected a letter from you last week. I hope you have one all ready to send by Mr. Forrest Turner who will carry this - if you have not done it I want you should get your patern for a jacket and send it by him. I shall try to have him call at Mrs. Parkers as he goes in tomorrow and as he returns the next day. I shall send you 2 pr Stockings, you Grammar & if you should want any other book that we have here write & I'll send them Have you bought any Books? what do you study? how do you get along? but in the first place what school do you go to? your Masters name? No. of scholars etc? Do you have any time to study evenings? Furnish yourself with books but be as economical about it as you can with propriety perhaps you can very consistently borrow some you can ask Mrs. Parker (or Mr. Pomeroy) and suffer yourself to be retarded in your studies for wont of books Do be diligent and try to be expeditious in all you do and you'll get the more time for study

write write write particularly from your affectionate mother keep a journal A. M. Metcalf