.MTIzNA.OTc3MDI

                                                                                                                         Thurs. 6th Jan'y

Dear Brother - It was so stormy that I have staid at home yesterday & today. I have been twisting stocking yarn etc. & my hand trembles so I can hardly write. We have had a great deal of stormy but very little cold weather this winter; though the Mercury was 31 below Zero last Tuesday morn. I walk from home in pleasant weather & good walking, - otherwise I stop at Mr. Lee's. Our Scholars do wonders for beginning, at writing Themes, and very well at Declamations. May Furber & Some of the good people are thinking of a plan whereby to keep up an interest in the Temperance Cause, and make the meetings interesting, - Viz. to have certain persons who are so disposed, write pieces to be read in the meetings - some after the similitude of our Foxcroft Philomathian Society. Don't you think it is a good plan. I wish you could be here to read them sometimes. We have no very good readers.

   We had a real feast the other night - three good long letters from you, & one from Ann, which she sent by Mrs. Dennett. Your advice to Joseph is just what he needs, if he would only think so, and perhaps it may do him some good, though he would not, of course, acknowledge it, you know. I forewarn you that you may expect something pretty severe from him, ere long.
           He maintains that is is a great injury to a girl to go into society & "learn how to behave" as tis called. If he was looking for a wife, he would prefer one who was entirely unsophisticated as he says. He says he knows of no one who has been into company as much as I have, that has recieved so little injury from it as I; but that I have been so contaminated that I am not worth half so much as I should otherwise be. He has been somewhat disgusted this winter with the excessivly "ladyfied" airs of Rebecca Keen & Abby Hill, I conjecture. He prefers Angella