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meekness of wisdom keeping a conscience void of offence however I feel that in preaching to you I am like the guide post pointing the way but not getting one step forward in it - why is it that we are so lifeless in spiritual things. I mourn over it but it is in such a powerless stupid manner. Tis like being dead. I wish you would write to me of your religious feeling and thoughts (if you have any) and also more of your plans for the future - you certainly have or ought to have some kind of a time mark'd out - it seems as if you were not at home hardly at all or else you have not any communications. I somehow feel as if I did not know but a little about you & get you are commonly a very good boy about writing - it is longer than usual now & I wonder for you should have acknowledged the reception of a letter with money in it immediately but I hope there is one on the way - How are you going to get along about money these dreadful hard times I am afraid you suffer a great many inconveniences for the lack of lucre. Frank seems very kind to Eliab (tho E frets about him, sometimes a little) he sent him a lot of lemons & oranges a letter expressing a good deal of kind concerns for his welfare - I told Eliab when he first come home that I thought kind of Ms Brown that he did not send him home before instead of letting Frank go off to Boston a fortnight and leave him all the work to do when he was sick - but E says he was not to blame and couldn't help it & I don't think E has been well since the market for 4 weeks before he came home he had a very hard cough appetite gone - he came right home next day after Frank returned from Boston - he writes that his Father is gone to Boston now that money is "very hard " indeed is afraid there will be many failures. Joseph is sharing notes I guess if he could get anything to share em with his health was very good when E came away. He does not write any before breakfast but works which will improve his health he did not exercise enough. Again I say be careful of your health tis no small guilt to throw away or lightly esteem, so rich a boon let me know all about yourself your griefs and fears, your joys and sorrows. C has got in 8 loads of hay yesterday and today has mowed five acres, got it all raked and put up hard mowing too he say, because the grass is wasted no help but the little boy bout as big as father Keene

E. rode down to see the Doct. this forenoon  but was rather fatigued when he got back.