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July 23rd Have just received your letter that I have been waiting for so long but you do not acknowledge the reception of any money which you ought to have done if you received it. C Has been told by several that the grey colt with fetch 150 dollars quick if he can trot a mile in 31/2 & C trotted him a mile in 4 minutes the first time he ever tried to make him go fast as he possibly could - he has offer'd him for 75 days, if he don't have a chance to sell him for that I don't know but he'll take less if he can get cash. Mr Sam'll Davis said he would bet 50$ that he could be train'd to it in a fortnight so that he would trot 2 1/2 mile in 3 1/2- C is very anxious to sell him for he wants the avails but he cannot you know till somebody will buy and money is very scarce. You will soon need a new suits of clothes & and I don't know what you will do all I can do is to wish you had a lot of money - but perhaps it is all best as it is if you had it you would probably be to fond of spending it - I am afraid that your "taste" would soon become so refined & cultivated and enlarg'd that you would be quite disapated. I covet for you the character of a humble Christian and should very much deprecate that of a "high fellow" besides you could in no wise carry it out if you should attempt it you would at once "be off the track" - O how I want you my son to be a MAN but in order to it you must act from a sense of duty not from inclination or love of appearance - Tell me Isaac do you seek the approbation of God and your own conscience, as you used to? Or have you grown more loose in sentiment and careless in your behaviour. I want you should answer this letter not because it is worth an answer but because it will gratify your mother.

25th I had written this letter so far  thinking to send it on today but Lucy came home very unexpectedly last night & said she has written to you again & at first I concluded not to send this, for it is out of date & not very interesting  but I am, so lazy it must be some time before I should get another written, besides that I have something to do with E. sick & L gone - J.W. F happened to be down to La Grange on business & bought Lucy home  will go back Monday - Eliab is better he thinks he shall go back in a week or two but I predict that if he does he will be sick again -

You say you are not ambitious perhaps your not but I am satisfied you have had your mind a great deal too much taken up about yourself and your foolish societies. No person can appear so lovely and amicable or be as useful when their thoughts are employed in any way about themselves as when they are endeavouring to glorify God or seeking the happiness & well being of their fellow creatures. Beware of flatterers and not take on much soft soap lest it should make your then smart bye & bye - will not the best friend you have there flatter and deceive too. I'm to lazy to write any more - you must you not expect letters from me I can think what I want to say to you but I am such a poor hand to express or write it. Lucy must do the writing but I shall not be willing to abate one iota of yours to me on the contrary if I can't write you must write the more to me - another thing by the way you have pen and ink I don’t half the time that’s fit to use don’t have a fair chance.