.MTIzNQ.OTc3NDY

                                                                                                       August 8

My Dear son I received your letter of the 5 July. I wish you would write again soon, & be more explicit you said just enough about College Government to excite my curiosity and fill me with intense anxiety - I don't know how to account exactly if you are a very poor scholar for thought you have had to be absent a good deal you can certainly learn easy. If you are a very poor scholar I must take a low rank you are not the first or only one that has been so & many that there been to have by diligence & perseverance done well at last. I say if you use double your diligence it redeem the time - If you are not: and really have had injustice - Do the same or make it appear if you can & if best pick up your duds here 2 or 300, & go off to Amherst or Yale and finish your college course there- I really think it would be better for you if you could get away from those rotten societies.

Could you if you wanted to get such certificates of character and scholarship that you could get admitted at Amherst or Yale? I suppose you could not but I know nothing about it do not they require more larnin at Yale - But the fact is I guess your constitution or temperament as whatever you call it is such that you cannot perform what you can easily do more than 1/4 as well if you do not feel the consciousness that you shall excel or be applauded-I would try to get rid of that defect (perhaps it may be call'd)- and feel at all times - "I am so" What if you are an insignificant fellow, even you have a right to be it is nobodys business - However I would try not to be. But! as you have not inform'd me very particularly have I not reason to fear from your "Doubt about their ever getting you on their stage in ‘47 your coming away before examination etc etc that you are in some way delinquent tell me right soon are you Lazy, Dull, Stupid, Boorish