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Mother Oct. 1847 Nov. 5th / 47 Northfield

    My Dear Son I need not attempt to lett you how glad we were & how much happiness it gave us to receive 16 pages of very very interesting letter thank you thank you my son - my heart is full of love of hopes & fears & anxieties for my children especially for you who are away there - you complain that we do not write as much as you. We ought and will endeavor to write as often but we have not as much to write as for news we have none that is worth writing Lucy'll write it if there is, & I am so awkward and uncouth in my way of expressing what I feel or anything else that I might as well not try. Chas got his plowing most all done his crops all in has got his manure out it has been so wet it has rain'd a great deal of the time for 4 or 5 weeks past.
   A Mr. Hale lectur'd at the Village on Palestine and Scripture History last evening was well lik'd - Do you not feel the want of Literary and religious Society or do you have it. The us'd key is bright - so religion is a jewel that to be enjoy'd must be carefully watch'd and kept bright - it may and can be enjoy'd in silence and secresy but in your circumstances is it not a treasure that cannot consistently be kept hid. I have an Idea tho' I cant express it exactly that there is a family or hereditary fault belonging to the Stevens's ( Brother Joseph has considerably got the better of it tho' by hard trying) of Standing back, giving way to much to others, shrinking from duty or whatever you call it, I cant tell you what, you can think it out & apply it to yourself and let your good get the better of it, & learn yourself to ? it & command where it is your proper province to do so. "Those that are willing to they should have it." Try to think that you can do as well as others. you'll say why did'nt you learn me that when I was young? you will find the answer in part at least in the Idea I have just try'd to express and could'nt make out -- you are fortunate I do think in getting into business & I rejoice in your prospects - very likely I have been often inconsistent but it is natural for mothers to worry but they dont know always "which way to worry."