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July 2nd
My Dear Son I thank you for your good letters to myself & Ann-your letters generally have to much of incoherency & appearance of hurry about them whether it is for the want of time or to show that you are a "business man" I don't know but I think tis usually best to give yourself time enough to do whatever is worth doing at all - however I am very glad of anything from either of you. Eliab has hardly written a word except what pertain'd to business & was absolutely necessary since he went there perhaps he don't have time but it seems to me he ought to - I am afraid you work a little to hard or take to little rest and allow yourself to get nervous - take care and keep yourself cool calm & steady - you are too sensitive and finespun to get along well in the crowd and stand your ground among all the bustle & rebuffs that are unavoidable in a business life but you must try to toughen your feelings and train yourself to it or stretch your feeling give way and let other people do as they please without being disturbed by it what if you are among subject to the "beck and bidding" of such as you discribe try to be humble and faithful act the part of christian and you will find in almost everyone something that is amiable and lovely you to much reasonable the misanthrope try to think much of your own fault but be very charitable to the faults of others you are fond of order and method and is in well to be so but do not let it carry you so far as to be fidgety by the want of it in others you will accomplish more business and do it better if you allow yourself sufficient rest and relaxation than if you keep yourself in a fever all the time with every nerve strained - if you've got a good place don't get unease with it the initiating or probationary state is in any case a state of trial & the greater the trial the more find and fit for use the subject of it will be and if you are really gaining what will be very useful to you in after life I would not grudge the time if you get but small wages a year or even 2 or 3 soon pass away but I stop this strain of advise lest your patience should quite exhausted but one thing I want you should that is an errand to Mr Brown I was going to write to him, but can't well spare time it is to ask him to spare Eliab a few day and let him come home with Charles, tell him I do want to see my baby very much indeed he never has been gone so long from me you know before, besides I think he absolutely needs to have a few days or his health will suffer by it - it would be very bad for him to be sick there & if he should come home and the fresh air and relaxation might prevent it Mary says tell him to come do I want to see him you cant think how she does enjoy herself flying about like a squirrel among the cows & calico pigs & chickens: Strawberries etc. riding on Cate & Donkey she has inform'd herself more now about all the matters & things on a farm, than Ann would in a year she lives upon strawberries & milk has grown fat and smart - I expected C. would go last thursday but it rain'd so that he could not go tell E that it will be just in good time for strawberries next week and do try to have him come.
written across letter I meant to inquire about price of wooll but haven't had time Will if I can I express in figures on back or face of letter