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A. Dunbarton July 8

                                                                                                                                                    Dunbarton  July 8, 1850.

My dear friend

                    Had you been here this morning you would have found me busy about the usual employment of Monday - rub-rub-rubbing. My mother had been so unwell, for three or four weeks, that we have endeavored to finish the washing, for the week, before I go away to school - so that my Monday mornings are no leisure season for me.   - but washing is complete now, and a little corner of time is left, before I must go to my week's duties which I improve in writing.  Your good letter. was received with much pleasure, last Saturday. I had been looking for it a little longer than usual, and it was the more welcome. Very happy to learn that your brother is no worse and that your sister had so far recovered her health.
       I wish I could tell you that my dear mother's health was good but this is far from being the case. I have very little

Milo, July 1850 [left-hand side and top] "fairest in the youngest" "and yields the sweetest fruit". Is little Lizzie included in the two of your sister's children you mention? I have a class of six little boys in the Sabbath school. O, how much a teacher ought to do to lead the young and tender mind to Christ. He is just the friend they need to keep them from this wicked world. And my own dear brothers are growing up and going forth into the world, to meet its thousand snares, without- this Friend. I must tell you one thing about my rosebush. Every bud with one exception unfolded on the Sabbath. Is that not a little singular? We think it teaches us a very sweet lesson. I think you must be very happy with your brother notwithstanding you must be indoors so constantly. I should like to see a copy of that "Cedar Grove Botany" when it appears. My scholars are very much interested, at present, in the language of flowers. This furnishes a very pleasant theme for conversation in the morning before school, and I hope it is somewhat profitable also. Father and Mother send love to you. Father says it is probably you have recieved a letter from Esq. Steele in this. He told Father some days since, he intended to write. But I must stop. Yours very truly, Antoinette.