.MTg2.NDI4ODc

                                                                                                                              SM Hobbs
                                                                                             Mt. Washington  Ky
                                                                                             May 5th 1851

Mt. Nathan Kendall

                        Dear Sir
                                                             I believe there is four weeks since you left Our Village, and 'though it is that long yet it seems only a few days so swiftly does time wheel its course along; one month how short it seems yet it is 1/12th part of year--one part out of 360 which make up the average period of human existence on this sublunary sphere. It is calculated to make one feel melancholy and sad, when he reflects how speedily time is passing by him particularly when it is not improved as should be, and I feel the more so to day, in consequence of having just returned from Charley Hall's whose sands of life are fast running out -- a few more hours and his existence as a human being will have ceased - a few months since and his life was as gay and buoyant as ours, how truly is that saying the wise man Verified "man at his best estate is vanity"
  This is Sunday, and just now thy and my organs are Saluted by the tomes of the Catholic church bell, tolling the elect up to have their sins  forgiven, to be ? up in the most holy faith & to