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Hudson, Oct. 24, '55 Brother Robert:

Your letter was received Thursday P.M. It was a very welcome and I must confess a somewhat unexpected visitor, for it seemed scarcely possible that you could or would undertake so great a feat as writing a letter for me. My eyes deceive me, thought I, while regarding the envelop, or Robert has just directed one of Mary's letters. But no, as I open, his well known hand assures me that it is indeed his letter and a good long one too. thank you, my brother, for this token of your affection. May it be the opening of a new era, the beginning of the time when you shall be noted for letter writing as you are now for non-letter writing. You have long enough practiced "self denial" it is time to act, "life is real, life is earnest." we must do not suffer simply.

in margin: I would like to know if I owed you anything. I have now seventeen dollars in my portmonie and nothing that I need to get just at present. So you see I am in no want. In this I send two dollars, one for Mary and the other for letter stamps. I cannot get them here for bills and it is very difficult to get change. I did not tell you what to get for John because I did not know what you would have.

   I have not sighed many times for the good times at the Academy, but I have for those spent with you. Saturdays and Sundays I am just foolish enough to be homesick. Strange isn't it? —
  Has Mary received my letter in answer to hers? When next you write tell me all the news you can.
  Jennie