Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/329

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CORRESPONDENCE 321

yds. brown toweling; half pound good black sewing silk; 1 silk and 2 cotton umbrellas; 1 dozen spools of white sew- ing thread; \ l / 2 dozen spools of colored thread; half pound of black linen sewing thread; 15 yds. good black cassimere for men's pantaloons; half ream good letter paper; 1 Ib. alum; 1 good overcoat for me, rather large for yourself; 1 dress shawl, worsted, a good article; 4 pounds of Thomp- sonian composition, 2 ^ and a quart of No. Six. We wish you to study economy in the purchase of these articles, yet we are quite sure that cheap sale articles, for instance shoes and boots, ready-made clothes, etc., are very unprofitable; they fall to pieces so soon, $ale shoes, for instance, in this dry climate often last but a few weeks and sometimes but a few days. The taste of people is fast changing and people are becoming extravagant in dress and we must be able to appear in all circles. You need no further explanations. I received no bill of the goods you sent us last and know noth- ing how your account stands with me. We want you to fill this bill and let us know how we stand. We feel that we cannot get along with anything short of what I have ordered, in our present condition, and, if this more than covers my salary, I must try and raise the funds here some way to meet it. Our necessary expenses and sacrifices to keep the institution in operation must keep us exhausted in means un- less God by His gracious providence opens doors beyond our present knowledge. But we have commenced the work in faith and we trust we shall be sustained. We cannot go back. The work to us appears more and more important every month. We expect the labor of elevating its character will be great and the work will advance slowly and with great expense, but waiting will be disastrous to our reputation as a denomination of Christians in Oregon. We must have help in Oregon for this work !

Not a word from you in this mail, either to Br. Johnson

214 This was a famous remedy of that time.

The formula seems to have been bayberry 2 Ibs., ginger i Ib., cayenne pepper a oz., cloves 2 oz. Horton Howard, An Improved System of Botanic Medicine, Columbus, 1832, p. 370-