to have them with me, if I continue in my present business, which I am by no means attached to. I seem to get along middling well, and hope to return in a short time. Wrote Jeremiah some days since. I shall pay ten cents very cheerfully to hear that you are alive and well, at any time; and should not grudge to pay more for such kind and ever seasonable pointing me to the absolute vanity of this world's treasures, as well as the solemn future which is before me. It affords me great satisfaction to get a letter from you at this period of your life, so handsomely written, so well worded, and so exactly in point, both as to manner and (what is much more) matter. I intend to preserve it carefully.
Your affectionate son,
John Brown.
Springfield, Mass., 1st Nov., 1847.
Dear Father,—After some three or four days' delay on the road, we arrived here safe to-day about noon, and found all here well; but our hard hearts are never thankful as they should be. Always dependent and constantly receiving, we are ungrateful enough to be cast off,—if that were our only fault! Our business, so far as I can judge, has gone along middling well during my absence. Watson is not yet very stout, but is perhaps a little improved since I left. We shall all be anxious to hear from Lucian, and from you all, and how you got home from Austinburg, as soon and as often as we can.
Affectionately yours,
John Brown.
Mr. Hubbard has deeded his swamp form to John Sherman. Has not sold his thirty-acre lot at Munroville, but has offered it for sale to William Hickox and Kelsey.
Affectionately yours,
J. B.
Springfield, Mass., 2d Dec., 1847.
