p.

stimulating me to a greater
desire of knowledge which thee
has taught me to consider as priceless.
Dear Willie, how I wish thee now was
gathering victories in the battlefield of
learning. It is so strange that thee,
who has such a desire for study
should be deprived by thy health. I sup-
pose it is for the best, but don't always
think so. How many times I have
wished I could have given thee some
of my tuff helth. How I wish thee
had the chance I have here, or the
place at Leavenworths, where seems
to me I should have been perfectly
happy, how nice it would have been.
Though I have no great opinion of his
scholars, I know thee would not have
become like them. The pleasantest
times of my life have been spent with
thee. I cannot bear the thought they
may be all over. I have been cross
and hateful a great many times,

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but please believe that was only
the surface of scum and bubbles
and that below it all were the
still, pure waters of strong affection for
thee whose deep current will continue
to flow surely and ceaselessly until
it reaches the sea of eternity, where
I trust that our "rivers of life" will flow
uninterruptedly through the unend-
ing time of Heaven. "I'm blind for
tears", when I think of what a souterner's
bullet or the fever poison may do.
May God protect thee with the strong
shield, [?] which he [guared?] Washington
may his holy presence, his loving
kindness, which is better than life be
around thee, turning away the
rebel's bullet, and the evils of camp
life, whose corruption is worse than
death. I have no fears for thee how-
ever on this subject for I think
thy principles are firm and just-
right and true, stronger yet may they
become.