p.

in an unfashionable part of the city,
+ I was assured all his expenditures for living were in
keeping with his residence, while he is a man of
wealth + owns several fine houses + by birth +
education might rank with the aristocracy
of Boston. All this, with all the worldly distinc
tion and greatness, which, by reason of his surpassing
eloquence + talnt only awaits his taking, he
lays upon the altar of Humanity, dedicating
all he has + all he is to the cause of the [perishing?].
I know not another instance of such entire
[consideration?].

I notice with minged emotions of pleasure +
pain, of hope + fear thy account of the several mem
bers of thy dear family. I trust thou my [?]
finds comfort in the reflection that they are all in
the hands of one able to shelter + protect then + that
however thou may differ from some of them in judgment
as to their pursuits, yet they are all conscientiously
+ faithfully following their own convictions of
duty, + hence their reward will be sure + will be
[peace?]. I do not know how much longer our
dear [Rob?] will be restrained from joining the army
Nothing keeps him back now but my great unwilling
ness to let him go + if he should be drafted I suppose
nothing will induce him to offer an excuse + yet
he could very probably be excused for unsoundness. I
say to him + all others - I do not regard it the duty of
any man of our young men from the North to sacri
fice their lives in Southern swamps in carrying on this
semblance of a war, when there are enough there on the
ground ready + anxious + only wait for the word to put

[page break]

[Upside down at top of page]
I knew it would be very
lonely here, but I did not realise the feeling in its bitterness
until it was experienced
We may truly say none can fully sympathise with us but
those who have had a similar [loss?]. I found things more
comfortable as to living than I expected + the dear boys are as
kind as I can wish.

[Right side up]

Ferrisburgh 8th [M.?] 10th 1862

Dear Cousin Rachel

Thy letter of 7 [M.?]
was handed me on my reaching home after
a much longer absence than I contemplated
but my visits were all made so agreeable
by the cordial welcome which every
where greeted me (unless there is a greater
amount of well-played [deceit?] in the wicked
world than I am willing to believe) that the
time passed way almost imperceptibly
so that I did not [reach?] the poor old lonely
home till the 27th of last month.

My last to thee was from [Waterloo?], I think, I
do not recall much of its contents but suppose
I gave thee some account of matters + things
there - how the family was getting along + how
greatly Sister Ann was improved in health +
strength. I had never seen her so strong + healthy
since she first came into our family. I left
[Waleston?] the 3rd of [?]. Sister going with me as

[Written sudeways over the rest]

Please to tell us what proportion of
black wool to use for stockings [for?]
the boys [and?] send love if they [been?]
[here?] Mine is to them + all
Thy affectionate Cousin
[Ro? T Robinson?}