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W. H. B.s'; Brooklyn May 1st 1859.

Dear Father,

According to the advice given in thy very
acceptable letter of the 24th Apr. I have set myself
down here, while Ward and family are gone to
church, to "tell of my state of health and of mind,
what my occupation has been the past week", but
not "what it is to be the next," for that I do not
know myself. Yet I am not quite willing to admit
that I deserved a lecture for neglect in the matter
of writing - for I dont remember having more than one
let a week go by without sending some of you
something in the [underline]shape[/underline] of a letter, though they
have been poor apologies for the genuine article.
But to follow out my intentions as above declared.
My health is excellent, as it has been ever since
my recovery from fever last winter - and I am
sure that my general health is much better here
than at home; why, I cant tell. Of the state
of my mind I am sorry to be unable to give
so good an account, for seasons of cheerfulness
with me are the exceptions not the rule. I
meet with so little encouragement, and so much of
the contrary. The last time I wrote I had in
hand a job in the execution of which I fully expected to give
satisfaction - and hoped it would lead to some thing