RK-047

New Albion Jan 28^th 1855 Dear BobThis is a quiet sabbath evening - and instead of reading some good, pious book, as all Christians ought I am writing ^to a rattle-brained young kinsmans of mine, a thought of whose wild pranks is sufficient to drive all serious thoughts from a graver head than I possess. - However, I presume this same young gentlemen whom I knew a year ago under the various aliases of "Irish Woman" "Magician" "Beggar" "Serpent Tamer" "Nimrod" "Cousin Bob" & Mischiefmaker general - is becoming more sedate as he is becoming a person= age of importance. I am very sorry to have to tell you that the water beetle you were so kind as to send me did not survive the journey... I am just as much obliged to you as if it had escaped the sad fate it met.

Ah me! It makes pathetically [illegible - covered by hexagonal tab] "Twas ever thus from childhood's hour I've seen my fondest hopes decay I never loved a tree or flower But twas the first to fade away I never nursed a dear gazelle To glad me with its soft black eye But when it came to know me well and love me, it was sure to die. I never had a piece of bread Particularly long and wide But it fell on the sanded floor and always on the buttered side. Seriously - I did feel very sorry. I should have taken the nicest possible care of it, and I had a glass vase ready for it reception. I shall never forgive Uncle Sam for the injury it sustained. It seemed to have been crushed. Wicked wasnt it? I told Will of your exploit in shooting the deer. "Pooh!" he replied, ^{"That's nothing!} tell him I shot four - (woodchucks) awhile ago."

Since I wrote you last, [illegible] has gone to Virginia. He started about three weeks ago. He wrote me on the route and once after he reached Charlestown. He goes as agent for some men who are introducing an improvement in mill= wheels. He means to make the rounds of the professions and occupations generally. Our folks have quite despaired of his ever settling upon any one in particular, that is Father, Mother & the older and more staid ones of the family; for my own part I sympathize with that mood of his entirely and would have been very glad to have gone with him myself if had been practicable. I failed to write anything in season for Amasa's paper, but I presume it did not suffer any great loss in consequence. The City of Chicago will attain quite an uncurable Protonity after a recurrence of a few more [illegible] like the affair of [illegible]? and some others which I have seen chronicled. in the city journals of late -

I am very busy this winter "helping Charlie" as mamma says when she means being "very idle". For amusement I have been reviewing Algebra. That is my favorite study of all others; and occasionally when I felt conscientious about my neglect I have taken to arithmetic. more by way of penance than aught else. I do assure you for I perfectly detest it. I am just now reminded of the fact that if one of my teachers should chance to overhear such a remark I should be politely informed that it was very improper very[2nd very underlined twice]. Do you ever play Cribbage? We are learning the game. You cant imagine how much I wanted to go south this winter. Miss Shattuck has just returned from Mississippi where she has been teaching the past year. Col. Hebron in whose family she has been teaching commissioned Mr. Shattuck to supply his daughter's place and he offered me the chance of going. Our folks wouldn't hear a word of it, and so I am moping about at home in the immediate [illegible] of ma's apron string. I want to take music lessons but there is no one nearer than Randolph that knows a flat from a Sharp and I am sure I dont. Exquisite society we have here dont we? Next Wednesday - (I must duly announce so important a fact - ) is my twentieth birthday. also the birthday of a brother-in law of mine, & so the family - including uncles aunts cousins & etc are all coming home for that day. Just call in and I'll introduce to you a rival tribe of Kennicotts. I am going to send for a textbook upon Zoology. By some means we were prevented from taking that study in the seminary and Mr. Souve was going to give us lectures instead, which were finally crowded out by something else & now I am going going to studying if I get a book. As a great Naturalist, I appeal to you for information as to the best book I can get that is an elementary work.

I expect you will tell me to wait until you write me, but I had thought of that and concluded it would be the best to get a smaltering of the services now, while I am young. Now dont omit to answer this inquiry for I am really in earnest and shall rely upon your superior knowledge to [illegible] guide me in the choice of an author. Dont be envious now and fear I will rival you in any National History pursuits - (though I really do think there may be some danger which I will only admit parenthetically however) - If I dont commence to stop immediately I shall be forced to annex[underlined] an extra slip of paper I have such a bad habit of spinning long yarns I admit it is my besitting sin, as it was that of the "old Gentleman" who wrote the