1

New Albion Jan 28^th 1855
Dear Bob-
This 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.