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And now, my Dear Son, you are to
understand, that worldly old pruden-
=tial ideas, are at the bottom of my
advice to you, in this letter – My feelings
and my paternal pride in you[double underline], coun-
=sel more liberally and hopefully[double underline] –
It would grieve me – it would
disappoint me, sadly, - to have
you abandon the treatise on the
mammals of the prairies – for I
think there is fame[double underline] in the enterprise.
But Bob, will fame “boil the
pot” – or keep you dry and warm,
with a full purse, and an independent
spirit? – Ah, that’s it – Fame
is great – Great among the great[double underline]
& good[triple underline], and learned – but a
good balance with your Banker,
is a greater virtue, under all
circumstances, and with every
class of people, in this practical,
every day uneducated[double underline] world of
ours. Still, you are young, and
you can afford to give a little more
time to the ambition of the few - and
so, “go ahead” if you wish it