RKFP-040

[circle] My Tar Box July 30th 1853

Dear Charley

Your long delay in writing to any of us poor Buffalo Dev- occasioned a great deal of anxiety in the mind of all - and the first question asked on meeting was invariably "Have you heard from Charley yet"? and the answer would be. "No! and I dont believe I am going to any more such a state of things as this lasted until just a week ago tonight when lo! and behold the PM drew from the box a letter which made my heart leap. for I knew by a glance of the eye who and where it was from

I knew by the round and plump proportions. and by the bold and curiosly shaded superscription, that none other than the "Literary Gardiner" (Mind the name now, and dip your head in cold water when you read it in order to be Lawfully and honorably christened to the name for I shall make frequent application of it here after) gave birth to it

Proudly and carefully I placed in my side pocket (close to my heart) and hurried off to find some place where I could devour its contents.

Walking down Main I came upon George the "Yankee Clock Mender" "I have letters from Charley" said I - "Oh read it" said he - So tearing off the wrapper we read it in unison hardly breathing untill we had swallowed the rich morsel. I say rich morsel nor do I flatter for never did Epicure gloat and feast his eyes upon some rich and rare production of the tropics. More than do my eyes feast and anticapation gloat upon an unopened Northfield Letter. and never did Epicure more sincerely sigh when the last delicious morsel was gone. than do I sigh when the last leaf. last page last line is read and nothing remains but - Yours &c. Charlie -

But I suppose that your modest sensitiveness will call this

flattery and so I will cease it

But now the question arises. what materials can I use in order to form a respectable letter? - News is out of the question - you might put it all in your pipe and smoke it. And what shall it be. Philosophy. Poetry or Nonsense. most probably a mixture of all three with the latter predominating

I was to the theatre a few days ago for the second time in my life The star was Miss Julia Dean - the Play Ingomar I almost fell in love with the Actress and was very much charmed with the play - I am of course no theatrical critic, never having as I said before attended but once untill now - but in my green condition I thought her charming actress I suppose you have seen her.

Whats made me mention this was be-cause it was a new thing to me - What is your opinion of theatres, Charley I cannot make up my mind what to think of them It seems to me that if those nonsensical farces were rejected and none except pieces illustrative of the various passions of man. founded upon History. Human Nature &c were represented by actors competent to carry out the full ideas of the piece. the Theatre might be a source of good rather than evil - but such a thing never will be done - Theatres like everything else will be adulterated and corrupted

As I am writing everything at random in this letter I might as well give you an a/c of what I did and where I was July 4th - I had a very urgent invitation to attend a Picnic at Grangers Grove. but I arrived at the conclusion that It was my name on the subscription List with $1. against it that was wanted more than my company (a correct conclusion I opine for as soon as the cash was paid no more was said about the great disappointment that would be felt if I did not attend) I forked over and then slipped away out

to Spring Brook. There after spending the morning in firing salutes from an old Mill Crank. An hunting party was organized and we started for the woods and spent the entire day in loading and firing at every boject which possessed animal life, and stealing straw berries

At the close of the day our trophies were 4 chipminks! wood Pecker, 2 Bull Frogs & a wood chuck (Beat that you Prairie hunters if you can) - In the evening we had grand time out of a small collection of fire works & Turpentine Balls which I carried out for the occasion - And when I went to bed July 4th 1853 I could say I never spent one before so pleasantly - I was very much amused at your description of your fourth and I arrived at the conclusion that the whole Kennicott family must be the most sociable most united, happiest family in the world. excuse me for saying so You speak as though you had heard bad stories of John and ask what foundation there is for them - but indeed I cannot answer you It is true John is changed. So have we all changed. and if you were to come to B you would I fear find John changed no more than any of us I know that I have changed. I can see it in myself "I am not what I was" Time and the world does not pass by and leave any of us unchanged and sometimes when I look back I am alarmed at the change which one year has wrought within me - and so with all - all are changed I have heard many stories in regard to John of the truth of which I know nothing In fact I know no more of John than you do. I have no personal knowledge in regard to him. and you probably hear the same stories of him which I do He & I speak in the street but farther than the merest commonalities, not a word has passed between us for most six months. I have nothing against John and I suppose he has nothing against me. but some way or other

an unaccountable coldness has arisen between us I am sure I can not tell where the blame is. Indeed I do not know as there is any blame. for as John grows older and verges more and more into manhood he puts off childish things and the ephemeral friendship of schoolboy days is forgotten or rather the remembrance of it crowded out of the mind by the weightier things of business

Spring Brook Aug 14th 1853

Dear Charley

I was interrupted in writhing to you by unforeseen circumstances so long that if I had not been too lazy I should have thrown away the old letter and commenced anew. As it is you must content yourself with a letter that time has almost outlawed I have left the place where I have been stopping and am at present on the town I fear that my hopes of visiting you this fall are all dished - I can not tell at present for certain I will try and write you again soon

Direct your next to Spring Brook