20

20
Oak Lawn Tues, 30th May 1837
After a long respite I again take up my pen. Still my
health is bad, am confined to the house, can't go out
without riding and no pleasure at that.
So far, this has been a cool and generally dry spring.
Crops are said to be more backward, that is [shorted], than
usual fruit trees were full of fruit but fruit it is
said has dropped off in consequence of the cool weather it
is though. Never enjoyed myself so little of a spring in
many years, in the country.
The Association of the Baptists offered the
first company that I visited since my confinement.
This was at [Coleraine]. There were many preachers and
Many people among who however I could not ming-
le. The 1st day I went (Sat, I sat in the house witness
ing business and hearing debates. heard a sermon and a
an piece at the stage. The 2nd day same, heard three good
discourses. I conversed with but very few and regretted
I was unable to pay respects to the ladies who were man
y and beautiful.
This day after preaching I was dunned for money
by an almost missionary who was just glutted with
thousands by fishing. It being the first time I was ever
dunned for money which I countd not pay almost at once
and this added to the circumstances and extraordin-
ary occaision on which it was done, mortified me. But
I was not browbeaten. I dispatched of the bloated pocket with
firmness for the present. This circumstance may
be no disadvantage to me. When dunned, I feel
a dependence grating to my feelings, and that moment
determined if possible to be independent. I feel at
this moment a sort of alientation of friendly feeling
between myself and this gentleman (for such
he was) with I had long lied in very intimate frie
ndship. A thought struck me which I had often ob
served in other men to be true; What the man indebted
to his friends & unable to pay them who remind him
to do so considers himself forsaken by his old friends &
forsaken. But now the remedy, First pay your debts,