RICHFIELD, Jan. 11,
1844.
DEAR SON JOHN, — Your letter, dated December 21, was
received some days ago, but I have purposely delayed till now, in order to
comply with your request that I should write about everything. We are all in
health; amongst the number is a new sister,1 about three weeks old.
I know of no one of our friends that is not in comfortable health. I have just
met with father; he was with us a few days since, and all were then well in Hudson.
Our flock is well, and we seem to be overtaking our business in the tannery.
Divine Providence seems to smile on our works at this time; I hope we shall not
prove unthankful for any favor, nor forget the giver. (I have gone to sleep a
great many times while writing the above.) The boys and Ruth are trying to
improve some this winter, and are effecting a little I think. I have lately
entered into a co-partnership with Simon Perkins, Jr., of Akron, with a view to
carry on the sheep business extensively. He is to furnish all the feed and
shelter for wintering, as a set-off against our taking all the care of the
flock. All other expenses we are to share equally, and to divide the profits
equally. This arrangement will reduce our cash rents at least $250 yearly, and
save our hiring help in haying. We expect to keep the Captain Oviatt farm for
pasturing, but my family will go into a very good house belonging to Mr.
Perkins, — say from a half a mile to a mile out of Akron. I think this is the
most comfortable and the most favorable arrangement of my worldly concerns that
I ever had, and calculated to afford us more leisure for improvement, by day
and by night, than any other. I do hope that God has enabled us to make it in
mercy to us, and not that he should send leanness into our souls. Our time will
all be at our own command, except the care of the flock. We have nothing to do
with providing for them in the winter excepting harvesting rutabagas and
potatoes.
This, I think, will be considered no mean alliance for our
family, and I most earnestly hope they will have wisdom given to make the most
of it. It is certainly indorsing the poor bankrupt and his family, three of
whom were but recently in Akron jail, in a manner quite unexpected, and proves
that notwithstanding we have been a company of “Belted Knights,” our
industrious and steady endeavors to maintain our integrity and our character
have not been wholly overlooked. Mr. Perkins is perfectly advised of our
poverty, and the times that have passed over us. Perhaps you may think best to
have some connection with this business. I do not know of Any person in Richfield
that you would be likely to be fond of hearing from in particular, excepting
one at Cleveland; and if hearing from Any person prove to be a very up-stream
business, I would advise not to worry at present. Will you let me know how it
stands between you and all parties concerned?2
Your father,
JOHN BROWN.
___________
1 Anne Brown, now Mrs. Adams.
2 The allusion at the close of this letter is to
some affairs of the heart in which the young man then had an interest; for love
was no more a stranger to these Ohio shepherds than to those of Sicily.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of
John Brown, p. 59-60
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