Friday, July 18, 2014

John Brown to John Brown Jr., May 23, 1845

Akron, May 23, 1845.

Dear Son John, — Yours of the 28th April we did not get very seasonably, as we have been very busy, and not at the post-office often. We are all obliged for your letter, and I hope thankful for any comfort or success that may attend you. If the days of mourning have indeed and in truth ceased, then I trust all is well, — all is well as it should be; and I have known fair days to follow after very foul weather. The great trouble is, we are apt to get too damp in a wet, foggy spell. We are all well but little Annie, who is afflicted with a singular eruption of the skin, and is withal quite unwell. We get along in our business as well as we ever have done, I think. We have some sheep, but not as many as for two seasons past. Matters seem to go well betwixt us and our friend Perkins, and for anything that I know of, our worldly prospects are as good as we can bear. I hope that entire leanness of soul may not attend any little success in business. I do not know as we have yet any new plans; when we have, we will let you hear. We are nearly through another yeaning time, and have lost but very few. Have not yet counted tails: think there may be about four hundred. Never had a finer or more thrifty lot. Expect to begin washing sheep next week. Have received our medals and diploma. They are splendid toys, and appear to be knock-down arguments among the sheep-growers who have seen them. All were well at Hudson a few days since. Father was here, and had just moved into the Humiston house out west. You did not say in your letter whether you ever conversed with him in regard to his plans for his old age, as was talked of when you were here and were helping pick sheep; should like to know if you did, etc. Cannot tell you much more now, except it be that we all appear to think a great deal more about this world than about the next, which proves that we are still very foolish. I leave room for some others of the family to write, if they will.

Affectionately yours,
John Brown.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 140

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