Wednesday, February 12, 2014

John Brown to Owen Brown Sr., December 2, 1847

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., 2d Dec, 1847.

DEAR FATHER, — Yours of the 9th November was received a few days since, but I have delayed writing on two accounts since receiving it. One is the greater press of business, and increased anxiety on account of the sudden change in money matters; the other, that it is always hard for me to make out a letter without something to make it out of. We have been middling well since I returned, except John and Watson. John has had a short turn of fever, and Watson has seemed to have a number of complaints, but both are better now. Our business seems to be going on middling well, and will not probably be any the worse for the pinch in the money concerns. I trust that getting or losing money does not entirely engross our attention; but I am sensible that it occupies quite too large a share in it. To get a little property together to leave, as the world have done, is really a low mark to be firing at through life.  “A nobler toil may I sustain, A nobler satisfaction gain.”  You wrote us that Lucian seemed to decline. This is not unexpected; but we hope that a life still lengthened may not all be misspent, and that the little of duty to God and mankind it may yet be in his power to do may be done with his might, and that the Lord Jesus Christ will be the end of the law for righteousness, for that which must be left undone. This is the only hope for us bankrupts, as we may see at once if we will but look at our account. We hope to hear how you all are again soon.

Affectionately yours,
JOHN BROWN.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 23-4

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