Yes, Cousin Mary, assuming that your course in this particular was exemplary, I went and did likewiseLuke 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? Luke 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. . I went away to ManchesterEditorial Note: Manchester, New Hampshire & took a Scotch "lassie," or, at least, one of Scotch descent, recommended and introduced by my cousin Sarah Foster. When I visited LynnEditorial Note: Lynn, Massachusetts, I had it in my heart to ask the favor of that kindly office of Mary, but, in the crowd of topics that came up for conversation that occasion, the more important one, or the one which more immediately interested me, found no place.
Contrarily to my repeatedly expressed intention, I have married a young woman. only thirty-sixAs Written:thirty six! How did it happen? Well, it were quite a long story to tell. I made & cultivated her acquaintance to some extent, thinking that our great disparity of years a sufficient barrier to any sort of an idea, on her part, of a future union. But, you see, one thing led to another, as they say, until it culminated in the inevitable. I told her my exact age in the outset, and faithfully warned her of the liability, if not probability of a change of mind after the lapse of years, making her wholly responsible for her imperiled happiness. Coming from a large circle of friends & city privileges, I did not think she would content herself here a great while. But, after several visits, she declared herself quite willing to incur the risk.– What is my love like? [*]Archival Note: The following is the first stanza of a poem by Robert Burns, titled “A Red, Red, Rose”.
"O, my luve is like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June. O, my luve is like a melodie, That's sweetly played in tune"
(You know the old Scotch ballad?)
Nearly as tall as I am, and spare, but not angular– curvilinear As Written: curvilinier – and, a very nice fit! Decidedly not pretty, but quite genteel and cheery.– drollery a characteristic.–
About as unlike me in demeanor & temperament as the opposite poles of the galvanic BatteryEditorial Note: These batteries were sometimes used at this period to treat illness. It was believed that the electricity they produced could have a healing effect in the body.! Religious, almost superstitious, ardent & thoroughly honest-hearted.
Has been the past ten years a compositorEditorial Note: A compositor is a person who arranges type for printing. in the "Manchester Mirror Office" Has a little money- enough to refurnish my house, purchase a new carriage et ceteraAs Written:&c. Has a good voice for singing & a cultivated taste generally.
Are you not a sort of soothsayer? What do you predict in regard to the union? I fancy you shake your prophetic locks ominously! Can't you prophesy smooth things just to please me? No matter,– I mean to be to her a faithful, attentive husband, leaving her to cast all the stones,– at any rate, the firstJohn 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. John 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, John 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. .
How in the world did you find time to write? You must have the shoulders of old AtlasEditorial Note: The god Atlas in Greek mythology, is often protrayed as supporting the earth and heavens on his shoulders., or the burden of your cares & labors would crush you outright. Aren't you afraid some of the irons will burnEditorial Note: This is a reference to the old saying, derived from the blacksmith profession, of having too many irons in the fire, meaning that someone has taken on more tasks than they can handle.? I esteem it a great sacrifice for my sake that you should lay aside your affairs of state to congratulate your friend on account of relations newly entered upon, not knowing as yet whether they may prove for good or ill- My companion, although not very strong, as one might suppose from the nature of her former empl oyment and, for the most part, unacquainted with housekeeping, is quite willing to do her best at all sorts of work indoors & out,– not unfrequently coming out into the field or pasture to proffer her assistance
As the clock has st[*]Gap: letters.Reason: page damaged. the hour for retiring, I must close, wishing to be very kindly remembered to my friend, the "Doctor"