LIFE OF WILSON                    xxv

  will enable you, but from a solicitude for a sister's health, who
  has sustained more distress than usual. I know the rude ap-
  pearance of the country, and the wvant of many usual conve-
  niences, will for some time affect her spirits; let it be your plea-
  sure and study to banish these melancholy moments from her
  as much as possible. Whatever inconveniences they may for a
  while experience, it was well they left this devoted city. The
  fever, that yellow genius of destruction, has sent many poor
  mortals to their long homes since you departed; and the gen-
  tleman who officiates as steward to the Hospital informed me
  yesterday evening that it rages worse this week than at any
  former period this season, though the physicians have ceased
  reporting. Every kind of business has been at a stand these
  three months, but the business of death.
  "cYou intimate your design of coming down next spring.
  Alexander seems to have the same intention. How this will be
done, consistent with providing for the family, is not so clear
to me. Let me give my counsel on the subject. You will see
by your father's letters that he cannot be expected before next
July, or August perhaps, a time when you must of necessity be
at home. Your coming down, considering loss of time and
expenses, and calculating what you might do on the farm, or
at the loom, or at other jobs, would not clear you more than
twenty dollars difference, unless you intended to remain here
five or six months, in which time much might be done by you
and Alexander on the place. I am sorry he has been so soon
discouraged with farming. Were my strength but equal to my
spirit, I would abandon my school for ever for such an employ-
ment, Habit will reconcile him to all difficulties. It is more
healthy, more independent and agreeable than to be cooped up
in a subterraneous dungeon, surrounded by gloomy damps, and
breathing an unwholesome air from morning to night, shut out
from Nature's fairest scenes and the pure air of heaven. When
necessity demands such a seclusion, it is noble to obey; but
when we are left to choice, who would bury themselves alive?
It is only in winter that I would recommend the loom to both
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