Personal Correspondence

489 West [End?] Ave. Dec. 15, 1895

My dear Fred: I went to see Gillender this week, partly because Dennis wished me to, partly because I wanted myself to find out how things stood as far as G. Knows. I learn from him that Dennis has had all but - about - six hundred dollars of Aunty's legacy to him. The precise state of Dennis' affairs I don't understand.

2) G. thinks it would be wisest to divide the Palisade property as soon as possible. He says that Dennis

1 if he must raise money, can do so more advantageously on his third after division, than upon his third part in the joint property. Further, he says, as I think truly, 2 that Dennis, wanting money and being what he is, may, or rather might, go raising money ^outside on his undivided third, which in the hands of some creditors might much embarrass us as part owners.

3) I think Dennis is already inclined to a division. I am going to visit him, and when I do shall state 1 (above) as a reason important to him to weigh. 2 of course I shall not mention. Let that be between us.

4) Now, assuming division made, there are certain considerations for you and me to weigh first. Dennis is our brother, and though he can act independent of us, and many say probably act with folly, we cant ignore the duties of blood. We must try, as quietly and unobtrusively as we can, to keep him safe in his business matters, for the sake of himself and his family. Second There are strong reasons of policy to compel us to the same course.

5) Dennis's pay and family conditions - invalid wife and female child - we know. His prospects of increased pay by promotion are slim and distant. The only increase of income possible and the only provision for wife & child in case he dies, is this

Palisade property. If he could at once get $25,000 for it I should hope that even he might exert control enough to live on the interest. What I fear greatly is that, current income not meeting expenses, he may raise a little to day, and a little next year, using the loans up in current expenses until the whole disappears

6) There is, I fear, little chance of getting even $20,000 now, and what I also fear, and gather from his letters is that he has some thousands - say $3,000- indebtedness now & the interest on which would still more embarrass his small income. I may be mistaken on this, but I must reason on the belief

7) of a current [...] thereafter, as a possible solution of the present difficculty that if his present debt - is an extent not exceeding $3,000 - could be place on his share of the land, when divided, you and and I might assume the interest of that sum for a period, say, of five years, upon the condition that no more money should be borrowed upon it (or by him) without our knowledge ^ (and of course) this would clear him of debt, and although we might not be able to make the condition legally binding, we we should be giving him freedom from debt, and an annual payment of interest of near $200, which

though not in importance, the person, in this case you, confirms the promise made in his name by his or her sponsors in baptism; what that promise was you know from your Catechism. The second, and most important, part is that the person is next confirmed by God, who gives to im the gift of the Holy Ghost. If you will look at the Confirmation service you will find both these made plain. Thus the Bishop first asks the candidates "do you renew and confirm" your promise; & also tells the congregation that it is "convenient" (that is, suitable) that they should "openly before the church confirm the same." On the other hand they are spoken of as "all that are to be confirmed" and as those to whom "Confirmation is the administered"; and at the end of the baptismal and Confirmatioh services you will find the same way of speaking, "to be confirmed", in the rubrics at the end. Doubtless the most important use of an equivalent expression is in the prayer before the Bishop lays on his hands: "Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost." Strengthen is a pure English word, which means the same as Confirm, which is of Latin origin. You see then there are two who Confirm; the person who Confirms his baptismal promise and God who confirms, strengthens, the person by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Of these the latter is by far and away the most important, for man is weak and often will fail in his most honest efforts; but God is All-mighty, "and to save to the uttermost them that so come to Him"; He cannot fail, neither can His promise. Were it otherwise, papa and

manner might hesitate to bring so young a child to be confirmed; might say; let us wait till she is older and wiser to confirm her promises. But as it is shall we wait all those sweetest and best years in your life, those years in which the Holy Spirit and his grace can most certainly and perfectly enter into you, stremgthening you; shall we keep you back from being confirmd by God. You are not too young to receive His blessing; and we may be very sure that if we kept you back from the manifold gift of grace, Satan would not think you too young for the work of his evil spirits. Look upon confirmation therefore in this way, chiefly as God's act towards you; by which you shall receive a special favor and blessing, beginning then and

2 daily increasing. You will not expect to find this favor in great degree all at once. When you see a little boy, like Lyle, you dont expect to see him next day a full grown man; you know, though , that the gift of life in him will cause him to grow; increase day by day, till he comes to man's size and state. Mamma cannot make him grow she might slave from morning till night, and think ever as hard and he would not grow an inch. "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?" The life and growth are God's gift only. But if mamma did not give him food, and see him properly clothed, and that he had air and sun and cared for when sick he might well die Here you see is man's part. Still the life is greater, far greater than the meat; God's part than man's part. So much greater that St Paul, speaking of his spiritual life, said "I live , yet not I but Christ is living in me." I have accordingly spoken and wish you to think much more of it- on the other hand you have (16)

something to do, as mamma has to keep your life, which God gave you well and strong. To tend and care for the spiritual life, the gift of the Holy Ghost, which God gave you when you were baptized and strengthens where you are confirmed you must do every day those things which your sponsors promised and the sum of them is in the lines. If in our daily course our mind Be set to hallow all we find tc There are many wise ways of managing which you will learn from time to time, but prayer watching trying, this is your part- and to hallow all will lead you to pray and watch and struggle. Do not ne afraid to promise this because you may fail. Your promise is not that you will never do wrong and always do right, such a promise would be a lie to begin with- Your promise is that you "will not follow nor be led by" evil. A person does not follow because he falls down, nor is he led by one who suddenly jerks him out of his road; no more does one follow evil, because he falls into a sin; nor is he led by it, if it on a sudden overthrows him. Following or being led applies to the daily corner

yourself too easily- Looking round is a fault if it may cause a fall, though it is not breaking a promise- and if you knew the children might do that thing, you were to blame for not avoiding them. Your loving papa

believe that he will not overrule and provide the marriage most suitable, to those who ask His guidance. Here, however, is the real root of the evil. Most of those who call themselves Christians form their plans and their opinions of life, and to and from day to day, without asking God's guidance; and they are governed in their views of marriage by the views of the world, by the light foolish remarks of those with whom they associate. Money, good looks, a dozen other qualities desirable enough in themselves, are dwelt upon as the serious reasons for entering upon so serious a step. You will even ^(hear) some say that a man who leaves them alone to go their own way, is the husband they would have - a married life apart from one another. Truly when one hears such absurdities, one begins to ask why, in the [...], Folly and Wickedness are used as synonymous.

In one sense, my dear child, you are over young to think about mariage;I hope several ripening years of growth in grace andwisdom, may pass over your head before that time comes to you. But you have reached the age when, whether I like it or not, you will be hearing and talking and thinking about this and such things. Now let me say to you: "Be not a child in understanding, in Evil be a child, but in understanding a woman." Since marriage and relations with men must [...] be in your thoughts,