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Wednesday evening - The Grove Aperil 8th 1858
Dear Brother Bob.
Your very welcome letter of Aperil 2nd was received to day: you don't know how much good it did me. I am trying hard to improve my= =self; and sometimes I get quite discouraged; controling my temper is the hardest thing I ever attempted to do, but I have fully made up my mind that I will keep trying untill I can control it perfectly; I do not expect to do it in ''one year", or two; but just as soon as I can possibly. I make a great many good resolutions, and think I will keep them, but before I am aware I am doing any thing wrong, I find myself breaking some resolution, and after it is too late I feel ashamed and sorry. But I beleive it is well to make good resolutions even if you do not always keep them; and to make new ones as often as you break the old ones. If I recollect right that is accorging to your ideas.
I agree with you in thinking, that a woman can not be good unless she has some religious feelings; or a man either for that matter. It appears to me
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that the people of different sects make a great mistake in abuseing eachother, seems to me there aught to be more generosity and good feeling between them insted of the rivalry which now seems to exist in the various churches. I think one may have true religious feelings, and love God, and be a christion without belonging to any particular creed, But I think in many cases where a person does belong to a church, the feeling that they must not disgrace their church, prevents their doing many wrong things, that they otherwise would do, thoughtlessly; things that are in themselves not of much account, but which lead to greater things.
No person who observes nature, and who looks around and on all sides sees such unmistakable evidence of the wonderful greatness and power of the Creator, can be without some religious feelings; A person who does not see without any teaching, and who has not any love for God must indeed have little soul. Such a person is truly to be pitied; and I can conceive how a person of that character can commit a great crime.
As you say it is too apt to be the case; we do
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good from a desire to be praised, and thought well of, rather than a real wish to do good for the sake of doing good, and from a wish to please God.
You may like Miss Pocahontus, and visit her, and hear her talk, play, and sing, and be just as sweet as you like, but don't go to falling in love with any one till I see them. I think it is an excellent thing for you to associate with ladies, just as much as you can.
No doubt Nellie will feel complimented to hear that you have named a snake after her.
We havent heard from Charlie since he left home. I suppose he is too busy to write.
Major works never so hard; and keep his temper wonderfully, sometimes I am really astonished to think he is so goodnatured, you know he is so apt to get vexed at the slightest thing; and now that he has to work so hard, and has so much to worry and annoy him, he deserves a great deal of credit for being so goodtempered.
We are not makeing as great sales as we wish we were, I am afraid we shall not make
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enough to pay our little debts and live during the summer. We hope it will be a good "frut season" and that we shall sell apples enough to "help us along" a little.
The weather has been extremely unpleasant for the last week, it has been cold, and very windy - last night and this morning we had quite a heavy rain -
The little girl Mother got is "real smart" and is able to help us a great deal, we have not got anothr girl yet; but Hellen helps us most of the time so that we manage well enough, we hope however to get some one soon. I have been working all day "cleaning house" which you know is not very pleasant, but I am always willing to do it for there is nothing I dislike more than a dirty house.
Your room is in nice order, and I hope you will occupy it before very long.
Uncle Joe was over yesterdy after trees, Albert was with him and I gave them a small jar of alcohol, and Albert promised to get every thing he could. With much love Sister Dalce