RK-858

better have Lake Michigan tied to round his neck and be cast through no end of stone walls than let me come home and not find him able to write a good hand. I think I see myself bringing him here to make quail tracks on labels and registers. - Not much Poddy! Why you embryonic zoologicus you! I expect you next summer to catalogue all the collections of the Chicago Acad as well as my private museum - Collect all the vertebrates of Northern Illinois and numerous other little odd jobs besides our regular work!

You see we must have a big museum ready to put into that room building that Bruno is to purchase for us with the first surplus $100000 he has on hand after getting the half million he is to make! Stick close to the copy book and webster Poddy You must gratter if you come up to time.

Please tell Dalce Mrs Baird & Lucy have no [page torn] togs - Ill get Prof Bairds for her - [page torn] me of you get that one of Books from [page torn] tic - [page torn] to you [page torn]

by so many inducements to enjoy the dolce far minte as our good old home affords.

You are too good to us mother! dont you see?

Oh dear I wonder if I'm not a little influenced in my wish to have Bruno here by the thought that he will bring with him some of the atmosphere of Home. How I shall enjoy seeing him homesick! - Never mind, by then the time will be approaching when I'll be [going?] home to spend a good long while with my mind in a better state to appreciate all the home delights than in its lethargy last fall. - Bruno and I will cure our homesickness by anticipating the good times of next summer.

If you have unfortunately concluded that [it wont?] do to let him come - [illegible] reconsi[der?] the matter and dont let [illegible] [page torn] his safety have [illegible] [page torn] learn to take [illegible] of [page torn] [page torn] t bilieve [page torn]

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first of next month if he can come as I trust he can - The [fact?] of his usefulness here will fairly entitle him to the free passes.

1863

Please consider this matter as quite aside from any Natural History operations and calculate the benefit to Bruno of a visit here where as I've said he must acquire habits of study and industry - where he can also pursue his more important investigations into Chirogra[phy?] orthography [illegible] and where he will necessarily [imbibe?] a desire for knowledge and pick up a great amount of useful information. He would have to do a few hours work every day with Prof Baird, Stimpson or me and in return for this I can get him free passes here lodging with me in the building and very possibly some pay.

OLIVE

I think mother you'd better let him come. He deserves a chance to show what he can do [page torn] dont believe he does thm [page torn] chance while [illegible] [page torn]

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leave home under more favorable circumstances. And it must not be that he should grow up so ignorant when he has such really great capacity if it were only he would only cultivate it. For such dispositions as him - & mine - quiet inactive enjoyment will never do.

Tell Poddy I depend on his preparing himself to be my companion and assistant next summer and probably next winter. He must do [his?] school studying at home and come here only to study Natural History - To let him into this building with any hope of his working at aught but natural History would be like teaching Jack tricks in a cellar full of rats.

If Poddy is not an utter and infinate bab he shall come here with me next winter and be pushed ahead like a light R. R. [page torn] a down grade by a fast [illegible] [page torn] But by the long [illegible] [page torn]