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Chicago. May 5th 1850.
Emma, Ma bourneen: -
The impression of your first[underlined] step[underlined] in letter writing was received this evening - too late for me to return an answer by next mail, as you wish. I will, however, write an answer tonight - because I have time, and on wednesday will send it, together with the pieces I have selected for your May Party.
I am delighted Dear Em, to find that you can write so well, and to see that you have a desire to improve. I hope you never will let an opportunity slip by, of learning something useful, or of doing something good. Improve all the golden hours as the little bee and ant do, and you will be happy and will make your friends happy also But perhapse you do'nt know why I call them the "golden hours", so I will tell you. Benjamin Franklin says, that "time[underlined] is money[underlined]" And now I will give you a couple of little verses, which say that the hours are angels, and tell what they do -
"The hours are vienless angels That still go gliding by, And bear each moment's record up To Him who sits on high."
"The poison or the nectar, Our heart's deep flower-cups yield, A sample still they gather swift And leave us in the field."
I hope you will learn these verses and when you are a little older, you will leran their meaning
I am very glad that little Fanny is enjoying herself, and hope she will be so very good
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that the folks will wish to have her stay a great while You may tell her that her parents, brothers and sister are all well, and have mooved into the new house
Tell Alice and Cora that I have got some nice little hats for you and them, which I will bring wiht me when I come out to The Grove. They are beautiful little hats made of Leg horn, and cost two dollars a-piece Mrs. Eddy has been so kind as to trim them so that you can wear them at your May Party.
I intended to have coppied a beautiful piece for you to learn from a book which I have, but I am so very busy that I shall not have time I send you however, two very fine little pieces ("The Poor maiden's wish" and "Speak Gently") one of which you can learn if you choose,
From Your Uncle Asa
