Newberry Library - Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Lucy M. Furber (sister) (also from Joseph M. Metcalf and Anna M.S.R. Metcalf; also to Samuel Fu..., Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1851

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Open book Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Lucy M. Furber (sister) (also from Joseph M. Metcalf and Anna M.S.R. Metcalf; also to Samuel Fu..., Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1851

Title Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, to Lucy M. Furber (sister) (also from Joseph M. Metcalf and Anna M.S.R. Metcalf; also to Samuel Fu..., Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1850-1851

Creator Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898

Date 1850-1851

Place United States

Subjects Bowdoin College, Brothers and sisters, DuQuoin Coal Company, Illinois Central Railroad Company

Format Business records, Correspondence, Diaries, Genealogies, Invoices, Manuscripts, Personal narratives, Records

User-Contributed Transcription You ought to have gone to the Dentist sooner Lucy. I think I have told you so before. It costs more and is less efficacious beside after the teeth have become so much decayed. I had mine filled three or four holes, two or three years since by a Dentist of Reputation in Brattleboro for $.50 per cavity. So I should think you paid a pretty good price.Another thing now I think of it, I want to give you a lecture upon the Subject of health, as I have lately to Eliab. There is perhaps no need of enlarging upon the excellence of the blessing, or the importance of preserving it generally; still you & Eliab do need warnings. With you as well as with Joseph there is a great fundamental defect of character��: the great primary preservation principle of Laziness. is almost entirely wanting. With Josepha hundred thousand dollars would not be a fair equivalent for the injury that defect has caused him. We cannot tell the extent of the injury already caused to Eliab; perhaps twenty years of life. You all started in life with a wrong principle, a wicked sinful principle: viz. that your own personal ease comfort & convenience, were of no sort of importance or at least secondary: instead of being as in truth the great principal all important thing. "Self preservation is the first law of Nature." A benevolent God has implanted most minds sufficient Laziness & selfishness to secure this. In some few cases, either as a furnishment for sins of some preceding generations or to give opportunity of trial for a new triumph of Right reason over difficulties, He has withheld the Boon. It is your imperative moral duty to consider yourself of more value than many sparrows; your own ease comfort & feelings more importance than any else whatever. } I guess I will omit the remainder of this occasion until some future opportunity. Mother ordains that you come up here again as soon as possible.How long I remain is uncertain; am liable to go about every other day. Think some of going Down East. St. Andrews & Quebec R.R. Expect to hear from there very Soon. Did Mother write that I am lazy? I have cleansed the Augean Stables, and performed various other wonders upon the Old Book Case & Newspaper Shelves; have burned up with fire, and sold for paper rags 100 cords old worthless books and papers; and should like to do the same by double quantity of old clothes etc. If I find some opportunity when Mother was out of the house. There no telling how I find the Way through 'em to get up stairs to bed a nights.

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Isaac Stevens Metcalf papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Metcalf Box 6 Folder 152

BibID 821787

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 3116px × 3935px 70.20 MB

Filename 998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_06_fl_152_005_003.tif

Unique Identifier NL11FIUS

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