Newberry Library - Furber, Lucy M. (sister), to Isaac Stevens Metcalf, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1842-1845

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Open book Furber, Lucy M. (sister), to Isaac Stevens Metcalf, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1842-1845

Title Furber, Lucy M. (sister), to Isaac Stevens Metcalf, Isaac Stevens Metcalf family papers, 1842-1845

Creator Metcalf, Isaac Stevens, 1822-1898

Date 1842-1845

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 Milo March 9th 1845. It being Sunday and I being compelled to pass the livelong day in "The School," in immediate juctsposition with the unsophisticated inhabitants of that uncultivated region. hoping, thereby to bring a kind of relief to my feelings, I will endeavor so far to relax the unbending dignity of my mighty mind, as to write a letter to my dear Brother Issac. To begin at the beginning, I went away from home last Sunday night, I was somewhat frightened about going with the cold, and did'nt hardly realise that you were going away to stay so long and altogether I almost forgot to tell you "good bye."But you must take the will for the deed, and remember that I love you none the less. Jenny and Wash. Hobbs were at Temperance meeting the same night; so I learned from them the particulars of the absquatulation of Donkey. A sorry fracus, wasn't it, considering all things. I conclude Mother was somewhat alarmed before Charley got safe home. But the worst of it was, your being so hindered about getting to Bangor.I suppose you failed of being at Brunswick at the Initiation you spoke about did'nt you? You seem to have some "pull backs" and troubles, but perhaps no more than are needful for you. Every one must expect his share you know. We will hope you'll have the less by and by. If we were permitted to enjoy uninterrupted prosperity with no occasional downfall and trials to remind us on whom we are dependent for all our blessings, how soon should we forget and grow proud and self-dependent - get "two big for our jacket" and come to a bad end, as, according to parson Laurence, the king of Israel did. I heard a Mr. Laurence lecture at the Mills one Sunday eve this winter. Speaking of getting proud and above my station etc., he brought up, as an example (Jehosaphat was'nt it, I have most forgotten). Said the reason he was killed was he grew proud and swollen like the Frog in the fable, you know, and stretched his harness, so that, when the man drew a bow at a venture, it smote him between the joints of his harness, where by reason of his pride, he had stretched it apart. Was'nt that an ingenious interpretation? So he said God made us and place us where we belong; that is, made a harness to fit us, and if we stay put and do our duty without swelling, we are safe, otherwise must have something to humble us and bring us back within our proper limit. I suppose we ought to consider these little troubles & trials from which none are entirely exempt, as gentle admonitions from our allwise Father, intended for one good, to keep us humble, in the "straight and narrow way." I do not doubt that I need this "preachment" as much to say the least, as yourself, so I will keep the rest to myself & tell you something about my school. My class in the Introduction read something one day about the "golden rule." I asked them, and every scholar in school, what it was. Not one could tell. I found it in the Testament and told them to learn it. So they studied upon it most all the forenoon and afternoon, and when they came to spell? it at night, I demanded it of them, and said they, in the innocence and simplicity of their hearts, "Whatsoever men do unto you, do ye upon to them." Don't you think I wanted to laugh? Great boys, as big, and almost as old as I am. That is, however, in very truth, the version of said "Golden Rule" which is very generally practiced in these parts. Oliver Beal Hobbs goes to my school. It is a pity for him to waste his time to go, for he never can learn any thing. I have five of Nat. Hobbs' children (one very unsophisticated girl 22 years old) and I cannot learn them all, so much as might be put

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 1 Folder 31

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 2795px × 3387px 54.20 MB

Filename 998217878805867_mms_metcalf_box_01_fl_31_002_001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11FE3Q

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