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July 3 Dr Ergoon Ripley?
Yes, my dear Nephew, our roads are so diverse, that the very contract renders an intercourse maturable & the better for the one who in the deepening shadow of the vale of unvaried obscurity loves to look up and mark the ascending progress of youth unshorn of hope & friendship. My favourite mountain, illumined with the sun never looks so picturesque as when contrasted with the still water and silent shades at its feet. Yet in the "broad field of sentiment I flatter one, we can sympathise - there is a ray in me which tho' forbidden yet to thine I feel was lighted at thy Gods and mine. The straw which floats on the stream becomes at lenght to ?blend with the lilly or rise with the willow w/h adorns its banks. And pride after indeminifys itself by this involuntary voyage on the tide of life, while others are piloting with eagerness the lofty bank. Thank you for all and "the gossip" too. Very trifling truly you treat it. Ah my dear friend, Cupid has often played off his ?amours in the family of Apollo if I remember. Now those two pair of black eyes are nearly gone. Well I am glad for that L_'s are out of the way of those I
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love. "Wicked eyes" to use your term long since) with a calulating spirit are the most unfortunate connections. "Possessed of very pleasing parts what does ?Clara ? wen - a heart. But tho more doubt A. might for ought I know have been one of those whom one can love "thy know not why" - the only ?night for a wife. A lofty bearing mind - of talents to console a man under all those ills which fall to the ?left of an listen is perhaps more desirable than love itself In humbler life, love is enough. And those women, we can't tell how, who are capable of weaving a web of affection where every gossamer thread binds with a surest spell the heart of her husband to hoary age, is the richest & rarest treasure on earth - if she adds to this gift of nature the virtue of duty - it becomes a means of Heaven. So my little Miss A. has ?merited - Well it is delightfull to mark the revolutions w/h the great wheel revolves for all. I s/d (should) not dwell on this trifling "gossip" with any ?ofiuists but I run of the mind that nothing is involuntarily lost to any of my friends. ?Dearie Mary a living burning ingenuous soul be the gift of Providence for you in due time Aunt Mary
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I write to amuse myself - and can say nothing of Rev Waldo - till I know more. To me his correspodence is a clegerman is much - all indeed off society. His method is blest in that of others. To me dear friend I could not say to you how much I wish him well.
Tues 14 Au. Will you pardon this old letter. It interested me at the time & I wanted to in close an errand - but the dread on it's being exposed made me throw it by. Is there any ?hazard of sending characters by Mail? I know there is none among obscure correspondents on both sides. Do take care of your ?precious health. You did not send me any book or print. I was glad of it - for you must not take one step this hot weather the more for Mary & loving Aunt.
