RK-005

The Whippoorwills next Sunday Jan 29? 1853[in pencil]

Dear sisters ^{Cora[in pencil]} of mine I am getting along swimmingly. And enjoying myself very well. The more I study naturel history the better I like it. there is a charm in it which none but a naturelest can understand. After this I shall never suffer from ennui. Wait till I get home and see if I dont make naturelests of you girls. And then too see if before fall I dont have one of the cabinets. I shall know how to go to work next summer. And you instead of fooling away your time over [illegible] or [illegible] (how do you spell it) shall learn to handle an insect catcher dextrously. And you shall soon learn too to bring down a bird with a charge of mustard seed which will not cut him up so but you can take his skin off properly. Why small girls we'll have twice as much fun as those poor fools that cant wink indipend-antly. You were made for something better than dolls or puppets, who can only do as they do. I wish you could here Doc Kirtland give talk about the lack of independence in the present generation Dont he give it to them though Tell father I rec'd his letter containing the V allright thank him for the same thought I had no present need for it. Ive not spent all I took with me yet Father says I ought to write at least twice a week and :: faith ho I've done just that same eversince I've been here. So Dr Egan has played the rascal has he. I was afraid he would make some trouble about paying

for those cherries.

I really cant spend time to write much as DocKirtland is going to give me a lesson in Entimology. I wrote to Will Welch last night. Give my love to all the folk that want it. Bob

sunday afternoon

Tell Father to send some numbers of Mr Brass' paper (Democratic Brass) DocKirtland would like to see it. A writing mania seized me last night I wrote as many as a half dozen letters sat up till 12 oclock DocKirtland has just given me a long lecture on Entimology Oh, won't I have such a case of insects though. Amongst the things insects I sent Doct Kirtland there were a good many new things I wish father would have Harris'es work on insects found it is valuable and the only work on American Entimology extant. Juust rec'd your letters of last thursday. I am very glad to hear such news from Charlie When he is home next summer there is nothing to hinder our all enjoying ourselves very well In fact I'm getting to be something of a philosopher. It lies with ourselves after all whether we are to be happy or not. I shall never forget that little book you have got some of you - Father Bright hopes pity some ministers couldn't preach as good a sermon as that. As to my writing I know it is rather hard but I have always written in a great hurry - Supper is ready Fred says and theres fried oysters cant [illegible] them anyway