"...you wrote in your last that your health was poor & that your task was too hard & you asked advice what to do. Now I will give it...& that is, close your school as quick as circumstances will admit & come home & live with us & be contented, & we'll all try to make you as happy as we can...if anybody wants you enough to come after you, then let them come. If not, let them stay away, & you remain here with us, & if you should wish to go in to a school occasionally, there is no doubt but you can do well with less trouble here than at the East. Cornelia ets $14 per month & board & was busy and has but five scholars. You can probably get chances at Galena whenever you choose in private family, but we do not wish you to go at all if you will be contented at home with us. Just give up your high notions & come home & be one of Loring Snow's humble family & I think we may yet be a happy one.

Now a little about the family...About Elen. She is as healthy & happy as can be wished. She is getting to be quite a scholar. I think she is going to learn easy, but thin-lipped Charley is a good natured, good-hearted little fellow & I suppose would give you as soft a kiss as ever, but he had much rather hunt & trap prairie hens, than to learn anything like reading or spellling, but I hope if you come out, you will be able to exert his ambition a little. Mortimer cares for little else but to be a complete Hoosier, but I still hope he will...try to be a gentleman....As for Oscar & Marion, they have had an invitation to go to Rockford on Rock River to celebrate Washington's Birthday at the house kept by a Mr. Thurston from Troy whose daughter attended Mrs. Willard's Seminary and came out here last fall. It is 24 miles from us. Oscar will not go this year, as it is not convenient, but Marion is going with a Mr. Hunt of Freeport, from York State. There is now going but some that think themselves at the head of the heap....

I am going to build in the Spring, intend to get into it by the first of May. The annexed is a plan of the cabin.... [follows with a drawing of the plan of the house, showing each room: parlor, kitchen, bedrooms, winter kitchen, closets, etc.., as well as a separate "log cook room", and "garden east of the house"]...Ma says that you must go six miles west of Rochester to the great garden & get all kind of seeds to put in that garden, for it is the handsomest spot you ever saw.

Feby the 21st. We received your letter to Marion last night. She will answer it in a few days, but she goes to Rockford tomorrow & after that she will write you all the particulars of her trip. The snow is gone - what little we had, and they go in the stage coach. It is like an April day today. We have had 5 or 6 weeks of snow...this month has been very warm, wonder if it has been so with you, & so was January, but Dec. was cold as was Nov. also.

Ma says you must not think of going South to teach, but if you don't marry, you must come home & live with us..."