Lawrence, Kansas
March 4, 1859
Mr. John Benjamin
Dear John,
Your letter of the 13th and postmarked the 15th
ultimate enclosing Mrs. B’s letter and “the watch”. I was again pleased to know that you are all
well, for can positively say for what would you do writing that blessing of all
blessings, so therefore be devoutly thankful as I know you all are . Matters and things might be worse now when
you think your lot is almost unbearable.
First, look over the left shoulder and for one moment contemplate the thousands
that would be rejoiced to exchange places with you, never mind things of
necessity must be ___ of wood and drawing of water, and I myself have done
quite a large share of it, yet not perhaps written of our knowledge but I
assure you such is the fact.
One thing, while I think of it, and that is this: Mrs.
Benjamin says “we have no chair”. Now
the next Sabbath after you receive this letter, so you set yourself about
fixing some kind of a deal for her with a back to it so she can lean back in it
to rest herself. If you do not you may
wish you have had done so, as well as fix something of the kind for the
children.
No matter how rough for this time being, the spinal chord [sic]
of children must not be too much neglected as well. We that have grown to manhood and
comparative old age need the support that I am just now speaking of. If it is not possible for you to pay attention
to this matter except on the Sabbath, do it on that day and I will father all
the blame of such transactions or other transgressions.
In my last I told you I would furnish you with 4 windows, so
you wrote me that you will need 5; 3
down and 2 upstairs. Therefore, as
perhaps you may find a tenant for your house in town at some little rent, do
not take any of the windows out of it but let them all in to keep out the
weather. But if you can rent it to some
person who will keep it in order, so much the better. Therefore I send you $15, which sum I give you
asking no return but nevertheless, however, for this express purpose and upon
this condition to wit to purchase 5 window sashes with lights set at $2.20 each
is $11. One lock and the balance is
nails. I should be glad to do more for
you but I am admissive that I have considerable to do. We are very prudent notwithstanding. I am daily surprised to know and see how
costly all things are with us and how expenses run up, but we keep a check on
expenditures by keeping an accurate a/c thereof. Did you ever practice it? It operates as a very wholesome restraint
upon our extravagant desires. I wish
you to understand that you are not at the present time in my estimation in want
of such check to extravagance. I know
that you have been rather more generous than your circumstances would justify
almost in times that are ___. But I shall
not more question your ability or inclination in time to come to exercise due
cause and prudence.
You ask me what I think of putting down in wheat the 3 acres
you had plowed, but you, or rather your interrogators, might have been
intending as a general one to mean this:
what do I think of you improving your claim __. In the absence of mechanical labor you
certainly are pursuing the right course, so I am led to believe with the
trusted knowledge I now possess. As for
putting the 3 acres down in spring wheat, I would do so by all means. Nothing ventured nothing have such part of 3
acres as I ___ you after next, be sure
you have a little patch of buckwheat, that is, if you have your corn and
potatoes will do well enough in the soil.
If I ___ right you yourself do not like ____. I hold, and that too without contradiction
to those with, when they agree, that a meal of these once a week either baked
or stewed ought to be had. Pole beans,
either the Horticultural Banking Case recipe or ___ are more than excellent. Now you have a cow, butter and cream will
make them delicious. I could almost live
on the Horticultural or cranberry. They
boil tender when late in the season and the pod a little yellow ___. Bake them with a little piece of pork. We never could afford butter with them and
yet I almost lived on them in Dedham.
Another are also those tomatoes, so much liked by almost everyone. We had them last summer every day for dinner
for a long time. Butter with all these things
makes one wish for the retuning season of them, and now you can as well have it
as not. I would, if I were you, take the
good of these things of your own producing are what you will mostly have;
therefore enjoy them.
I send you another $1 to buy __ Mites, 3 young hens and have them on setting this
season for her to ___ and take care of as well this. Checking if they have any when they shall
come to market. I said 3 hens, I meant more or less as the money will buy.
You say you have a due share of industry and are willing to
work. Had I not known that of you and
also have known and seen your good will as manifested to others in token of
unmistakable endurance, thereby showing your thankfulness for obliging
attentions in the way of duly performed by others who were employed with you
under the same roof, I might not have sought you out and much less have felt so
demonstrative myself toward you in the __ manner I have. And so I hope you will always continue in
this path of duty, holding fast to your integrity in this your trying
hours. Be careful what you promise, but
when you promise let your word be equal to your bond and Oh! how
much care you need to have of these words “Lead me not into temptation but
deliver me from evil”. I beg of you to
have a care of what I have just spoken to you about, if you will mark my words you
will not be the loser. When I
contemplate her current situation you,
with your wife and children, now occupy I hardly know what to
think, you treated your wife as tender
as a doll, she had all you could bestow, and I might almost say more, then why
should she not try to conform to things as they are? I believe she does and is still willing so to
do, hoping only for the first reward which is sure to follow ____ to the sight
as we think we see it.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto
thine own understanding.” In all thy way
acknowledge him and he shall direct thy father”.
My William consents that I shall mail to you his weekly
Tribune of the present year and I have so mailed the ___ number which are 5 in
one envelope and shall send you February in a few days. He is much taken up with your description of
your surrounding country. Another lake
he say his is going to Minnesota. Did I
understand you to say that your lake abounds with fish? How large is it and if fresh or salt water?
Mrs. Benjamin must bear in mind that Mr. Wait is almost as
completely isolated if not quite as much so as regards to companionship. We may have a little more ready money at the
day, not, however, knowing what another day may bring forth. Here comes the question again. What is duty?
That is a great puzzle sometimes.
But all we can do is to follow it as we think we do it, first, however, exercising
our best sensing power and faculties in relative ___ and abide by the
result—hoping for the best.
Since writing to you I have had an introduction to the Governor
who had confirmed upon me his conscription of Notary Public on the anniversary
of my birthday which was on the eighth of last month. I have obtained my picture of one of the most
accomplished artists I have seen. I have
another which was taken on the anniversary of my 50th year, the last
was on the 60th year.
I am growing old fast so, Mrs. Benjamin, you may tell John
he need not be jealous. Mr. Wait is too
old and too far away and the distance is too long to take such a long walk for
any other purpose he hopes than good.
I should have added to the list of deceased persons old Mr.
John Doggett and 2 or 3 others I cannot call to mind. Since I wrote you I have read the death of
young D. Burg’s wife, Miss Caroline Gould that once was ___’s school
teacher. So “the old must die, the
young may die”, Better then be
prepared for this chance for it’s such an hour we know not. The son of man cometh.
I have enclosed to you good bills, one 10, one 5 and one
dollar. Don’t let your wife sit down too
long at at time, and have something rigged for her to lean back upon Fix it somewhat slanting back and not to fix
it straight up as that will not answer the purpose of rest. It ought to be inclined.
Mary says she is going to write Mrs. B. So have I heard the “Christmas is
coming”? I think, however, that my
letters ought in some means to compensate for delinquency of this respect on
her part. My next ought to bear in mind
how eager she is to take and read Mrs. B letters and in return do her best to
write to her. I am aware, however, of
her want of talent in this respect so she must do as she will. Mrs. Benjamin must, too, bear in mind that
she most probably has not a more true friend than Mrs. Wait, so I have to
apologize for her.
As I have been, so I am your friend,
R.G. Wait
Always a good measure of philosophy from Richard Wait............
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