Duxbury, Mass
Jan. 23rd, 1872
Dear Dr. Benjamin,
Your good letter of December 27th was duly received
and in the multiplicity of cares have not so readily answered – but now I have a
moment and I hasten to improve it.
Wife and I think if you can have the boys manage without
purchasing another sled this winter it will be well, as we don’t feel like laying
out more money now that our provisions raised are so low. If the old sled can be made available, don’t
buy a new one.
In regard to the barn which we may build next year, and may not
till year after, to economise time - hire of hands could be secured at
reasonable prices, and keep this thing moving. We ought to be gathering in all dimensions timbers
& lumber needed for a barn 43 or 45 x 60 and get up tops of trees for fuel,
would be better than have the teams idle.
If not, stop them at once. We
want to begin with a plain barn, similar to Bro James E. Chesley’s with any
improvements that may be made, boarded & bottomed - not sided up. A barn for horses, horned cattle, hay, and
farm implements. I thought that there
were sound oak trees & sound birch trees in our woods that could be cut and
gathered home into piles and hewn out next season at odd jobs when other work
was not doing. The course materials
might be gathered & then I could let the job if I chose, coving the roof
with good pine shingles. If there is a better opportunity to get timber
from the 40 acres near Remick’s, go there.
But we cannot lay out much more money there till we get some
returns. You must do what you think is
most prudent till we come.
We are anxious to have our church debt paid off as soon as
possible & help whenever help is needed.
I will send an order on A. M. Schnell who is owing me to pay part of Mr.
Stocking’s bill, which I learn for the first time that we owe. I must also send orders for groceries to in a
small way help those that David Adams says are great sufferers. I'll enclose
the orders on Mr. Schnell and if he does not give them the full worth of the
amts stated, have C. K. Goodnow do it, and Belden & Co do it & I will
settle with them on my arrival.
We are still lingering in Mass but now propose to start the 1st
week in February. But keep everything
snug and prudent till we do come.
Dr. I am sorry that we are so limited in our finance that we
can give scarce any encouragement to you in regard to your request for a loan
of $600. But this I will say, that you shall
have the first of any lease we make in that valley.
Continue to write me weekly to Lynn, Mass till the first
week in Feb. The longer we stay away the
longer we shall remain when we reach home.
Have the boys get a big pile of good wood cut & split
for use and if there is a good chance for a few hundred of rails or posts at reasonable
rates, secure them. Tell Uncle Geo
Bonniwell to take care of our timber there by his mill. Still continue to caution the boys about fire. Have them look out for ashes – put them in the
brick oven till they are cold. Keep the
kerosene lamps away from the stove.
Never let the premises be left without the safe watcher. Are the boys honest?
I hope Mrs. Arens, Mrs. Schaulter & B. J. Havens will
receive the full value of my orders on A. M. Schnell.
Bleak winter is upon us.
I think your suggestions for stock raising is good.
If my personal tax is due, tell Mr. Mims to let you know how
much it is and not to make any charge to me extra if it is past due. I will attend to it early on reaching
home. Please send me particulars.
Glad Mr. Adams has something __ to your hands for settling
small arrears. I’m coming home to clear
off all indebtedness and hope I can sell enough from the surplus to do a good
part of it.
The RR project – how does it stand now? Is our settlement represented in a
director? Write particulars on receipt
of this letter of all things pertaining to our interests. I hope
to hear of peace and prosperity in every house in our coming. Look out for the personal tax to have no
expense for delay.
Regards to all of your family. I’m going to the farm of the late Daniel
Webster.
Truly yours,
Asa B Hutchinson
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