Waterville, ME
Nov. 14, 1871
Dr. J. Benjamin – Hutchinson, Minn
My Dear Sir,
Your favor of 31st inst was duly received being
forwarded from Lynn, and in reply would say 1st that being anxious
to have bills met promptly pertaining to thrashing & Mrs. Griffiths
boarding. I enclose two drafts $49.33 & $18.50 which please pay immediately and take receipts for the same and keep with
other valued assets of mine.
I am disappointed that we get no more grain from such broad
sewing . There must have been a terrible
drought to give so poor a return, but it’s better than a failure and I am
thankful that the flames have not devouraed our home and its products. I wish not that you would see that Frank is
very prudent with the grain. I don’t
think we will sell a bushel of it but keep all we can for spring use.
Have all the hogs fattened (except the Berkshire boar
and sow I purchased of Jared Bensen) as rapidly as possible and slaughtered and put away till
frozen till I come, and if danger of spoiling have them barreled up and kept
for a rise. I want the feet for the hogs
cooked as much as possible. It is a
great scarring over uncooked food. If there
is an unprofitable cow long in years, let her be dried and fatted for our
beef. We want one or two barrels of pork
put up also for home use.
How is the poultry?
Is any fit to kill & sell about Thanksgiving time?
If you can employ profitably one or both of those young men
at moderate wages to have manure on to our land and get out some timber for a
barn and the tops for fuel the coming winter, do so. Two teams could be fitted out and do a good
job. Or perhaps it would pay better to dismiss
them till 1st of February or 15th of Feb. and then make a
quick job of getting timber out & logs enough to mill to make a barn 60 x
40. What think you? If it can’t be worked to profit, I had rather
the teams be idle, Frank burroughing and taking good care of the stock and giving
up a little firewood till we should come.
The premises must have someone constantly there day & night.
We are anxious to reach home early in the new year but can’t
quite fix the date. We can meet the
engagements we have now in contemplation and get home the 15th of February,
1872. Would that be early enough to be
there at the dedication of the church?
That building ought to be completed before dedication in a most thorough
manner.
How stands the re-canning?
Now we have frozen ground, a little snow, and keen country weather. If you have plowing weather still in Minn, I
hope our farm is turned over again .
Also Benjamin, please these long cold evenings make out a
full account of my farm receipts & expenses as you have been knowing to it
since I left, and see what encouragment there is for me to farm it. Then tell me candidly what you think I had
better do ? I am not able to spend money
farming. It came too slow in this
itinerant singing life to throw away a dollar.
I shall be off while I have health for a year or two more, and if I can make
the farm pay its way by hiring help and leaving them, well and good. But if it is a losing game, I want to make a
sale of all the personal effects this coming winter or spring, clearing all off
and leasing the farm to someone and have them report to you. But if I can keep along & not run behind
I would keep Frank for years & have other help when needed and have a home
to flee to when weary of travel.
Concerting is very unreliable in its results. There is a good deal of
stir & excitement and sometimes a big turnout but the expenses are so great
of traveling & living, clothes etc. that the humblest mechanic or farmer with
health can accumulate as rapidly, bank more funds, or make improvements to his
home, & have the comfort of living in the peace of domestic comfort. Fred just came in from packing the organ to go to another town and said
for his part he could think of no business or profession so delightful as that
of farming in the west. I’m glad to see
him so pleased with his plans for future farming.
I want you doctor to send me a full account thus far of your
accounts, your credits and debits including your charge and items to date. Give me such advice and counsel as you deem
best. I want to push towards prosperity
rather than adversity. Collect money due
from ___. Sorry brother Dennis does not
feel disposed to pay his note. I guess
he will think better of it and do it by & by. The note was given March 24th,
1871 for $21.83 due in 8 months at 12 per cent. You can wait for maybe will pay
it. If he chooses to wait let it stand till I
come. It is perfectly good. I wish you would see David Adams or have him
stir up those that are doubtful and have them pay him at once and you can what you
can from C. M. Christains . He owes $80 from Jan 1st , 1871 - 2
years at 10% annual payment. Get in the
interest. Then John McKeurie owes $35
from March 27, 1871 for one year at 10%.
He may want to pay something.
Governor Austin ______________. Hope David Adams is elected representative. Tell us all the news as it happens in Hassan
Valley. Lots of Maine-ites think
everything of Minnesota. Wife
sewing. Abby darning stockings . We go to Skowhegan today. Wish Durmett was with your boys in
school. We are ___ giving him a kind of
education. __ reads well and looks after
the ___. Glad our school is progressive ____
and the good teachers retained. Hope you
will persevere in your many cares. Don’t
overdo – if you must spare your boys at school. Write us how the church appears and still address
us to care of Dr. Sherman, Lynn
Mass. In collection of dues above expenses,
deposit with State National Bank, Minneapolis.
Our united regards to your entire family.
Truly yours,
Asa B. Hutchinson
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