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 THE RANDALL FAMILY I05

speedy arrival of a new servant may yet enable Emily to

go to Stow, where Belinda thinks she may herself meet

us. I shall remain at the farm some little time after you

leave for Wilton, and shall be glad to have Stanley come

and take your place. Please invite him to do so. He

may chance to see Mr. Simmons, and perhaps others

there, and, if not, will, I dare say, be glad to spend some

time in turtle-hunting, or otherwise.

Love to all, ,, ^ ,

Yours truly,

•' J. w. R.

��Boston, Jan. 9, 1857. Dear Frank,

Your desire to hear from me induces me to push myself up to the exertion of writing. I suppose you feel a little lonely at a distance from your friends, yet probably less so than if you were not busily employed. Indeed, if one could choose one's scholars, I should think teaching by no means the least agreeable of drudgery.

I am glad you take so much pleasure in your new friend, nor do I think that a hundred can be of any harm to a sincere person, even though it reduce friendship to a general benevolence — a delightful sensation, however diffusive. I know from experience that it is a pleasant thing to grow up with a companion of one's own age; and a similarity in the moral nature with a difference of tem- perament I have found to present the most favorable conditions for the continuance of friendship. Now, in- deed, equality of age has to me ceased to be important, and I contemplate with pleasure the variety of my com. panions, which presents a different object of attachment in all the ages of men, representing many different ex-

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