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 THE RANDALL FAMILY 1 6/

the dissolution of the Union. Indeed, only contractors now grow rich. This class are likely to devour half the wealth of the nation. I hope your pupils no farther fall off; the fixed salary seems to me justly yours while a single pupil remains at the school. I shall be glad to see you among us once more, though not at the sacrifice of your interests.

T was about going to Europe just as this war broke out, and would fain miss the missing of it. But it becomes an American to be as yet at home, till either he again finds a country, or a universal war spreading into every district and family of the land induce him to become an unwilling exile. Our people seem depressed. Even food is getting dear, the factories are all idle, and soon heavy taxation must be submitted to. However, the night amusements do not slacken, for people in this as in all other revolu- tions delight to drown in pleasure the depression of the day.

I visited in Beverly your grandfather's grave. It con- tains a white stone resembling the two others already standing there, and inscribed thus : " His life was an epistle wherein it was plainly written and easily read that he truly loved God and his fellow men." The defects are apparent, and I drew another on the spot in my note book, which, altering not the sense, has more force, and is more economical of words, thus : " His life was a history wherein was plainly written, he reverenced God and loved his fellow men." I object not in poetry to the use of "love of God and man" as in the same breath, when me- chanical difficulties make it necessary, but like it ill in prose, because confounding different sentiments, namely, Reverence and Benevolence.

I commenced repairs at Stow last fall, that the family

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