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outside read [illegible] and next [illegible] (5 from bottom) for inside. read outside.
Clarification
Pays. 156. lui 11. for [illegible] and [illegible].
Pays 157. in grounds a [illegible] minimal out in Co and Au.
Pays 162 [illegible] 17 For Dovial nature. read
[illegible]
Of course you know [illegible] what i wanted in question
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Amherst , Mass March 11, 1879
Prof. C. E. Bessey, Ames la. My Dear Sir: Thanks for your kind letter of the 7th. Your name and some thing of your work have been so long known to me, that I feel acquainted with you, and doubt not that I shall enjoy your society, and that we shall [illegible] much in our pursuits.
Oh the butchers and bakers and text-book makers! A brief examination of Orton's, some time ago, im pressed me very favorably. To the average student, who must be kept in view it is as well adapted, probably, as any book.
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But, speaking of "delay of a week or two before the books come," when must the classes begin the studies assigned to me? Are these studies all deferred till I come? And when am I ex pected? When I last wrote to Pres. Welch, I said substantially that my wife's health and circumstances previously referred to, make my movements uncertain and push any [illegible] rather in definitely into the end of Spring or opening of Summer; and he replied to the affect that matters could be easily ar ranged accordingly. As to my wife's health, the degree and length of her disablement after passing a crisis in prospect, cannot be predicted. As to
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other circumstance of a less imperative sort, there is nothing new today.
In fact, my mind had settled down to the idea of remaining here till the end of June, at least. But I am in the dark as to the time of your (short, I believe) summer recess, as I have been thus far unable to get any recent report of the college. I shall be exceedingly obliged if you will send me one, - with calendar corrected in dates, if need be.
The one service a Sunday at the Baptist church would be agreeable to me; but with this uncertainty ahead, they should not depend on me; and, with extra work in moving and starting in a new position, I should very likely prefer to rest one day in seven, for awhile.