I am glad you wrote the old gentleman. I don’t bear him a bit of malice, but the thing he asked me to do for him I wouldn’t do for myselfⒶemendation nor for a man who had saved my life, nor for a brother or a father, or any human being.

As for the young man who prints the paper, he doesn’t need any “Encouragement;” his cheekⒶemendation, his ignorance & his vanity together will carry him through this world a-booming. Whenever I can do anything to dsiscourageⒶemendation him, I shall be entirely at his service. I have a strong aversion for him. I have a more constant contact with a selfish world than you have, Ma, & consequently my heart is much harder toward it than yours is. You see, you owe a debt of gratitude to a grandfather, & would pay it to a worthless grandson; whereas I should pay it to the grandson only on condition that he be worthy of it.

The trip to Keokuk is a good idea—go ahead, & let me pay the cost. If you could go from Buffalo to Chicago by water, or from Pittsburgh to Keokuk by water, I should think it would be more comfortable & less fatiguing than by rail.

Love to all