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Thursday morning -
Dear Austin.
How much I miss you,
how lonely it is this morning - how
I wish you were here, and how very
much I thank you for sending me
that long letter, which I got Monday
evening, and have read a great many
times, and presume I shall again,
unless I soon have another.
I find life not so bright without
[Sue and] you, or [Martha,] and for a
little while I hav'nt cared much a-
bout it. How glad I was to know that
you had'nt forgotten us, and looked for-
ward to home, and the rustic seat, and
summer, with so much happiness -
You wonder if we think of you as
much as you of us - I guess so,
Austin - it's a great deal anyhow, and
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to look at the empty walls, and the
empty chairs in the kitchen almost
obscures my sight, if I were used
to tears. But I think of the rustic
seat, and I think of the July Evening
just as the day is done, and I read
of the one come back, worth all the
"ninety and nine" who have not gone
from home, and these things strengthen
me for many a day to come.
I'm so glad you are cheerful
at Cambridge, for cheerful indeed
one must be to write such a comic
affair as your last letter to me.
I believe the message to Bowdoin, w'd
have killed father outright if he
had'nt just fortified nature with two
or three cups of tea. I could hardly
contain myself sufficiently to read a
thing so grotesque, but it did me
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good indeed, and when I had fin-
ished reading it, I said with a
pleasant smile, "then there is something
left"! I have been disgusted, ever
since you went away, and have con-
cluded several times that it's of no
use minding it, as it is only a puff
ball. But your letter so raised me
up, that I look round again,
and notice my fellow men.
I think you far exceed Punch -
much funnier - much funnier, cant
keep up with you at all!
I suppose the young lady will be
getting home today - how often I
thought of you yesterday afternoon
and evening. I did "drop in at the
Revere" a great many times yesterday.
I hope you have been made happy.
If so I am satisfied. I shall know
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A 596; JL 109
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when you get home.
I have been to see Mrs Cutler several
times since Sue has been gone.
Mr Cutler has missed her dreadfully,
which has gratified me much.
What I was going to tell you
was that Mr Cutler's folks had written
Sue to meet Mr Sweetser in Boston last
week, and come to Amherst with him.
I knew she would'nt come, and I could-
nt help laughing to think of him
returning to town alone - that's all!
[Sue's] outwitted them all - ha-ha!
just imagine me giving three cheers
for American Independence!
I did get that little box, and do with
it as you told me. I wrote you so at
the time, but you must have forgotten
it. Write again soon, Austin, for this
is a lonely house, when we are not all here. Emilie
[Written along left margin of page one]
Mother says "tell Austin I think perhaps I shall write him a letter myself."
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