"... I have neglected you of late, thinking you were soon to go to
Meadville, and that you were busy. We are sorry to hear of your
great disappointment. It is a disappointment to us as well,
particularly to me. However, we need the reverses and crosses of
life as much as the air we breathe, to strengthen our characters.
You have pushed yourself so hard with business and studies the past
two years, that you have not taken time to view the life around you
in the right light. Let the next two years be given principally to
building up your character individually and socially, and to
improving your health, as one of the first requisites of a minister
is a sound mind and a healthy body. Be social; take life
cheerfully; make those about you better for your company; and
mingle freely with your family and best friends, showing them you
are practising Unitarianism. Yes; make these two coming years tell
as a preparation for college in another way, and let them prove a
blessing to you, though a disappointment at first. Did you read
Rev. E. E. Hale's 'Methods,' in 'Register' a few weeks since? This
week's 'Register' contains an excellent sermon by Rev. John
Clifford on 'Spiritual Building.' Have a home worship of your own
sometimes. During the vacation, every Sunday I have had a regular
worship. For instance, to-day I read for sermon, 'Spiritual
Building;' opening hymn, 'Come, Thou Almighty, help us to praise;'
'Scriptures Old and New' (a compilation by Mr. Forbush and Mr.
Hosmer, from all religions, and an excellent thing to have), Lesson
27,--'The Kingdom within us;' prayer, followed by Scripture lesson,
Galatians iii., from which is taken text; then Wesley's hymn, 'The
whole armor of God;' sermon; closing hymn, Doddridge's 'Awake, my
soul, stretch every nerve,' etc. Have been interested during the
vacation in looking over Gannett's 'Childhood of Jesus' and
Carpenter's 'Palestine when Jesus lived.' Also bought 'Selections
from the Apocrypha,' compiled by Mrs. Tileston, who compiled 'Daily
Strength.' Readings from the Apocrypha are so common in Unitarian
pulpits now, that it is well to be familiar with the best portions.
Am not able to do much reading now. Am physically too weak. Never
was able to use my brain to its full extent,--feeble and nervous
all my life, but active otherwise."
Miss Ellis's last letter to him was written but little more than a month
before her death, when in the utmost weakness herself; but to this she
makes no allusion. It was a letter of consolation in bereavement, from
which this is an extract:--