
Cor West. Camden,
N. Jersey, Jan 23d 74 Friday, 1½ p.m. Dear Boy Pete, 74
Your letter came Wednesday—You must try to cultivate & keep up a gay & cheerful heart, & shed off botherations, & the impositions of employers, &c. as a duck sheds water in a rain storm—that's the best capital a fellow can have through his whole life, I find.
I am only so-so—had a very bad night last night—it's a tough pull Pete—still I think I shall come out of it— We are having it very mild here now—after snow & cold the first of the week—too mild, like April to-day, cloudy
& some rain. I keep myself some busy writing—have a piece in Harpers' Monthly
just out (February)—shall have another in the March number—Can't seem to do, without occupying my mind through the day—nights are worst for me—I cant can't
rest well—has been so now for a month—But I must not fill my letter with my complaints—To-day is just a Year, since I was paralyzed, (23d Jan. '73)—What a year it has been to me—Good bye my loving boy—write me all the news & gossip.