Transcription:
2 as you say in your letter seeming all a dream Ah (my Boy) the hard, stern reality of living in this cold, cruel selfish
world, I have now experienced, I have long ago awaked. You say that you guess you are happy . John hear me I am happy with
my Sarah Anna George you would say so if you saw me with a little one on each knee cosily toasting by the warm fire while
the * G illegible wife (with her needle shears) gars illegible ld clais look amaist as well as new . While this picture of
happiness is before you John, it seems to me a fit place to explain a little that awful word Grumbling alias Discontented
. Discontented alias Grumbling you have heard so much about these few years back I believe in Sarah's last note to you; John
you have good reason to believe me a hard case that is if you believe all you hear; Well if shewing stating things as they
are in their ture light be grumbling; I have grumbled (hope if called upon) will Grumble, *Burns 3 if regretting that I
have not now as wont? sometime for leisure reflection social friendly intercourse with kindred spirits be discontent I am
discontented hope will continue to be; John if being contented to Grub with my nose in the dirt from day light to dark from
January to January be the very illegible of spiritual perfection and Christian contentment then truly I am void of understanding.
there is indeed no soundness within me. Appro illegible to this, while cutting stove wood this afternoon being tired pounding
at these old twisted knarled, knotty, thra illegible cross, contre, ugly sticks, I sat down a few minutes, my eyes instinctively
turned towards Pr. Du Chin to John his contrivances; I thought you would be philanthropist in the highest sense of the word
if you could invent some kind of a Battering Ram to split wood; you would indeed bestow a priceless Boon on the present after
generations but more especially on your humble servant Dave