Scope and Contents Orestes wishes Henry to read the enclosed and then send it on to the Institute. He thinks they will invite Henry to take his place, and he hopes Henry will accept. His subject would have been "The Church and Liberty" and he should have labored to prove that the Church is the only basis for all true liberty. He went to New York the week before last and came home with a severe cold and a slight attack of gout. He has subdued the inflammation and got rid of the pain, but is too weak and stiff...

Scope and Contents Father Augustine Hewit wanted him to write an article on the School Question and Father Issac Hecker wrote Orestes from Rome the outlines of an article on Church and State for Orestes to fill up for the Catholic World. These with article on Emerson and the concluding one on the Abbe Martin have with Orestes' writing for the Tablet, kept him so perplexed and busy that he has had hardly a moment in which to write Henry and Fifine. Orestes begs Henry to excuse him, especially as his eyes are so...

Scope and Contents Henry's letter to his mother indicated that he and Pifine are keeping house and are in better health. Mrs. Brownson had not been aware of the change made in the Commissioner of the Bureau although it is her practice to read the army news. Her husband has been made a present of a wheel chair from some friends in New York. On the previous Sunday Brownson tried walking throughout the house and today he is dressed for the first time in several days. He has asked his wife to mention, when writing...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson tells Henry that she is sorry to hear that he has not been well. She had hoped that the climate in Detroit would agree with him better than the East. Brownson is relieved of his lameness, but the Dr. who calls to see him each week thinks that the nail of his toe will have to be taken out. He walked to church on the previous Sunday, walks in the garden a good deal, and plans on going to the city in the following week. . Mr. and Mrs. Sadlier have just been over to express their...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson has been expecting a letter from Henry for some time since he had told her of his intention to write in 3 or 4 days. However, the letter has not arrived and his mother feels that either he or Josephine are sick. Henry and Josephine must visit the Brownson if they pass anywhere near them, otherwise they will be greatly disappointed. Brownson has been troubled for a week with a stiffness in his neck that seems to be working down towards his feet. He has been working hard for some...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson writes to let Henry know they are well and that Henry's father will not visit Henry just yet, but will let him know when. He desires to know the street and number as Henry might be busy in his office when he arrives. Mrs. Brownson has been uneasy since she learned little Philip has the croup. Henry must have been alarmed and she knows how to pity him as Sarah was threatened with it until she was four or five years old and for years kept a bottle of medecine ready for fear of an...

Scope and Contents Henry's father arrived home yesterday at 3 p.m., having stayed the night before with Father Isaac T. Hecker as it was 7 p.m. when he got into New York. He had no trouble of any kind, and Mrs. Brownson thinks he looks healthier than when he left. He had a very pleasant visit and it will do him an immense amount of good. He has given her such a cheering account of Henry, Fifine and the children that it does her heart good. She encloses the dollar for some change Brownson borrowed of Henry....

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson has been trying to find time to acknowledge Henry's letter of the 7th and also to tell him how much obliged she is to him and Fifine for all their kindness and attention to Brownson. He has told her a great deal about the younger Brownsons, and she rejoices very much at their happiness and prosperity. Henry's father told her an anecdote of two women who came to Henry's office. One Henry charged nothing and the other only a small fee. She hopes Henry will strew his path through...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson received Henry's letter of the 27th, but since Mr. Brownson had previously written him, she supposed it was useless to write then. Henry will probably be married by the time he receives this letter and his mother wishes him and Josephine every blessing, spiritual and temporal. Mrs. Brownson looks upon Josephine as a daughter and hopes that she will always be a mother to Josephine. It will be impossible for Mr. and Mrs. Brownson to be present at the wedding on the following...

Scope and Contents Henry's mother is glad to hear that he and Fifine are well and that he has not had another attack as on the night before he left. She feels his illness keenly and claims that the love between husband and wife is no stronger than the love which parents have for their children. Being deprived of a proper use of his hand, as well the care and vexations of officers and men, is great suffering for Henry and Mrs. Brownson wonders how he bears these trials so uncomplainingly. General Hancock wrote...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson is acknowledging Henry's letter and is very glad that he and Fifine are comfortably settled in their new home. She would prefer having her son in civil rather than in military life and if he succeeds in his plans they all will be perfectly satisfied. At first thought they do not know what the Government may do, but then there possibly may come that sober second thought for which the American people are noted. Fifine probably has seen enough of military life to be pleased with...

Scope and Contents Henry's mother is very much rejoiced to hear of the safe arrival of her little grandchild and that he has been made a Christian. She hopes that he will be a second Samuel and know the Lord from his youth forward. It was consoling to learn that Fifine was better since Mrs. Brownson was anxious about her. She hopes that Fifine has a good nurse, one that will not allow her to see much company since she cannot be too careful of her self. Henry is to kiss Fifine and the baby for Mrs. Brownson and...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson is much obliged to Henry for his recent letter and is glad to know that he is continuing well in the warm weather. She is sorry to hear that Fifine has not been well and is afraid that perhaps having too much company and excitement in her weak state is responsible. She inquires as to the baby's condition. The position of an army officer at present is indeed unpleasant but time may bring something more favourable and at least one is certain of pay while in the army. It would be...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson is much distressed to hear of Fifine's poor condition and can well understand how hard it must be for Henry to be so far away and obliged to stay several days longer. In all probability, however, her mother sees that she has every attention. Orestes A. Brownson went to New York and has not returned yet. The Times announced him as having been at Fordham on Wednesday, and probably he is now enjoying himself somewhere. The Bishop had confirmation this morning and it was very warm...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson asks forgiveness for not having answered his letter until now and also for all of her delinquencies and shortcomings. She hopes Fifine is still improving and has more than regained her usual strength. Seeing the baby would please very much and it is to be hoped that he gets through the warm weather, which is so trying to small children. Henry, she supposes, feels anxious to know how things will turn out but he should trust that everything will be for the best even if not in...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson has been neglectful in answering Henry's letter but she has been very busy. An artist, Mr. Pinkelin was taking Brownson's picture for the orphans in Boston. It will be raffled there at the Fair in the hope that it will help the Fair as well as the artist. Brownson wanted a picture to be kept in the family so a copy was taken. The last one will be on exhibition in New York. The artist has recently come for Munich and is painting pictures much more cheaply now than he will when...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson was about to answer Henry's letter to his father, since Brownson thought he would not be able to write his son, when she received Henry's letter to her. She is very glad that both Henry and Fifine like the Brownsons. She does not like the people of the South. However, she hope for the time when the northern and southern states a more united than ever. Henry's father has been unwell and has written only one article for the Tablet recently. The weather has been very infavorable...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson, through lack of time, has been unable to express her joys and thanks for Henry's letter. She speaks of his father's illness in its various stages, during which time he was attended by Dr. Grier and Dr. Hewit. The condition was diegnosed as acute rheumatism from which there was intense suffering. Brownson has taken a great deal of medicine and his diet consists mainly of beef tea. Mrs. Brownson has a bed in the office from where she can look after her husband throughout the...

Scope and Contents On the night that Mrs. Brownson wrote a letter to Henry for her husband she was taken ill with a sickness that lasted four days. For about ten days after she was very weak but now feels much better. During this time she did not see Brownson at all and Sarah took good care of her. Brownson is gaining slowly and has-been out for a ride twice in a carriage which was brought to his door in order that he might be placed in it. He has very little pain anymore but his knees and ankles swell when he...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson is writing to Henry in order to relieve his anxiety about his father. The Dr. found Brownson not so well on the previous evening but hopes to get him on his feet again. He was decidedly opposed to the castor oil, laudanum and spirits of turpentine which Brownson has hurt himself by taking, and has changed the medicines. Dr. Grier came to see Brownson on the previous afternoon after not having stopped by for two or three weeks. He lost his wife last summer and has not been worth...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson has received Henry's letter and she is very anxious to have him and Fifine visit her an Brownson on their way to Detroit. She has requested Brownson to urge the visit in his letter to them and she expects to see them on or before Christmas. Henry's father is continuing to gain and is now eating much better. Langdon Healy from Brooklyn, visited the Brownson recently, and they found him very pleasant. Mrs. Brownson's health has improved considerably since her husband's recovery....

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson is not surprised that Henry is uneasy about his parents if he has not heard from them since he has been in Chicago. Both his mother and father have written to him, however, since he arrived there, and have also received mail from him. All are well at the Brownson home and Henry's father has gone to New York. He went to see Mr. Sadlier about publishing a book and expects to return on Monday. He means to have Dennis Sadlier pay him more for his articles in The Tablet. Orestes A....

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson expresses sympathy for not having written her son Henry before this, but assures him it is not from forgetfulness. Men's minds are so broad and elevated that they cannot easily descend to every day's particulars. Eliza, the girl living with the Brownsons was troubled with sore fingers for those weeks, forcing Mrs. Brownson to do the cooking. Since Orestes Brownson's book is being printed, she, Sarah and Eliza go downtown nearly every day, especially since St. Mary's parish has...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson wishes Henry and Fifine a happy New Year and the greatest blessings. She says that on Sunday, St. Stephen's day Dec. 26., the Brownson's commemorated the baptism of four of their children 25 years ago. She hopes Henry had a pleasant time in Milwaukee and that he will be back home by the time this letter reaches Chicago. She expresses concern over little Philip's health and hopes that they all are better for the journey. Her Father and she sympathize with his difficulties with...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson acknowledges Henry's letter of Jan. 6th and expresses her pleasure at Henry's visit in Milwaukee. She thanks Fifine for writing and rejoices at her good health this winter. Henry's father has been waiting several days for a letter from him and is undecided about the trip to Chicago, although his health is good so far this winter. She thanks Henry for offering to accompany his father and says that he and Sarah are both anxious she should go but she hesitates because of the...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson was very glad to receive Henry's letter of the 7th inst. She had been afraid Henry had not got back well, or had found Fifine worse or the children sick. Henry must have been delighted to see Philip walk. George Brownson did not walk until he was Philip's age, until suddenly one day he was walking all around the room. Most children take a few steps at once—not so George—he wanted to master whatever he undertook. Mrs. Brownson hopes little Sally is doing well. She looks upon her...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson was greatly pleased with Henry's letter of May 17. She hopes he is well now and cautions him to be careful of his condition. She is also glad that he finds good company in Detroit and hopes that he will be stationed there for some time. Mr. Brownson's health is good, and he went to New York two weeks previous to attend Judge White's funeral as well as to visit Dr. Hewit about his foot. Last Tuesday, Dr. Hewit came over and took out part of the mail and as a result Brownson has...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson apologizes to Henry for having forgotten to say goodbye to him at the Ferry and assures him that she is, at all times, wishing for his best good. Henry was sick and worried when she saw him last and was full of care in getting away. She thanks him very much for his kindness and in going to the Ferry with her. She likes Miss Josephine Van Dyke, Henry's fiancee, very much and is pleased to have her as a daughter-in-law. She sends her love through Henry to Miss Van Dyke as well as...

Scope and Contents Mrs. Brownson fears that Henry thinks her very negligent for not having written him but explains that she has been too busy. Things are going better at the Brownson home than they did and Mrs. Brownson has the best girl working for her that she has ever had. Annie Brownson arrived on November 11 and is expected to stay all or part of the winter. She has improved greatly and is now a firm and pious Catholic. Mrs. Brownson likes her much better than before. Annie wishes to be remembered to...

Scope and Contents Both of Henry's parents have received a letter from him recently and Orestes A. Brownson has already answered. They are glad that Fifine is recovering her strength and tell Henry not to be uneasy since her mother and sister will look after her. Mrs. Brownson is sorry that Henry has to stay in such a lonely place but is conforted by the thought of only a short stay there. Henry's father had a severe attack of rheumatism during the previous week which was concentrated in the elbow of his left...