M. U. [Madison University] 18th July '49Dear Caroline,
My long silence I have at times felt, rendered me undeserving of your very kind notice and note. It may be some paliation [sic] of my offered [?] (though not enough) to say that I have been very busy and have granted you about as much of my time as I have any of my friends except of course my dear M. -
Many thanks to you for your kind note and be assured that anything of the kind, will always be gratefully received. "The contrast" between it and "Martha's sweet letter" was not so great as to be painful!
I was indeed surprised to hear that you thought of remaining east; but if you have concluded to do so, let me not say anything that will make the task now hard. Yet I may say, what you already must know, that your friends, among whom let me be one, would be exceedingly glad to see you again returned from your long absence. I often wonder whether it will be my privilege to be again so near you for any length of time, as when we were both in Kingsville. If so, I am confident I should intrude upon you oftener and stay longer. But how little do we know of the future. Only the present is ours with its fleeting joys and cares. Nay, it is not so: there is a future that is secure. Eternity we may confidently calculate upon. There are "things unseen" which are abiding. We pursue our varied duties here, and track our devious paths; but by faith we see them ending at one gate which opens into a single city, "whose builder and maker is God"; and where there will be to its inhabitants, no more cares, or sorrows, or separation. My dear friend, that we may be strong in faith, ever looking to the end of the course, is the prayer of
Your Brother -
Luke [Osborn]