[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Geneva Oct 28, 1850
My Dear Sister Carrie
You can hardly imagine how great was my joy at receiving a letter from you yesterday with such good news, that soon you will be at home again - very soon I shall again see my Instructress - my Sister. It seems almost like too much joy for I had long ago given up the idea of seeing you again until I should be able to come to you but now you are really "coming home". You don't know Carrie how many glad hearts there will be to see you. when you talk of being sad No dear Sister, you must not be sad when you come among us. It will be joy rather than sadness - joy at again being with those whom you know to be faithful, true friends. All are not false and you dear Carrie have as many true friends as one could wish - you need but to be known to be loved. Then look forward to the reunion with anything rather than feelings of sadness, for if you are sad how can we be otherwise.
Tis not changed here much since you left us, but even if it were so changed that you could not recognize a spot or thing which you once knew, would you care if the hearts of friends still remained the same, true and unchangeable. Well I think you will find all the same as when you left but even if you do not will it not be rather gain, than loss to you, for the heart that can change in one, two, three, or any number of years is unworthy a sigh or a moments regret. Our feelings ought rather to be of thankfulness that their hollowness and unworthiness is so soon discovered. The true heart can never change so if you find any changed ones thank Heaven that they are so soon found out and trust thou that you know, for I doubt not but there are such and ever will be.
One there is who let what will happen can but think of you ever, with feelings of the deepest gratitude and esteem based on known quantities and excellencies of character. Tis he you honored with the title of Brother, unworthy as he is. I trust that you know me well enough to know that I am sincere in all I say - you have been my best friend, how then could I regard you otherwise than with feelings such as I have mentioned.
But here I have written thus far without once referring to your letter. It was not rec'd as soon as it should have been, for I was at Chester and it was not forwarded as I was expected home every day. I am fearful that this will be too late for you but will run the risk. I sympathise with you in your disappointments of returning home, and hope their memory will soon be lost in the glad reality that you are there surrounded by those loved ones made if possible doubly dear by so long seperation. [sic] You need not have made any excuse for not writing sooner, for I felt confident that you would write as often as consistent. But I am far from feeling indifferent as to the time that should elapse between dates for could it have been possible I should have been glad to have heard from you every week.
I never have felt that I have had a very urgent claim on your correspondence; yet I would have given much for such a claim. As it is it has been a great favor to me for which I can never sufficiently repay you, and the debt is collecting interest too. I was sad when I wrote you last, very sad but I think such feelings are not so strong with me now at least they shall not be much longer for with me the feeling is weakness such as I ought never for a moment to have indu[l]ged in for a moment but alas! I cannot control my feelings at all times as I could wish. The truth is dear Sister, I have been forced to learn an important lesson; that all are not nearly what they seem - that deceit in order to be successful must needs [sic] wear the guise of truth and virtue, and that if I would escape imposition I must as far as possible read the motives guiding the actions of all - to look with suspicion upon all till I can distinguish truth from hypocricy. [sic]
Think you not that this is a grand school for teaching the heart to respect and love mankind? Under such influences will not the soul expand and become all that is generous, warm, and confiding? And yet it seems to be a lesson that must be learnd. [sic] Pardon me Sister I have said too much. I have friends more and better, far better than I deserve. There are a few who I know, know to be good, generous, and in short all that I could wish. But they are few in comparison with the multitude of hypocrites which fill the world.
I have known something of your sorrows dear Carrie, but have forborne any remark lest it should prove ill timed and besides I am so young I knew that I was entitled to no share of your confidence, unless you should voluntarily choose to trust it with me.
I fear dear Sister that you have devoted yourself too closely to the interests of those children who are favored by your instructions. Had you not better give up teaching entirely unless it be to take charge of the Ladies in some Academy say for instance Kingsville which is in future to be under Mr Fowler[.] The good people of Geneva are meditating a siege against you already, and I am requested to ask you if you will come and board with us and teach our school next winter.
Marcia, dear Marcia is no better and I am beginning to despair of her ever recovering her hearing. You have the love and best wishes of the whole family, and all are hoping soon to see you again. I have passed quite a pleasant term at Chester and made tolerably good advancement in my studies. The school is under sectarian control and that past I disliked so much that I should never go back even if Mr Fowler had not left. I am intending at present to go south in about three or four weeks but may not go at all. At all events I think that I shall not go until you have come home. Please excuse me from writing more this time. I am in a great hurry which my writing will bear testimony to. I will tell you the rest when I see you, which will take one day's steady talking at least. So now "Good Night" dear Sister
Ever your faithful brother
AugustineP.S. Just drop me a line as soon as you get home informing me of the fact and I will come down after you immediately
A.