The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

I see Mr. Ellison’s marriage announced in the Philadelphia papers—married to a New
York lady, a [name] as I understand. A friend of his who boards with us showed me a letter from
him written a short time subsequent to the happy day. It was filled with nothing but hearts and
Cupids and love and Hymen, altars and happiness. Since my return I have been to church once
every Sunday and intend keeping up the practice. It is well enough, probably, to do so. It would
be better still if the millions of money expended annually in that way were appropriated to the
education and instruction of the people. It is not my intention to rent a pew or select a particular
church till after your return. Then you shall decide for us both. Since my last I have not been
anywhere to pass the evening from home with the exception of once to Miss Grant’s. Mr. Wills
requested me to go there with him, otherwise I should hardly have made even that visit. But if
nothing happens to prevent, I shall go to see the Beckhams tomorrow after dinner.
I regret that I have made out only to write so dull a letter tonight—would have deferred
writing till tomorrow but for knowing that our letters both ways have of late taken 3 days to reach
us. Give my best love to all the family.
Devotedly your own
A. W.
not have been accomplished & whether it shall answer this or not will depend upon yourself. But
as of yourself you can do nothing it will be your duty humbly to look to God for grace to enable
you to use it aright. David said it was good for him that he had been afflicted; & Jeremiah said
It is good for a man that he bear the yoke (by which affliction is meant) in his youth. These
truths have been verified in the experience of men in all ages. I am thoroughly convinced of them
myself. There are two errors to be guarded against in such cases: the one is that of thinking
lightly of afflictions, suffering them merely but not considering them: the other is that of
brooding over them in a gloomy de sponding way. The one St. Paul calls despising the chastening
of the Lord: the other fainting when rebuked of him. See Heb. III. 5. The whole chapter I would
earnestly reccommend to your pray erful attention so soon as you are so far recovered to be
capable of meditation. As to the physical cause of your disease I have conjectured thus: you had,
as I saw by a Richmond paper, been requested to make as speach [sic] on some public occasion—
you confined yourself too closely while preparing it and so took not that amount of bodily
exercise necessary. This of course is but a guess.
We expect Mr D. sometime next week. If however any delay for any cause should detain
him we expect he or Sam. will write. All send their love & it would be great pleasure to them to
see you reinstated in health which may God grant you soon to be.
Andrew Wylie to John H. Wylie, Richmond, Indiana
Bloomington, March 14 th 1846
Mr J. H. Wylie
Your afft father
AW
Dear Son.
We are glad that it has pleased the Almighty arbiter of our destinies to restore you to
a state of convalescence such as gives promise that we may see you again in good health. Dr
Dodds’ letter, received yesterday cheers us with this hope. As to the plans he suggests I cannot
advise. You must use your discretion & his. I will suggest some things for your considera tion.
Mr. D. & Sam know the state of the roads. Would it not expose you to the danger of relapse to
come home in the stage which goes all night? Would it not be better then for Sam to leave you
so soon as you think it safe and come with Dr Dodds and return for you in the buggy or some
covered vehicle & so return making easy stages and avoiding the danger of the damp night air?
He could ride your horse home & so save stage-fare. Or might not the horse be sold at Richmond:
so that should you think of locating at Cincinnati, as I suggested in my last letter— in which case
you will not need a horse--the proceeds of the sale will help to pay your debts. Possibly it would
be even advisable to sell your books--they can be replaced when you are settled-- rather than be at
the expense of carrying them about with you. Probably, too, I may think it expedient myself to go
early in the vacation to Richmond to settle up your affairs, that is if you think still of leaving that
place. -- I make these suggestions. Dr Dodds Sam. & your other friends at Richmond (if you have
any there whose opinion you would value in these matters) can consid er them and then do as shall
be thought best.
We are all well. We will see that Dr Dodds’ family want for nothing till his return.
Give my respects to Mr Fiske. I shall add a postscript which Sam can tear off and hand
him.
It will occur to you that your affliction has not “grown out of the ground,” but has come
from some cause and besides has been sent for some end important to you which without it could
28
Andrew Wylie to Samuel T. Wylie, “Near Louisville Ky”
Bloomington July 6 th 1846
Dear Son.
I am happy to find that you have good sense enough to shew you the propriety of writing
home without having been particular ly charged to do so; -- & that you seem to have managed
other little affairs with a “quantum suff.” of discretion.
I shall have your books and things sent by Woodwards wagon to care of B. O. Davis
It starts on monday next. I am in a hurry preparing to go to convention John goes with me to
Indianapolis (where it meets) & thence on to Richmond. He
seems to be still getting better: but his constitution has re ceived a severe shock and it will be long
yet before he recovers--if ever.
You will be in danger of a thousand things from which no care of mine--nor your own, nor
any other mortal can preserve you. Think of this.
As to health: you must take exercise every day & keep the pores clean by sweating washing is
good; but it acts on the end of the tube: whereas the sweat goes through and cleanses out the
whole channel
But health is not the chief thing, important as it is. You may rise early--take the morning air,
avoid late hours & hard eating & drinking and all other things which tend to disease, & yet you
may get into ways which are not good, as to the health of the soul. Set it down in your inmost
29