RIPLEY."

"Harvard, Mass., November 11, 1843.--DEAR FRIEND: Your kind letter of
the 1st came duly to hand, and we are making arrangements to enjoy
the benefit of your healthful bequest.

"Please to accept thanks for your sympathy and the reports of persons
and things in your circle. They have interested me much but I am
about to make you the most incongruous return conceivable. For
pleasure almost unqualified which you have conferred on me, I fear I
shall trouble you with painful relations; in return for a barrel of
superfine wholesome wheat-meal, I am going to submit to you a peck of
troubles. Out of as many of these as you lovingly and freely can, you
may assist me; but, of course, you will understand that I feel I have
no claim upon you. On the contrary, indeed, I see that I run the
hazard of forfeiting your valued friendship by thus obtruding my
pecuniary concerns into our hitherto loftier communings. You know it
to be a sentiment of mine, that these affairs should never be
obtruded between aesthetic friends, but what can one do in extremity
but to unburden candidly to the generous?

"When I bought this place, instead of paying the whole $1,800, as I
wished, $300 of my money went to pay old debts with which I ought to
have had nothing to do; and Mrs. Alcott's brother, Samuel J. May,
joined his name to a note for $300, to be paid by instalments in two
years. And now that the first instalment is due, he sends me word
that he declines paying it. As all my cash has been expended in
buying and keeping up the affair, I am left in a precarious position,
out of which I do not see the way without some loveful aid, and to
you I venture freely to submit my feelings. Above all things I should
like to discharge at once this $300 note, as unless that is done the
place must, I fear, fall back into individuality and the idea be
suspended. Now, if as much cash is loose in your pocket, or that of
some wealthy friend, there shall be parted off as much of the land as
will secure its return, from the crops alone, in a few years; or, I
would sell a piece until I can redeem it; or, I would meet the loan
in any other secure way, if I can but secure the land from the demon
usury. This mode seems to me the most desirable. But I could get
along with the instalment of $75, and would offer like security in
proportion. Or, if you can do it yourself, and would prefer the
library as a pledge, you shall select such books as will suit your
ow