My Dear Dudley,

As I may not have the opportunity of a personal interview with you for some time, I am sending you this litter letter, with the hope that it may bring you a little cheer and comfort, in this, doubtless the darkest hour of your life.  In a very peculiar sense our lives have run in parallel lines.  Doubtless, we have more in common, than any of the friends of either of us. 

In the first place, we are of almost an equal age.  We were boys together in school, and hav eenjoyed the same sports on the plag g round and have occupied the same de(s)ks and have encountered the same difficulties and have enjoyed the same accomplisments in our studies.  After quitting the common schools we both attended college, and have enjoyed and profited by the blessings that come from a college education.  Both of us have engaged in the occupation of a teacher, and given our time and talents to the promotion of the cause of education.  We have been literary in our tastes, and have tried to the best of our ability to advance the cause of Master, though not in exactly the same field of activity.  You have spoken from the pulpit while I have been engaged as a teacher of the Sacred Scriptures.  Neither of us have acquired great fortunes in a material way, as we have given our attention and our activities have been directed along educational and spiritual lines rather than piling up of a great fortune.  Though many people have thought to the contrary, I have never been a money maker, and in may respects I have been a financial failure.  But i have no regrets along these lines, as I am able to enjoy the society of the wise and the good, both in personal contact, and through the medium of their writings, in papers and books.  You can say the same in a remarkable degree. 

At the same time, a lot of money would be of littel value to you, but, even if alone in your room at night, or during the day, you can have the society of the wistes and the best of every age and every clime.  This, I regard as a priceless heritage.  Above all eles, you can appreciate and appreciate the teachings of the "Book of Books", the values of which is above all comparison.  Even if you have no book in your hands, you are so familiar with the sacred text, that it an hour of meditation you can quote to yourselve, passage after passage, which you have often quoted to others, and which will give you a peace of mind and soul, which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot take away.  It should be a great consolation to you to consider the vast host of your fellowmen and women also, who know you and love you, and will bestow upon you an unstinted affection. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you, and cause his face to shine upon you, and give you peace.

With Christian Affection

Matt