North Loup, Neb
Sept. 15th 1898
My Dear Son:
Your letter written as you were getting ready to leave your law office never to return to it as such was received and read with mingled joy and suffering. I really rejoiced in your noble manhood as shown in your decision to follow a course which you consider nearest duty, and I was weighed with sadness while I entered into your feelings as you depicted your reflections relative to leaving the law profession and turning over your business acquired through so much work and anxiety, and lastly in leaving the office in which you have had your first anxious experiences in trying to build up a business that would first give you a living, then a competency and the pleasure that comes to one in final success in an honorable business life. Had I not had the same feelings and reflections myself your words would not have affected me as they did. As it was, happening to be alone in the office for a little while as I opened your letter and read it, I read and cried, then read more and cried more until I was through with it, and my feelings are yet very tender on the subject. You get your deep feelings largely from your mother. She loved home and rooms in which she had special experiences either of joy, or loneliness or painful waitings with an intensity which other natures could not understand nor experience, and she could never change places or break away form old associations without shedding tears. Then your letter awakened in me former feelings in my own experiences - feelings which I had in a great number of changes and partings, some in business matters and others of a nature which I will not now bother you with. I hope so much that your will like your new work, and I pray often that the Lord will bless you in it.
Well we are all living on at home in the same old way without many changes to recite. If any are working harder than the rest I must name Edwin and Arthur. The demands for ditch water through the long hot dry summer forced them to work both night and day much of the time. Edwin lost 15 pounds in a few weeks. Myra as you know has returned from her western trip. She says the wonders of the National Park are beyond. William has fitted up an absolutely grand home for them and I think Myra will be happy in it. Uncle Heman has been up once since you were here. He referred to "a very nice letter" you wrote him, and he seemed to be pleased over it.
There is nothing new here except a little improvement in our town. A company is building a fine two story brick building on the north side of First Street for a new store and office rooms. A watch and jewelry establishment is moving into Mrs. Walker's front store room today and Mr. Everingm is opening up in the Real Estate business in the Dr. James office. I will comply with your request about the bible. It will be a great pleasure to me to do so. I will know very soon what book I shall select. It is evening and quite late. I am at home. Adaline is already off to bed and I will go now. I shall not forget if I do not write as often as you may desire. I get very tired and find it quite hard work to set myself at writing. Crops on over little place are pretty good and I hope to realize something out of them to pay some debts with.
With Love
Oscar Babcock