Utica Licking Co Feby 26/53

Dear Dad

I am well!  I am.  Having nothing to say I will say nothing.  I have taken particular pains to follow mothers advice on coughs colds and the whole catalogue of disasters in her vocabulary.  I am about resigned unto my lot at present but don’t know how long I will stay resigned.  My duties are now numerous and getting “numerous-er” every day.  Col Alsdorf is a “brick” “ad do bistake” as the man afflicted with the “idfluedza” says.  It is particularly pleasing to my self love to have the old “seed” “gass” about my qualifications for bookkeeping &c.  He has told all his friends that “I was the best book keeper in Ohio”!  I only wish I was, wouldn’t I “Travel” from “U.T.K.” quicker than a streak of blue vitriol.  A few days ago while the Col., was in Newark an old seed came into the office and commenced talking to me on a variety of subjects.  Says he, “Young man they tell me that you are the only man the Col. ever had in this office that suited him.”  Says I, how’s that?.  “Seg-e,” You’re “boss.”  “The old Col. don’t know anything about business and you do as you please, keep the books as you have a mind to.  The Col. had every body else in his employ under his thumb but he’s afraid of you.”  Now wasn’t that “rich” Dad?.  We will make about $130.00 this month which is nothing to what we will do.  If I keep all square I may be able to lease this property some of these weeks and then if I don’t make some of the “root,” why—I’ll lose some.  If the Col. with no knowledge of business can average $200. pr month, why can’t I, yes even I Samuel M. Wilkinson make at least 200 cents pr month.  I have heard 2 sermons since writing my last and I really was pleased with them.  The one of last sunday night was “rich, rare & racy.”  The minister actually laboured to show the young men of Utica the easiest road to hell, not heaven.  Every body turned out to hear that sermon.  I was delighted others were pleased also till he closed with only one restriction viz, “But know thou O young man that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement.”  Imagine to yourself a tub of cold aqeous fluid suddenly scattered over said appreciative audience.  My object in writing to you is to request you to send by first train my “cracked” flute.  Stow it away in a box and give it in charge of W. Boyd Bowland Agt Mans Junct.

Yours affectionately

Samuel M. Wilkinson

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