18 LETTER-FILES OF S. W. JOHNSON 



the Northern Journal EVERY WEEK and write soon. 

 Obediently, S. W. Johnson. 



His loving interest in the education of four little 

 sisters is shown in a letter of even date to his sister, 

 Esther, then ten years old. "The Doctor" was his 

 own nickname in the family, "the Judge" and "the 

 Squire" were respectively two elder brothers, grown 

 men at this time. 



I mail with this note a small, but very useful and I think it 

 will prove to you a very interesting, book "First Lessons in 

 Botany ' ' by Alphonso Wood, Master of Arts. I hope you and 

 the rest of the little sisters are all quite well and enjoying 

 what little spring Deer River can afford. The school is get- 

 ting very well filled, and in a few days I shall teach classes in 

 Chemistry, Botany, Nat. Philosophy and perhaps Astronomy. 



You will doubtless feel disposed to study your little Botany 

 immediately, and since I am "the Doctor," and therefore 

 am understood to know science, you will receive from me a 

 little advice as kindly as it is offered. Now in the first place 

 sit down and count the cost. Botany is not a very easy study, 

 and it will try your patience no doubt to some extent, but just 

 resolutely make up your mind to acquire a thorough knowl- 

 edge of it, and then study hard to accomplish the good pur- 

 pose. You cannot perhaps study and recite it in school, 

 because your teacher has not probably an acquaintance with 

 the science, but if she has you can commence business at 

 once, and so you can at any rate, but it will be hard work 

 I fear, nevertheless you can do it and now for the plan. Get 

 up at 4 o'clock (going to bed at 8 o'clock), or as e^rly as any 

 one in the family, get dressed, then wash, etc. Do all this in 

 a lively, sprightly manner, assist in whatever household duties 

 may fall to your lot, until 5 o'clock, then Ma must allow you 

 an hour to study Botany. Take up the Book and read the 

 title page. It is only "First Lessons," and since there [is] a 



