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 do^^^l 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 early 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 



