Letter from James Lyman on preaching and Mary's impending visit

Riceville July 3, 1881

Dear Folks,

I have been ratting here in this bury for some seven days. I have not written to you during this time and feel for the more for it. I have been writing memories most of the time, I must preach this morning as I usually do, began it about Wednesday and I wrote the sermon and did not like it. Then [?] another, and then another wrote thee sermon in four days and then quit. I don’t know how many I thought of period. This was a good audience this morning to see the “new morn” impact. I felt calm. There is a difference between sermon preaching and speaking [arations]. When one preaches he stands in Christ’s stead, and cannot forget it. It is [?] thought. Shall I bring more shame on him who was spit upon or more suffering on him who was nailed to its cross? [?] my prayers that if I do dishonor him he will strike me dead. By dying one might glorify him if not by preaching. It is a great thing to die well. I preached as vigorously as I could but some how I did not think I did much. I was afraid that I did not inform the opportunity. It was a great opportunity. I have seldom felt more willed mind then when I classed. Some people said they liked it. I guess I shall stay here for a time. I was somewhat [?] last Sunday, I was preaching away [?] when I alarmed some girls [?]. So I turned by eyes [?] on them and preached at them for about five minutes when they quieted down and troubled no more. This is an effective instrument in the profession of the preacher to back people down and [?][?] them [?].

Monday [?] it, there is something the matter of me, and I know what it is. I did not get any letter from home last week. I had not had it forwarded, and so must do without until it comes. I shall have it such now that I know I am to stay, I am going to stay here until [?]. You Mary, had better make your arrangements I said, to stay a little time at Kellogg and Chicago, and come to Oberlin about the 1st [?] or 4, if the same. We can arrange that. Now I wish to [?][?] you very deeply one thing. In travelling you must take care of yourself, it will be a hard trip any how, and you must take all possible precautions not to [?] do. This will be when you will be most likely to teach yourself in [?] of one kind and another, on the way; in good sleep, to sleep all you can, let nothing [?] with the [?] of your meals, or anything she, there are some things unpleasant [?] with life on the east, but you must not let them [?] with your health. If you should get a series of headaches by any carelessly, i got your [?][?], or otherwise disarrange your [?] uptown, I would greatly was you [?] of the trip, and [?] you for work when you [?] at Oberlin. Bear there things in mind, I should like to write them with a pen of fine on your brain, because they are so important, I have been through the will, and know, [?] not my [?]. Yea I ate to much watermelon one day. I think In a former letter I told all about what to get, how to put sheets around your bunks etc. You must come, I have not my mind bent on it. It will be good for you. I shall make about thirty [?] clear this summer, so I can [?] you some, more than I expected. The Sammon’s are an exceedingly interesting family. They talk too much, forever. He gave me an awful compliment on my sermon. He said “well that is the only sermon I ever heard that was completely [?]. You did [?] very bored and I thought I would all been many [?] to [?]. But when you began to bring up you[?], they said ‘well I must [?] to this’, and they could[?] go to sleep” [?] was frank enough to tell me not many days before that he was disappintd in me. I thought this too was probably sincere. Mrs Sammon’s said that I make my thought so clear the the [?] could be [?]. This I valued the more as I am always afraid of slipping into the [?] of the [?]. At least [?] all tell me that I so. There thing feed my verity pleasantly.

This is a short letter, but I will write again.