ttend to my business. Cannot some of you come and
pay us a visit? Jennie has not answered Julia's letter yet. Did she
receive it? I was coming to the city the day it was written to hear a
political speech, and it was too late to get it in the post office, so
I gave it to a young man to put in the next morning. It is for this
reason I asked the question.

Write to me soon. I hope you have had none of the sickness we have
been troubled with.

Your Brother,

ULYSSES.

To MARY F. GRANT,
Covington, Ky.

[Soon after the date of this letter Grant sold at auction his stock,
crops, and farming implements, and gave up farming. His father, Jesse
Root Grant, had founded a leather store in Galena with the expectation
of establishing his three sons in the business, and withdrawing from
all connection with it himself. It is this business opportunity that
is referred to here with characteristic independence, "I should prefer
your offer to any one of mere salary that could be offered." But it
was not until May, 1860, that he went to Galena, nominally as a clerk,
in reality as a future partner in the business.]

St. Louis,
Oct. 1st, 1858.

DEAR FATHER:

I arrived at home on Tuesday evening, and, it being my "chill" day, of
course felt very badly. Julia had been much worse during my absence,
but had improved again so that I found her about as when I left home.
Fred, has improved steadily, and can now hear nearly as well as before
his sickness. The rest of the family are tolerably well, with the
exception of Mr. Dent whose health seems to be about as when I left.
Mr. Dent and myself will make a sale this fall and get clear of all
the stock on the place, and then rent out the cleared land and sell
about four hundred acres of the north end of the place. As I explained
to you, this will include my place. I shall plan to go to Covington
towards Spring, and would prefer your offer to any one of mere salary
that could be offered. I do not want any place for permanent
stipulated pay, but want the prospect of one day doing business for
myself. There is a pleasure in knowing that one's income depends
somewhat upon his own exertions and business capacity, that cannot be
felt when so much and no more is coming in, regardless of the success
of the business engaged in or the manner in which it is done.

Mr. Dent thinks I had better take the boy he has given Julia along
with me, and let him learn the farrier's business. He is a very