Professes his friendship; will not return to Emory & Henry; wants to go into business

         Giles CH Va                    10
         August 10
         Giles CH Va
1 F The

             Mr Samuel C. Gleaves
                Buffalo Ford
                  Wythe County
                     Virginia
Mail}
 
        Back of Envelope: 
   Isaac E. Chapman
        August 15th 1842

                    Giles Court House Va    Augt 10th 1842
Dear Friend
     The want of matter and not a disinclination has thus long prevented me from writing.  No! Samuel far from the latter!  A friend like you!  God Forbid!  That I should ever feel the slightest disinclination to write to him!  I received your letter a week or so ago.  It is impossible to imagine what pleasing emotions arose in my bosom as my eye together with my heart ran over each thrice sweet line.  I have often felt the sweets of friendship glow within my soul but never with half the firmness or never did it bind more closely than it did when I received your friendly, interesting, and well written epistle which brought with it the sweet remembrance of our first acquaintanceship.  The sentiments you expressed in your favor would be duly reciprocated in this had I language sufficient, but it matters not about that when the same feeling is deeply ingrafted in the heart when every thought partakes of the same kind feeling towards you.  it can never be erased.  no: never.  when this soul of mine leaves this body of clay and wings its flight to other regions beyond the short conception of mortal man, Then, and not till then, can I cease to remember thee.  That kind "hand of friendship" which has been so generously & affectionately tendered me by you shall ever be returned you by me with the same pure feelings at heart which seems to hold a place in your remembrance of me.

If ever, in this wide world of waste, I can be the least service in promoting the welfare of any individual, I will be happily satisfied  If ever that service can be given to any one, it shall be you, for whom, none but the purest, warmest and most lasting feelings of friendship inhabit my bosom and God forbid  that, ever, any others of a contrary nature should seek to find an abiding place there!
     When ever difficulty crosses your path, may it, by the master hand of Love, be hurled from before you.  If ever competion should array itself in all its gorgeous splendor and defiance before you, may it sink into rotten nothingness, and leave your path smooth & calm undisturbed by a single, or even the gentlest breeze of misfortune.  May you step forth into the arena of life, a brilliant Gem of western Virginia, and finally reach that arduous elevation on which Thought, stands dizzy and confused looking beneath upon a clouded earth, and above, upon an unfathomable sky
     Since I returned home I have been doing first one thing and then another.  I shall not return to Emory & Henry again, not that I dislike the place, for I loved it for the many good friends I have there.  Think not by this that I am done studying.  Though I may never go to school any more.  I purpose studying for one or two years yet before I undertake any profession-but as soon as I can get into business I will commence 

    Sam, you must answer this letter immediately and we will keep up a continual correspondence for it is my humble opinion that nothing can be

more productive of good, and more effectually in improving to a student than a continual correspondence with a friend. -Name some subject and write upon it in your answer,  and I will answer and endeavor to keep one side of it.
                             Be assured, that,
 SCGleaves           I am, Saml, Your most
                             devoted & sincere
                             Friend
                             I. E. Chapman