1863-10-22, Letter from Roelif Eltinge to his daughter Rachel Eltinge

              New Paltz Oct. 22nd 1863
Miss Rachel Eltinge.
	Dear Daughter,
			Yours of the 17th Inst.
is received.  It gives me great pleasure & satis-
faction to learn that you like your teachers
so well, & that you are getting along pleas-
antly with your associates.  You can learn
from the conduct of others & its effects on
you that a haughty & overbearing deport-
ment has a tendency to mar that kindly
felling which we should exercise towards
all with whom we come in contact.
	Do not allow any seeming neglect or
indifference on the part of any of your
schoolmates disturb you, we all have our
weak points, & it is the part of wisdom
rather to pity than resent a haughty spirit.
	You will find true worth in individuals
of high standing as well as of those in more
humble stations; a course of uniform kindness
will be likely to  secure friends from the best

		[Page 4]
I think the mending of the Piano
with so little trouble was very fortunate
even if you should not play a new
piece on it in a whole year, because
it had the effect to relieve you from
an unpleasant feeling consequent on the
break, although you could not have
prevented it.  I think the whole difficulty
arose from the imperfect fastening of the
leather.  Your cousin Elizabeth Wurts &
Cornelia Wurts Called at our house yester=
=day inquiring for Lib. Lefever, & Miss Cor=
=nelia said their Piano had been broken
in the same way.
We may possibly go visiting to Kettleborough
tomorrow & this may be the last opportu-
night to write you this week
Keep up a cheerful spirit, write as
often as you can without interfering with
your other duties & be assured I remain
as ever
		Your doting Father
			Roelif Eltinge