Eugene Gauss - 1865-01-04

To:  Mr. Chs Henry Gauss, No 127 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut

St. Charles  Mo
Decbr 15. 1864

My dear Son
                I was very much gratified by the receipt of your letter, for it gave me the assurance, that in every respect you are getting along as well as I could have hoped.
                From a comparison of the list of Studies which you pursue, with the Catalogue you have sent me, I judge that probably you may finish your Course in one year.  If you can do so with credit & profit to yourself, it of course will give me pleasure.  But I repeat again, what I have told you last summer, that so far as I am able, I am willing, and in fact I prefer to let you continue your Studies, until you have become perfect in that part of them, which can be learned at College.  I therefore will have to leave this matter entirely to your own judgement.  Although my money matters are not in a very flourishing condition last year, I assure you, that I will cheerfully make almost any sacrifice if thereby I can aid you in obtaining a good and thorough education.  Whether it is desirable for you to charge your lodging, and buy some furniture for your own use, must of course depend to a good extent upon the length of time you will spend at Yale.   At the same time you must remember, that your roommate, being a Senior would leave you next summer, even if yourself should stay.
    The same consideration, it appears to me, Should influence your decision whether to connect yourself with Mr Carrals [?] Church.  If you expect to stay in Yale another year, I would advise you to by all means to do so.  If however you intend to leave next summer, with the probability of not returning to the ease, I would think it hardly advisable to sever your connection with Mr Andersons Church.
        The workmen are getting along very slowly with the repair of our house.  We have had a good deal of cold [wea]ther, which has interfered materially [with] them.  To day it is sleeting, so that they cannot do any thing.  Seven or eight days good weather would enable them to finish the roof.  The balance of the work can be done with almost any kind of weather.
            Your mother and all the rest of them send you their love.   I think Late [?] intends to write to you to day.
            The repairs of our house are so expensive, that we have concluded not to celebrate Christmas.  Your mother however intends, if I mistake not, to send you a box with some cake.

Your affectionate father,
Eugene Gauss