On the contrary, if you will but follow my advice, you will find it worth more than eighty times eighty dollars to you.
Affectionately your brother, A.LINCOLN.
In other letters he wrote even more sharply to his thriftless step-brother.
Shelbyville, Nov.

4, 1851 DEAR BROTHER:--When I came into Charleston, day before yesterday, I learned that you are anxious to sell the land where you live, and move to Missouri.

I have been thinking of this ever since, and cannot but think such a notion is utterly foolish.

What can you do in Missouri better than here?
Is the land any richer?
Can you there, any more than here, raise corn and wheat and oats without work?
Will any body there, any more than here, do your work for you?
If you intend to go to work, there is no better place than right where you are; if you do not intend to go to work, you can not get along anywhere.

Squirming and crawling about from place to place can do no good.