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 richer? Can you there, any more than here, raise corn and wheat and oats without work? Will anybody 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 cannot get along anywhere. Squirming and crawling about from place to place can do no good. You have raised no crop this year, and what you really want is to sell the land, get the money and spend it. Part with the land you have, and, my life upon it, you will never after own a spot big enough to bury you in. Half you will get for the land you spend in moving to Missouri, and the other half you will eat and drink and wear out, and no foot of land will be bought. Now I feel it is my duty to have no hand in such a piece of foolery. I feel that it is so even on your own account, and particularly on Mother's account. The eastern forty acres I intend to keep for Mother while she lives; if you will not cultivate it, it will rent for enough to support her; at least it will rent for something. Her dower in the other two forties she can let you have, and no thanks to me.
       Now do not misunderstand this letter. I do not write it in any unkindness. I write it in order, if possible, to get you to face the truth, which truth is, you are destitute because you have idled away all your time. Your thousand pretenses for not getting along better are all nonsense; they deceive nobody but yourself. Go to work is the only cure for your case.
       A word for Mother: Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live with him. If I were you I would try it awhile. If you get tired of it (as I think you will not) you can return to your own home. Chapman feels very kindly to you; and I have no doubt he will make your situation very pleasant.
       Sincerely yours,
       A. LINCOLN.

First Child
To Gen. J. J. Hardin.
Selection of Congressional Candidates
To _________ Williams,
Abolition Movement
Request for Political Support
To John Bennett.
To N. J. Rockwell.
To James Berdan.
To James Berdan.
Verses Written by Lincoln After a Visit to His Old Home in Indiana-(A Fragment).
Second Child
To Morris and Brown
To William H. Herndon
To William H. Herndon.
Resolutions in the United States House of Representatives, December 22, 1847
Remarks in the United States House of Representatives, January 5, 1848.
Desire for Second Term in Congress to William H. Herndon.
Speech on Declaration of War on Mexico
Report in the House of Representatives
To William H. Herndon--Legal Work
Regarding Speech on Mexican War
To William H. Herndon.
On the Mexican War
Report in the House of Representatives, March 9, 1848.
Report in the House of Representatives, March 9, 1848.
To Archibald Williams.
Remarks in the House of REpresentatives, May 11, 1848.
On Taylor's Nomination
Defense of Mexican War Position
On Zachary Taylor Nomination
Speech in the House of Representatives, June 20, 1848.
Opportunities for Young Politicians
Salary of Judge in Western Virginia
National Bank
Young v.s. Old--Political Jealousy
General Taylor and the Veto
Speech Delivered at Worcester, Mass., on Sept. 12, 1848.
His Father's Request for Money
Bill to Abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia
Bill Granting Lands to the States to Make Railways and Canals
On Federal Political Appointments
More Political Patronage Requests
To the Secretary of the Interior
To the Secretary of the Interior.
To the Postmaster-General.
To the Secretary of the Interior.
To the Secretary of the Interior.
To J. Gillespie.
Request for General Land-Office Appointment
Request for a Patent
To the Secretary of Interior.
To W. H. Herndon.
To J. Gillespie.
Resolutions of Sympathy with the Cause of Hungarian Freedom, September [12??], 1849.
To Dr. William Fithian.
Springfield, Dec. 15, 1849.
Resolutions on the Death of Judge Nathaniel Pope.
Notes for Law Lecture
Letters to Family Members
To C. Hoyt.
To John D. Johnston.
Petition on Behalf of One Joshua Gipson
To J. D. Johnston.
To J. D. Johnston.
Nov. 4, 1851
To John D. Johnston.
To John D. Johnston.
Eulogy on Henry Clay, Delivered in the State House at Springfield, Illinois, July 16, 1852.
Challenged Voters
Legal Office Work
To O. L. Davis.
Nebraska Measure
To A. B. Moreau.
Reply to Senator Douglas--Peoria Speech
Request for Senate Support
To T. J. Henderson.
To J. Gillespie.
Political References
To T. J. Henderson.
Loss of Primary for Senator
Return to Law Profession
To O. H. Browning.
To H. C. Whitney.
Response to a Pro-Slavery Friend
Request for a Railway Pass
Speech Delivered Before the First Republican State Convention of Illinois, Held at Bloomington, on May 29, 1856.
Political Correspondence
On Out-of-State Campaigners
Republican Campaign Speech
On the Danger of Third-Parties
To Jesse K. Dubois.
To Harrison Maltby.
To Dr. R. Boal.
To Henry O'Conner, Muscatine, Iowa.
After the Democratic Victory of Buchanan
To Dr. R. Boal.
To John E. Rosette. Private.
Response to a Douglas Speech
To William Grimes.
Argument in the Rock Island Bridge Case.
To Jesse K. Dubois.
To Joseph Gillespie.
To J. Gillespie.
To H. C. Whitney.
Another Political Patronage Reference
Political Communication
Brief Autobiography