My Dear Brother,

Your letter sadly disappointed me, for I fully expected you would come on. I am fully sincerely sorry you have been so seriously disappointed: but the reason you give for not coming: that you had no clothes to attend a wedding is no excuse at all. You could just as well as not get a full suit of black here, besides a summer suit; and my reason for pressing you to come in good season was that you might have time to get all you wanted. Your letter was late in coming, and this is the first moment I have had to answer it.

But it is really too bad. I have had more than my share of money; and I do not want to be on one whit better footing than you are; and if you simply hinted to one that you were hard up, I should have sent you more funds at once. I can't get you a large sum at once, but I can send you $100. a month instead of $50, & shall continue to do so. You have precious few enjoyments of home life; and it is but fair you should have some sort of compensation. Now I do hope, Calvin, that hereafter you will just tell me promptly when you want extra funds. Let me know if you can about a month ahead. Father will not in the least begrudge it; and if you don't wish him to be aware of it, I can manage it without that. He has given me a good deal of discretion; and all I want is that you should not ask me to do anything that would deceive him or dishonor the confidence he has placed in me. If you can come yet to the wedding, by all means do so. Mary fully expects you; and I'm sure I shall be rejoiced.¹

I tell you what; it seems as though a great load were being lifted off my shoulders to feel that I will soon be free from this constantly wretched scene of home, sourness, and quarreling and suspiciousness. I will not go to New York, as my fair one is not feeling any too well. So shall go to some quiet place on the seaside and give her a chance to rest.

You asked in your letter of 1^st June what Dower was. It is one third of the real estate and lands of a deceased husband. Personal estate such as mortgages, bonds, stocks, etc. is not subject to it; and a woman is not entitled to a farthing of it, unless it be given her by the will, or her husband die intestate.

Have not heard a word from Dr. O. [Ormiston] so do not know whether he is coming. I have not time or quiet to write a decent letter. If you can get this in time to be here and get what you want by next Wednesday, by all means come. Let me hear any way.

Sincerely, Your brother

I.B. McQuesten [Isaac Baldwin McQuesten]

¹ Isaac and Mary were married on June 18, 1873, only six days after this letter was written. Despite repeated invitations, Calvin Brooks did not attend his half-brother's wedding, see W2408.