My Dear Father,

You are no doubt anxious to hear of my whereabouts which I am as anxious to inform you.¹ I arrived here last night accompanied by my faithful friend Dodgson, after a walk of 120 miles through such roads as never were traveled save by the poverty stricken inhabitants of a land of Black ash and Tamarack Morasses.

I have transgressed I confess in not previously asking your advice and took such a bold step. But I trust you will overlook this act of presumption and my future movements shall be directed by your better judgement.

I have now arrived at the prettiest place I have ever seen. To morrow [sic] I shall go to Detroit where I have good reason to believe I shall find no difficulty in obtaining a good situation, in the mean time I shall take good care that I do not Run myself so Short of money that I cannot "sport my helm" for home in case of a storm of Adversity--Hoping the above will meet your smiles as well as those of Mrs. Baker to whom I wish to be Kindly Remembered together with Kiss for little Mary.²

I Would Remain Your

Affect. Son

D.B. [David Bogue] Baker

D.B.B.

¹ David left for the states unexpectedly without asking his father's permission. See W2896.

² Mrs. Baker is Mary-Jane (McIlwaine) Baker, Rev. Thomas Baker's second wife and David's stepmother. Mary is Mary Baker McQuesten (nee Mary-Jane Baker), Thomas and Mary-Jane's first and only child together, David's half-sister. Born October 10, 1849, she would have been only 20 months old at this time.