Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1882-05-17)

nor to blame for any of his life errors, but you have it in your power to change the whole current of his life. </u He > does not realize it, but you & I know it well. If you have ever in your life sinned against human - ity and have need to atone for it now is your chance ! You may never meet another equal to it. You can make a number of fellow mortals very happy who now are far from it. - and all by one sacrifice. To a man of your resources </u no > man is indispensible, and I think Walter Burton would be glad to fill W's place with you. I had hoped that Webster would be willing to settle down as your foreman, for if he would I know he would make a good one, but it is not to be wondered at that he prefers 7 hours work per day @ $100. per month. In his place you or I would be the same. With such a rare chance to do good, to lift the cloud from a good man's life, is it not worth while to think of making the sacrifice ? It is not every day that one gets such a chance benefit poor humanity occurs. Webster would choose Washington quicker than heaven just now I think.

    I know you have done scores of noble deeds in 

your day, most unselfishly, and I ^ only^ hope I may have as many to my credit when I am called upon to shuffle. But this only makes me think you are good for one more. Were it pious Deacon Hayward, or almost any other common Christian I would not be so foolish as to trouble myself to write the foregoing, but men are different, thank heaven. I have already dedicated my first-born (Book) to you as ever