Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Orton, James (1855-07-25)

my room is a quite pleasant & large one. newly papered & oldly carpeted. I have a pleasant fireplace with a huge mirror above it. a toilette, a huge handsome bed, a secretary, book case, bureau, armchairs & e. In short, Orton, I have a very pleasant retired room which </u I should like to share with you this winter. > I am obliged to propose the alliance, which I do not know whether it would be agreeable to you, in order to inform you of how I think I can materially assist you at once in your desire to cross the water. My room, Authrocity & Solar lamp. cost me about $12. per month. Now the thought struck me soon after reading your letter at Marseille that I am at perfect liberty to share these with you at </u no expense to yourself > except for such time as I was absent which would probably be trifling & easily calculated. I should of course mention this to my patron in America after you came & I know very well that he would readily acquiesce. Now that I have arrived at Paris I find that I have an </u allowance >, to live upon in such manner as I choose so that I have even less hesitancy in my making the proposal, There is a very pleasant </u little > room with a coal grate, next to mine ^on one side^ at $5. per month & another on the other side which cannot be warmed at $3. per month. We might find it desired to take the latter in addition to mine. I expect to </s th > take reading lessons in French for some months at a given price. The lady will take two at consecutive hours much cheaper. These again I can aid in a similar manner by letting you pay the </s balance in > difference between the price for two, and the price which I would pay alone. I can aid you a good deal in French, Orton. I have had both English & native teachers & I assure you that the latter is not more superior in teaching the pronunciation than is the former in teaching the </u genious > of the language, or rather in explaining those points of difference so </u stuning > to a beginner. Well, Orton, what do you think of all this? For my own sake I am very anxious that you should come. I want to go about the city with you (provided you come before the course commences) which I have never yet done for want of a companion. I want to advise with you on many subjects, and moreover I feel deeply a sentence in my sisters letter of tonight. It must be so trying for you to be away from all religious privileges. I wish that you had even one Christian friend with you". I have now said all that I can about it and leave the subject for your consideration. If you prefer coming to Paris and rooming alone, I still will try to aid you some. With the feeling that you might possibly come this fall I shall keep my eye out in your behalf while on the other hand, I wish you to send me a short reply to this on the very day which you receive it, even though it should be as I expect, in the midst of your examinations. Do not wait until you are </u entirely certain >, for I