S.T. Learnard wrote from Bakersfield, Vermont, to his son, Oscar Learnard of Kansas Territory, in this transcribed version of his letter. S.T. commented on a proposition made to him by Oscar concerning his taking over Oscar's business in Kansas while Oscar himself would go West for gold mining. Oscar's father advised against this, and made other suggestions as to how his own accounts, as well as his son's, could be managed profitably. S. T. also asked about the state of the Territorial Legislature, dubbed the Border Ruffians "imps of darkness," and encouraged Oscar to continue the fight for liberty.