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THE AUSTIN PAPERS
A usTIN TO l\1ARY AUSTIN HoLI..EY 1
Brazoria, December 29, 1831
DEAR COUSIN' Henry returned yesterday and gave me your welcome letter. Yes; my friend, there is a pleasure in meeting with congenial feelings and tastes and sympathies, thnt few-very few-in this cold and selfish world can appreciate and enjoy. It is therefore like the diamond to the miser-invaluable. I entered upori the busy stage of life with ideas of human nature, which, had they been true, would have made this Earth a paradise. 1\-Iy temperament was sanguine and confiding, my sensibility acute. The early pnrt of my life was spent happily in the quiet enjoyments of home; and in the dreams of ·youth unpoisoned by ambition; unruffled by care, unclouded by a true knowledge of man. The world was to me what the veiled Prophet of Klwmssan was to his blind devotees. My angel Mother, and my nobleminded and kind hearted father were my first standards of human nature. In the ardor of young hope I supposed the rest of the ·world to be something like them. It was a childish dream •after my twentieth year the silver veil began to rise;-gradually-for the impressions of my whole life-short as it had then been-were not to be shaken off at once. Pecuniary troubles swept away my father's ample fortune, and broke up our family home. Ever ardent and persevering he conceived the idea of a settle- ment in Texas which I was destined to accomplish. I entered this country with my ideas of the perfectability of human nature but half corrected, I labored with faithful intentions·, and as. disenterested views of general good as circumstances and my ca- pacity permitted. I had never learned the value of money, at least that value which the world gives it: and the hope of amassing wealth was not the principal incentive that led me here. For the first time Ambition kindled its fires in my breast, ·but I think I can with truth say that the flame was a mild and gentle one, consisting more of the wish to build up the fortunes and happiness of others, and to realize my dreams of good will to my fellow men than of the overbearing spirit of military fame, or domineering power. My ambition was to redeem this fine countri;-our glorious Texas-and convert it into a home for the unfortunate, a refuge from poYerty, an asylum for the sufferers from selfish avarice. Here the hand of nature had spread her bounties with such pro- fusion that the most indigent, with moderate industry, could make a support. The poor, but honest, man's cottage would not be looked down upon with contempt from the lofty attics of the lordly palace, for in that particular there would be perfect equality.
• Copy by Mre. Holley, In ftle ot July 19, 1831,
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