THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 1233 Guy Bryan of Phila· to provide for Guy- you lmow your own feelings as a motlier best but if the opinion of a Brother is desired-I would recommend it by all means- Austin I would like to educate myself if I was able-and if ever I am (which I have a flattering prospect of at present) I will do something for him-but in the mean time I would like to see the foundation laid for his future welfare and the first step towards it is as soon as he gets a little older to place him in some mercantile house untill he is 21 years of age- You may think your brother perhaps too plain but I have long since found out that time rolls fast youth passes and man- hood approaches apace-They are now young and you have time to mark out the path they are to pursue either to plenty and ease or to wretchedness and want- I will merely refer you to Brother and myself if he had not fortunately succeeded in this enterprise what would have become of us. Neither, of us had any certain means of support. We can profit by the errors of our father without casting any undutiful reflections on his memory-. It is time to throw away vain foolish, pride I have banished it from me intirely I confess I once possessed a large share, as is natural for Youths in the situation I then thought myself- they all aught to be raised merchants it is no shame or dishonor to bind them untill they are of an age to act and think for themselves If you can bind Austin in a Commercial house in the importing business do so, and [that] will be more to his advantage and future prospects where he can learn the French Language he can after- wards learn Spanish in this Country- if I live and prosper-- Brother sends his love to you- J A•· B AusTIN P. S. Kiss the little stranger for me and Mary [Addressed:] Mr•. Emily M. Perry. Potosi. Missouri. Mail. CONTRA.CT FOR HIRE OF SLAVES Be it Known that I John Randon have this day hired to J. B. Austin two negros for one year from the twenty first day of this month at the following rates to say, the negro man Frank for the sum of one hundred and fifteen Dollars a year and the negro woman Hannah for the sum of Sixty Dollars pr. year which sums are to be discounted with Stephen F. Austin in payment of my land procured of him San Felipe Nov.14.1825 JoHN RANDON It is understood that My negro Adam is to go in the place of Frank untill I get my Cabbins built sny one month from this day- J oHN RANDON
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