THE .AUSTIN PAPE RS. 1261 a lock of each of your childrens ·hair, and of your own-My beloved Sister could not have sent me a more acceptable present, your sweet children are your·greatest comfort in this world-they are dear to their Mother, and equally so to their Uncle-I needed nothing to keep me in mind of them, but, it is, notwithstanding a pleasure to have something that was once theirs--some keepsake, to represent them in their absence. They are a comfort to you now, for they are all innocence, The vices of human nature have not yet shaded their original purity, nor soured their native sweetness, a.nd a fond mother in the ardor of her ·affection may flatter herself with the hope, the pleasing hope, that" they never will, and that they will b'e the prop and pride of her declining years. Dreams of future happiness of this kind are the most natural, the most pleasing and the most ex- cusable of a.ny others, but my Sister even these some times prove to be ()'Tl),y dreamu, God grant that they may be realised in this instance by us both, for I have indulged myself in them probably as much as you have, I never expect to marry and in that event should adopt your orpans for my own or a part of them. it must be our duty to watch over them, and fortify them to resist the temptations and vie.es of this world by instilling into their youthful minds the love of virtue, of morality and truth, and prepare them to be useful and ornamental members of Society by giving them as good an edn- cation as our means will permit-with their mother they will receive such impressions as will make them all that •either of us could wish-if those impressions are not effaced by the allurements of vice-I hope that it will be in my power to aid in educating them, but at this time the prospect is rather distant. a few years will determine what this country will come to, and in the meantime the children can be educated with their mother, as soon as I can do any thing for them I will write you tho. I flatter myself with the hope that you will ere long remove and settle down by the side of your brothers--! wish Mr Perry to come and pay me a visit, tell him to come next fall and take a good look at the Country, by that time things will have taken such a turn as to decide the future prospects of this Colony-at this time they are as flattering as I could wish-I think if he will come and see me that he would move, but he must not move untill he first looks for himself-I hope it is not necessary for me to say tha.t I will do all in my power to aid him in securing land and getting into business and I think by next fall there will be a very good opening he might make the trip in three months Brother has commenced below this on the river-I hope to see him married before long, tho, there is no prospect at this time- I am going to morrow to the coast to make a partial survey of it prepuritory to the opening of the port of entry, by next fall the port will be open 4 , and business will take a new start
Powered by FlippingBook