Metadata
Title
Sarah Josepha Hale to David E. Hale
Creator
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Date
1830-01-31
January 31, 1830
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-130
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Boston, Jan 31 1830
My dear Son - I wrote to you about the
middle of December, and sent a packet of
books by a gentleman going to New York,
who engaged two forward them to you.
In your letter of Jan - 8th - you do not mention
them. I shall send you more when
a good opportunity presents. If any
one of your acquaintance visits Boston
and you could let me know it I would [improve?]
the chance and send "a volume or two - but
till I hear you have rec'd those already
sent I shall fear to trust any more to a
[chance?] conveyance.
I am glad to hear you have passed the
examination so creditably - your station
is about as I expected - tho' before you graduate
I hope you will be able to stand higher.
[DE; ?] The eminence that you can win
fairly, honorably, by industry and your
deportment should be your ambition
- it is mine for you. - But then I shall
never repine that others deservedly excel
you, nor should you envy such.- We ought
rather to rejoice that our country has many
that are aiming at high attainments,
and if our powers of mind do not allow
us to win the first honor, we can cultivate
the noble philanthropy which exults
that is won by others. There is no spirit more
to be dreaded than the meanness which
would check the career of talents and genius
because unable to keep pace with them.
Next to seeing your name deservedly
the first on the list of your class the
greatest pleasure will be to know that
you have vigorously striven and studied
for it, and failed only because others were
more worthy - and that you acquiesce in
the decision with the feeling of admiration
and love for those who have out-stripped you.
- I am glad to hear you are so happy,
- only, my Son, remember to retain the
innocence of soul you now possess
and cultivate your intellect, your
reason - and you may always be
happy.
I have applied to the Secretary of
the Navy to obtain a situation for Horatio
but have not yet rec'd an answer.
Horatio wishes to go - yet he will submit
to do what I wish - and is now as busy
as a bee at work in the printing press
of Mr. French - Mr. Barton has just been
to Newport, he writes me that Horatio
sets the most correct proof of any
one in the Office - and works nearly as
fast - he has already [earned?] considerable
by overwork, He is now, for the first [time?],
learning the lesson of depending on
himself. But then I shall not forget
any [ED: hole in page] you. I shall do all I can - but
you[r] sisters and little Willey must
for the present be wholly dependent
on me. Mr Edes and his wife write that
the little girls are very good - they learn
[?] - and William reads almost as
much as you did when here last
summer. He often wishes you were
here to perform experiments for
him. When you write your next
letter do say a few words to him. It
will please him so much - he always
[?] your letters - and reads them
over and over - he reads writing you
know very well. Your Mother.
Cadet David E. Hale
West. Point
N. York.
My dear Son - I wrote to you about the
middle of December, and sent a packet of
books by a gentleman going to New York,
who engaged two forward them to you.
In your letter of Jan - 8th - you do not mention
them. I shall send you more when
a good opportunity presents. If any
one of your acquaintance visits Boston
and you could let me know it I would [improve?]
the chance and send "a volume or two - but
till I hear you have rec'd those already
sent I shall fear to trust any more to a
[chance?] conveyance.
I am glad to hear you have passed the
examination so creditably - your station
is about as I expected - tho' before you graduate
I hope you will be able to stand higher.
[DE; ?] The eminence that you can win
fairly, honorably, by industry and your
deportment should be your ambition
- it is mine for you. - But then I shall
never repine that others deservedly excel
you, nor should you envy such.- We ought
rather to rejoice that our country has many
that are aiming at high attainments,
and if our powers of mind do not allow
us to win the first honor, we can cultivate
the noble philanthropy which exults
that is won by others. There is no spirit more
to be dreaded than the meanness which
would check the career of talents and genius
because unable to keep pace with them.
Next to seeing your name deservedly
the first on the list of your class the
greatest pleasure will be to know that
you have vigorously striven and studied
for it, and failed only because others were
more worthy - and that you acquiesce in
the decision with the feeling of admiration
and love for those who have out-stripped you.
- I am glad to hear you are so happy,
- only, my Son, remember to retain the
innocence of soul you now possess
and cultivate your intellect, your
reason - and you may always be
happy.
I have applied to the Secretary of
the Navy to obtain a situation for Horatio
but have not yet rec'd an answer.
Horatio wishes to go - yet he will submit
to do what I wish - and is now as busy
as a bee at work in the printing press
of Mr. French - Mr. Barton has just been
to Newport, he writes me that Horatio
sets the most correct proof of any
one in the Office - and works nearly as
fast - he has already [earned?] considerable
by overwork, He is now, for the first [time?],
learning the lesson of depending on
himself. But then I shall not forget
any [ED: hole in page] you. I shall do all I can - but
you[r] sisters and little Willey must
for the present be wholly dependent
on me. Mr Edes and his wife write that
the little girls are very good - they learn
[?] - and William reads almost as
much as you did when here last
summer. He often wishes you were
here to perform experiments for
him. When you write your next
letter do say a few words to him. It
will please him so much - he always
[?] your letters - and reads them
over and over - he reads writing you
know very well. Your Mother.
Cadet David E. Hale
West. Point
N. York.