No Haste to Reply

clear off your embarrassments & to give you a fair opportunity to retrieve whatever may have been amiss; & to resume your studies.

I now trust, My Dear Son, to hear nothing of you, hereafter, except what may be gratifying.

[D. W.]

Lyman Beecher is disturbed about his son Edward's

condition

June 22, 1820

YOUR learned (Latin) letter, with much deterio

ration of chirography, came safe to hand. As money was the most urgent point of concern, and I had none, and can get none, I was in no haste to reply.

The books for which you subscribed you must decline to take, if they will let you off. I cannot buy even the most necessary books for my own use; and our economy must be absolutely close and constant, or I shall be obliged to take you from college. I say this, not because you are prodigal, but because it is literally true, as you must know from knowing what my resources are, and what my expenses. The books you need you may get at H—'s; second-hand books, if you can find them in good preservation.

The money necessary to your present use I shall send as soon as I can get any; until which, those you owe must do as I do, wait, and you must do as I do, endure the mortification of telling them so. Your clothes you will please tie up in a pocket-handkerchief and send home to be washed, and returned the same week. Send them on Monday, and they will be returned on Friday. I have contracted with Parks, the stage-driver, to bring and return them. This arrangement will save four dollars and more.

William has been greatly afflicted by the death of his fellow-clerk, Andrew Burr, and is much awakened and alarmed concerning his own condition as a sinner. He wrote me a letter entreating me to pray for him. I exchanged with Mr. Elliott, and saw him. I believe the Holy Spirit is striving with him, and that he has some conviction of sin; but he fears, as I do, that it may pass off without a saving change, which may God avert by the merciful interposition of His saving grace. One child out of danger would give me joy to which I am yet a stranger, and relieve the sickness of heart occasioned by hope deferred. . .

I shall not cease to pray, my dear son, for your conversion, nor to deplore the mighty ruin which all your capacities and improvements will constitute in another world, should they continue under the dominion of a heart unsanctified and unreconciled to God. With all your

gettings, get wisdom. So expects, and entreats, and prays your affectionate father. I think you have never spoken to me of your feelings on the subject of religion in any of your letters. I hope you do not feel reluctant to do it, that I may both know how to pray and to counsel, and may also find excitement to pray for you.

VI

LOVERS AND FRIENDS

I

Y DEARE HUSBAND,

MY

expresse my love to thee or my desyres of thy wished welfavre but my hart is well knowne to thee

Thinges Goe Well

which will make relation of my affections though they be smalle in appearance: my thoughts are nowe on our great change and alteration of our corce heare, which I beseech the Lord to blesse us in, & my good Husband cheare up thy hart in the expectacion of Gods goodnesse to us, & let nothinge dismay or discorage thee; if the Lord be with us who can be against us: my grefe is the feare of stayinge behinde thee, but I must leave all to the good providence of God. I thank the Lord wee are all heare in reasonable good health, I receved a letter since you went from my sonne John, wch brout good Nuse from Nue E: I pray thanke him for it, I wil rite to him if I have time, & thus with my best respect to thy selfe, brother & sister D: I commit you to God and rest

Your faythfull wife

MARGARET WINTHROPE

DEARE

II

("ffor Mrs. Winthrop at Boston")

EARE [torn], — I am still detayned from thee, but it is by the Lord, who hath a greater interest in me than thy selfe, when his worke is donne he will restore me to thee againe to or mutuall comfort: Amen. I thanke thee for thy sweet Lre: my heart was wth thee to have written to thee everye daye, but businesse would not permitt me. I suppose thou hearest much newes from hence it may be, some grievous to thee: but be not troubled, I assure thee thinges goe well, & they must needs doe so, for God is wth us & thou shalt see a happy issue. I hope to be wth thee to morrowe & a frende or 2: I suppose. So I kisse my sweet wife & rest

Thine

Jó: WINTHROP

This 6: daye.

III

(From John Winthrop)

Y SWEET WIFE, I prayse God I am in good

MY

health, peace be to thee & or familye, so I kisse thee, & hope shortly to see thee: farewell.

MY

IV

(From John Winthrop)

SWEET WIFE, -So fitt an occasiō must not passe wthout a token to thee. I prayse God I am well: the Lo: blesse thee & all oTM, so I kisse thee the second tyme, farewell.

A Puritan posey: "The Letter which the Author sent with this Discourse ['Experiments of Spiritual Life & Health, and their Preservatives'] to his Wife M. W. upon her recovery from a dangerous sicknesse "

(From Roger Williams, 1652)

MY DEAREST LOVE AND COMPANION in

this Vale of Tears.

Thy late sudden and dangerous Sicknesse, and the Lords most gracious and speedy raising thee up from the gates and jawes of Death: as they were wonderfull in thine own, and others eyes, so I hope, and earnestly desire, they may be ever in our thoughts, as a warning from Heaven to make ready for a sudden call to be gone from hence: to live the rest of our short uncertaine span, more as strangers, longing and breathing after another Home and Country; To cast off our great cares and fears and desires

A Little Posey

and joyes about this Candle of this vaine life, that is so soon blowne out, and to trust in the living God, of whose wonderfull power and mercy thou hast had so much and so late experience, which must make thee sing with David (Psal. 103.) Blesse the Lord O my Soul, and all that is within me blesse his holy Name: Blesse the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thy sins, and healeth thine infirmities; who redeemeth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and loving kindnesse.

My dear Love, since it pleaseth the Lord so to dispose of me, and of my affairs at present, that I cannot often see thee, I desire often to send to thee. I now send thee that which I know will be sweeter to thee than the Honey and the Honey-combe, and stronger refreshment than the strongest wines or waters, and of more value than if every line and letter were thousands of gold and silver. Hezekiah upon his recovery from his sicknesse, made a writing (Isai. 38.) as an everlasting monument of his praise unto God, and as a Goad or spur to himselfe and others in the wayes of godlinesse for the future.

Thy holy and humble desires are strong, but I know thy writing is slow, and that thou wilt gladly accept of this my poore helpe, which with humble thankfulnesse and praise to the Lord, I humbly tender to his holy service, and thine in him.

I send thee (though in Winter) an handfull of flowers made up in a little Posey, for thy dear selfe, and our dear children, to look and smell on, when I as the grasse of the field shall be gone, and withered.