Morse Family letters & addresses

Charlestown July 5 1799

My Dear Son,

I received your four letters of different dates enclosed by Mr Brown. It gave me great pleasure to hear you were well and contented. I wish you might continue to deserve the praises of your worthy preceptor for reading & writing well. There is yet room for improvement in both. Take great care in reading to pronounce every word distinctly and full, & to mind your stops of cadences. Read slowly. In your writing don't hurry; take pains with every word & every letter. Hold your pen properly,

& keep your elbow & arm in a right position.

I am glad to hear you have learned your hymn, the text & an evening prayer & in so short a time too. You see what you can do; now, my son, persevere in well doing. Give Mr. Bower as little trouble as possible, mind all that he says to you. Behave very respectfully & obediently to Mr. & Mrs. Abbot & to your preceptor. Do no mischief, quarrel with none of your school fellows but be kind & good natured toward them that they may all love you. Do nothing that is wicked. Read a chapter in the Bible every morning, evening & retire by yourself & devoutly offer up your prayers to God. Think wjat you are doing. Make what

progress you can in your learning. In attending to these things, my son, you will give great pleasure to your parents. Your little sister has been quite sick but is now a little better. If she gets well by Monday, your Mama & I shall come up to Andover. if not I shall come without your Mama. Your brothers are well were pleased with your present--often talk about you. They send their love to you & wish you to come home. Your Papa & Mama & Nancy & Sam all send theirour love to you. be a good boy, my son, & thus give comfort to your affectionate Parents, Jed. Morse

Give your Papa & Mama's regards to Mr & Mrs. Abbot & to Mr. Brown. Be very obliging to them & do everything they direct you & give them no trouble.

From my Papa received June 1799 answered July 799

Master Saml F B. Morse Pupil at Mr Foster's School Andover

Charleston Augst 17 . 99 My Dear Son, I wrote you more than a week ago, & sent you some quills & paper agreeably to your request. My letter & the bundle with a letter to Mr. Brown did not go till yesterday. Mr. Phillips carried it up. Mr. Holden will carry this on Monday morning. He will return on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. I wish you to write me by him. Leave your letter at Judge Phillips' early in the after noon if you receive this in season??. Inform me whether you have received my other letter & the bundle. Request

Don't forget to fold & file all your letters in the manner I wrote you in my last letter.