Morse Family letters & addresses

uncles, aunts & cousins were all well & asked after you, and were glad to hear you were at school at Andover & doing so well. When you have learned a good deal more, I intend to carry you to Woodstock to spend some time. Did Mr. Evans leave any money with Mr. Brown for you? And did he give Mr. Brown two dollars or any amount? Write me in your next. [I'll] send you some quills & paper. You must not waste either but use them to good purpose. I enclose you the letter I formerly sent you as it contains such advice as I wish you to read once a week & that you may keep it with all the other letters you may receive. Fold them neatly & write on the back of them as you find I have written on the enclosed & tie them together & keep them in your trunk. Conclude your letters in this way. "I am your affectionate & obedient son SFB Morse Keep an exact account of all your expenses for my inspection. Give my regards & your Mama's to Mr & Mrs Abbot & to Mr. Brown & my complements to Mr. Foster your good instructor. Your grandma, aunt Mary, & Mama & myself, send love to you. Your affectionate father J. Morse

From my Papa. received Aug. 20th. 1799

Master S. F B. Morse Student at Mr. Foster's School, Andover

Charlestown Aug 23rd 99

My dear son,

I recd your letters of the 19th by Mr Holden & am pleased with it. I think you have improved in your writing, spelling, & compositon. If you had begun your letter with acknowledging the receipt of mine to which yours was an answer & then proceeded to answer my questions & concluded with informing me you were well & giving Mr & Mrs Abbot & Mr Brown's compliments, your letterthe arrangements would have been better. But I can easily excuse this in a beginner.

I send you a copy of my address if you will commit to memory what I have marked from p 13 to the end, you shall receive from me fifty cents. Mr Brown will write me when you have learned it.

One of my questions you omitted to answer - & that was, Whether you still kept at the head of your class-- Don't forget to answer it in your next. Be particular in informing me whether you receive my letters, & mention their dates, in the manner I have done at the beginning of this. I am happy to hear you are as regular in the performance of your religious duties. The longer you continue this good practice, & the more serious & sincere you are in doing these duties, the more you will love them & the happier you will feel. -- Try to love your play less, & your stories more. Keep no bad company. Consult Mr. Brown who you shall aponate with & be advised by him. Treat

all your schoolmates politely & kindly but be familiar only with those boys who are good & use no bad language, & who behave well "Each communications complete good manners." And in order to keep company with good boys, you must be good, or their parents will charge them butto avoid your company. Read over my letters very frequently, my dear Jon, [and] reguard the advise of your father, who feels much for your welfare. Your Mama & Nancy are well [and] send their love to you, as do your dear little brothers & myself. We all want to see you & at the end of the quarter we hope to find you much improved. Give my regards to Mr. & Mrs Abbot & your Mama's also. I hope you mind what they say to you, & give them as little trouble as poSible. Take care that you do no mischief. Write me every week [and] be very particular. Your Grandma & Aunt Mary set out home yesterday. Your very affectionate Father Jed. Morse.