Leonard Richardson 1853

We are studying at a great rate now, harder and more of it each day! This makes the time pass away very rapidly. How fast the weeks do fly. The trees look like the fall of the year and by then withering leaves tell us that winter and all its happy associations are fast approaching. Soon Thanksgiving will be at hand & for the first time I shall "return home" to enjoy the festival. Glad to hear the little "bub" grows so well, suppose he can laugh & play a a little,. How do the boys get along in school, have you the old teacher yet? T'is pleasant to receive those sweet kisses from brothers and sisters, & I would in return send one to each. Give my love to all friends, will lend C.B. a catalogue soon. Try and excuse this for I am in a great hurry, Shall expect one next week from you. Yours, an affectionate son Leonard

Andover Oct 19th 1862. My dear Parents, The good news from home reached me in due season, and [] [] gave me much pleasure, I aras pleased to have Lydia write so soon, for I had begun to wish Saturday might to come where I should hearfrom you,

life in all their undertakings, 21st Thursday Eve I must finish this as I can get an opportunity, Last evening we had a meeting which kept late and could write none, to night I have not much time for it is now 1/2 past 9. Uncle E was here last week with his wife I suppose she was, they did not tell me though, I think she is a very good appearing woman and I hope she will cheer him up a little. He looks quite thin I think, I hope he will soon be able to go to his maison and there be the means of some good to those dark minds who know not of a saviour, I can hardly realise that the term is so far gone only four weeks and a half more before I shall come home. Every thing in nature tells us that the cold winter is fast approaching Who can look upon the decay of nature without a feeling of sad -ness, mixed with joy. The dry leaves as they rustle in the wind tell us to view ourselves in them, for like them we shall soon be gone, we shall have passed from the busy scenes of life and to mor -tal eyes be no more. There is something beautiful in the falling of the autumnal leaves, A few months ago they were brought forth each to contribute to the growth of the tree, Now they have done all that are required of them and seem ready to depart. So is our life like the leaves we have an office to fill, and if we do our duty till the frosts of death overtake us wre too shall be ready to depart, The departure of the leaves is attended with glory, At no season of the year do the trees present so beautiful an aspect as just before they leave. They are arrayed in their gorgeous robes of crimson and gold to die in. So it is with that one who at death is arrayed in the robes of his saviours righteousness and longs to soar away. Truly the death of the christian is

glorious, Friday afternoon, I have not ? any? minutes to ? this ?. But as we intend to manage our affairs somewhat differently next term I must let you know it, ? have concluded to ? Dr Words and ? to the "?" for the winter. Do you think it a good move? It is ? cold ? here are cannot or ( dare not) calculate when it next winter, for our reason tells me that it will take much more wood here than at the "?", and them are should not be ? of being warm. Wr have engaged a nice room with all the furniture found. It will be a quiet time for one of the teachers moved opposite to us. The trunk I think I shall not ? again this term. If I want any working done wtill be but a little, and will not cost half so much as the trunk, I suppose you are ? though with the ?. We have had several ? trusts and one snow storm, we have as much fruit as we want which seems a little like home. ? went home Wednesday afternoon and I am now alone enjoying myself first ?. I think the boys will get a good lot of ? for I shall be at home about thanksgiving to help "Mack". The little one grows I suppose and will be quite a man when I come home. I would send a kiss to him and to all, ? ? toall friends. I intended to have given you a few ideas about "? ? and" but shall not have time in the ? Let me hear ? you ?, and I remain ? over your ? ? Leonard

Andover Nov 8th 1852 My Dear Parents, Your last with all its good news was duly received and I commence to answer it this Monday evening. Our term is fast drawing near to a close, its two remaining weeks will soon glide away and then I shall be permitted to visit you again. It does not seem feasible that another term of stufy has gone by, yet it is so and I soon shall have completed a year of study. How quickly has that year flown away. I cannot ? it! And the question ? in my mind have I made that improvement which I right in my studying. I feel that I have not been idle and yet I could wish that I were a bettwe scholor I have though a great deal about how I am improving my time and have of late come to the conclusion that I must turn over a new leaf as I "command" and will there have the opportunity to commence again in a different course. I think by being here at the Drs has been a benefit in ? ? and in other a great disadvantage, and looking at both sides of the ? I think it could have been better ? have remained at the command. Here we are isolated and all now