Leonard Richardson 1853

feel at such periods their ingratitude to their maker - It seems to me in looking back upon the closing year that we have abundant reason to thank God our Heavenly Father for His unnumbered mercies towards us, Our number remains unbroken, one has been added but none have been taken away by death. While many have been called from off the earth to render up their account to God, we have been preserved. With our life has been preserved our health; no serious sickness has entered the family, but all have enjoyed that previous gift - good health - We have also had the advantages above thousands of our fellow men to improve our powers both of mind and soul. The young members of the family have been to school, and have there had opportunities of improving and enlarging their minds by storing up useful knowledge, ? books and papers are had in abundance in the family so that all both old and young might improve and benefit their minds - You have had the opportunities which you might improve your souls also. By reading the Bible and studying its precious truths, and treasuring them up in your hearts, By attending the sabbath school where you learned to put in practice what is in the word of God. By going to church where you might hear of a saviours dying love, and have pointed out to you the way of salvation through a crucified and risen redeemer - where you are taught to respect your parents and honor them - where also you are taught to remember the Sabbath day and keept it holy, and not to spend its sacred hours with light conversation, business con-

-cerns, and those things which pertain more to the week day. These privileges have you all had to enjoy and there are a thousand other blessings which God has mercifully bestowed upon you. Now let me ask, my parents, brothers & sisters, how have you used these many blessings, Have you ever had a heart to thank the bountiful Giver of them? If not have you done right? Have you striven to improve your minds and souls as you ought? Have my brothers and sisters made good use of all their time in school? Have they studied as they should? Have they treated their teacher as they should Have they out of school treated each other as they ought? Have they treated their parents right at all times - those parents that have done so much for them? Have you been to the sabbath school with the right desire, have you studies the Bible as it was your duty to do? Have you when you ought to have become a follower of Christ done it? Have you my parents at all times taught your children the right path, and have you set them an example that you would wish them to follow? Have felt the responsibility that rests upon you as those that have immortal minds to train for eternity and has your walk and conversation been such as would lead them to eternal life? And now have you, any of you when you have known it to be your duty to give your heart to God, have you done it, or smothered the small voice that whispered within "give my thy heart"? Which have you done? Are you yet unreconciled to God? if so I would beseech you to stop with this year, yes this hour, and give yourself to God in an everlasting covenant, That you may answer these questions aright after pondering them and do what is right in the fear of God, that we may be an unbroken family in Heaven, is sincere and earnest prayer of your Obedient & affectionate Son,

Leonard.

I promise to let you know what my expenses have been for the year that I have spent at Andover. They have been a few dollars more than I had expected - They have been $103.10, this includes all the monies you have paid me, board bill, travelling expenses and clothing, up to Dec 15th 1852 from Dec 15th 1851. I thought as I told mother they would not amount to $100 but the shawl & boots last vacation made some difference.

This weather does not feel much like winter the snow is fast disappearing and the prospects are not very good

for Christmas. I should like very much to be with you tomorrow but cannot, I hope you all will have a "merry christmas", and may our years be lengthened to enjoy many pleasant seaons together.

Give my respects to all enquiring friends and let me hear from you soon. I should like to have Tourney write and also Mary - It would be a good thing for them and would please me much - A few lines to the little one and Herbert and all -

Yours Leonard -

Friday 24th Dec

Will write more and better next time. Please answer as soon as possible for I am anxious to hear from you, As Ever Your Ob't Son, Leonard