46

child is a daughter, named Elizabeth Frances after myself, but goes
by the pretty abbreviation of Fanny. She will be 1 year old the
24^th of this month. She is a pretty child rather delicate at pres-
ent, on account of Teething, she has a very fair complexion, blue
eyes, light hair inclined to curl, & pretty mouth, & nose a little
turned up, though not as much as Anna's (her sister); she is
thought to resemble me. Willie our eldest will be 9 years old
the 9^th of this month; he has been going to school 3 years. he is
a smart boy; generally head of his class; is learning Geography,
Dictionary, Arithmetic, Reading & Writing. In his dispostion he is
passionate, & thought he does not show much affection; in real-
ity I think he possesses strong feelings. I hope & pray his Parents
may be able to perform their duty to him, & if so I trust he will
grow up a good & useful character, he is now rather quarrelsome
when playing with his brothers & sisters, though if they are in
distress he shows love for them. He is an honorable boy, is gover-
ned by good principles, neither lies or steals, or is guilty of any
low vice. He loves to be at home; & though fond of going to school
& fond of play; when he returns home he shows no disposition to
go abroad to [such] companions; when quite young he was very
fond of reading, now he seems to be rather fonder of play; but
I expect in time, his fondness for reading will return; for he
shows great interest in gaining information, asks a great many
questions; & listens, whenever his father reads aloud in his presence
he is well grown for his age; is thin, & looks pretty much as
he did when I last described him; his costitution does not seem
very strong, he has several times had fits of sickness; but I hope
as he grows odler, he will enjoy good health, it is now some
years since his last spell of sickness.