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very great happiness of seeing him - but if it
pleases God! that I meet him I will not fail to
repeat over & over again what a precious child we
have in you my Tootee. I cannot say enough in of how
much I owe dear Sarah Bourke for her tender care
& devotion to me. You my child could not have been kinder
& Bourke- how mortified he is - I would I could persuade
him to turn from this his besetting sin. But I can but hence
hope. I dread going on board that ship. But God! is more
Powerful than the winds & waves - to his mercy I
shall commit myself & children -- Your little brothers
are like fish out of water, they would much rather be at
home - Floyd has worn out the pair of pants I got for him
only on Friday, which is saying very little either for him
or for the pants. I hope you will write by every Mail to our
precious Butler & entreat of him to be careful of his
health & conduct. Oh! how cruelly anxious I am about
the precious boy. May God! protect him. Oh! Tootee if I
was but good enough to die what a world of trouble I
would escape. If I could be be content to leave all
in the hands of God! & feel that all He orders is for the
best how much happier I would be. God! give me
faith, this is what I lack. Pray for your poor Mother.
Kiss ten thousand times those precious babes for me
Oh! how I do love them. Give my love to poor Mrs Gale
To my servants - all that is kind, beg them for my sake
to try & take care of themselves & of all that belongs to
me. Tell them on this depends their own welfare
& much of my happiness -- Remember that your letters
to Butler must be here the day at least before the 8^th &
22 of every month. Continue to direct your letters