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Feb. 19th 1816
Your letters my beloved child are always
a balm to my heart; it is needless then to re-
peat, that this of today, which is now be-
fore me, was welcome with the truest plea
sure. I must say, however, that your
punctuality, demands my thanks.
How many plausible excuses might you
not have made to yourself, and me, if at any
time you had neglected to give of our anx
ious parent notice of your health and welfare
from idleness, or any other procrastinating
cause! But thank God! My child has
never yet felt the necessity of flying to sub
terfuges for the excuses of error, or neglect.
Nor will you ever find it necessary my
dear, whilst your engenuous and affection-
ate heart is open to your mother, whose
counsel, I must say, you have ever asked,
and follow'd. No - there is never a necessity
for subterfuge - If ever you should err,
and who can be entirely free from error, ask
advice from counsel with your mother; for who
in this world will listen with a tenderness