28 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 



presented to some house-holder of the family, who could 

 utilize this durable, if possibly not very artistic, fabric." 



The dame's school which was the scene of his early 

 exploits, previously referred to, was doubtless in Reading. 

 What other training he may have had. there is not re- 

 corded; but that he did receive good instruction in the 

 primary elements of an education is evident from the 

 following letter, the first of his still preserved, and which 

 was written, at the age of eight years and five months, 

 to his father, then in Boston. The letter from his father 

 which follows must have crossed it in the slow post of 

 those days. 



From Spencer F. Baird to Samuel Baird. 



READING, July 8th, 1831. 

 DEAR FATHER 



As I have not wrote to you for a long time I will now take An 

 opportunity to write to you this evening, the grapes flowers and the 

 Garden are in a Good state; some times I find a few catepillars on 

 the Grapes but I kill them all as soon as I see them on it. It has 

 rained so much this 2 or 3 weeks that we could not weed it but as 

 soon as it clears off we will Do it. frank Durand, Sam and myself 

 all of us went up the Tulpehocken on the fourth of July to go afish- 

 ing, we caught 8 catfish and 2 Sunfish, they fired the two brass 

 cannons off on the fourth of July in our street and broke your office 

 window and mr. Bells too. Do not you remember your promise to 

 write to me. Do make haste and write to me. 



Your affectionate son, 



SPENCER F. BAIRD. 

 SAMUEL BAIRD, ESQ. 



From Samuel Baird, Sr., to Spencer F. Baird. 



BOSTON, July 5, 1831. 

 (What you can't read to this letter get your mother to read to you) 



MY DEAR SON: 



I promised I would write a letter to you and I must try and be 

 as good as my word. Yesterday you know was the 4th of July. 



