APPENDIX. 531 



The reader will excuse me for the insertion of some extracts from my 

 father's letters to me, but they tend to show his character as a parent. 



To Horace W. Smith, Nazareth Hall, Pennsylvania : 



Philadelphia, October 16, 1837. 

 My Dear Son : 



You must not imagine that you are forgotten from my not having written to you ; 

 there is never a day passes but we talk about you. Your mother* is getting the 

 clothes made, that you require, and in a few days they shall be put in a box and for- 

 warded to you. We are at a loss to find a lid to any of the boxes about the house, as 

 you cut them all up to make ships and toys, so that you have occasioned unnecessary 

 trouble for want of thought. Before you throw away or destroy anything, you should 

 always reflect whether it will not be of use to you at some future day. A little reflec- 

 tion of this kind will save you a great deal of trouble throughout life. 



We are all well, and little brother Richardf has grown to be a fine big boy. He 

 crows and laughs, and to-day we bought him a basket chair to teach him to sit alone. 

 Grandmother is well, and takes great interest in your letters. She keeps them, and 

 reads them over and over again. You must write to her without delay, and in your 

 letter say something to aunt Lydia, who loves you very much, as we all do, and feel 

 a deep interest in hearing a favorable report of your conduct and attention to your 

 studies. 



Mr. Godey was a good deal amused at receiving a letter from you, and told me that 

 he would write to you. You should have borne in mind to have paid the postage on 

 that letter, as you wrote to him on your own business, alone ; but as it was to Mr. 

 Godey, it did not matter. However, make it a rule always to pay the postage when 

 you write to gentlemen on business in which you are solely interested. Your letter 

 was very well put together, and afi'orded us all much amusement. 



Mr. Forrest has returned from England ; I went to see him, and he enquired after 

 you. . . . Mother laughs a good deal at your sending for a 7vhite satin vest, for she was 

 not aware that you owned one. You shall have a new black velvet one, out of my 

 old one. 



I have but to repeat to you, to attend to your studies, and by correct and amiable 

 deportment endeavor to secure the esteem of your preceptors and schoolmates. If you 

 are unfortunately at any time placed under restraint, for neglect of your lessons or any 

 other cause, bear in mind that it is a temporary punishment for your own good, and 

 nistead of being annoyed at those who punish you, blame yourself, and endeavor to 

 avoid a repetition of the cause. Do not view your teachers as taskmasters, but be 

 grateful to them for the information they endeavor to impart, and set about all that is 

 required of you with a cheerful spirit. 



Do not neglect to write to grandmother, and address your letter to me. Write 

 soon. Bless you, my dear boy; I wish to see you very much. 



Your affectionate father, 



Richard Penn Smith. 



Give my respects to Mr. and Mrs. Van Vleck. 



* My stepmother — my father's second wife. 



•j- This was my half brother, Richard Penn Smith, Jr. He took a prominent part in 

 the suppression of the late rebellion as Colonel of the California regiment. 



