GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY: THE WESTON METEOR. 229 



talk Dear Hepsa, kiss the pretty children for me 



My dear brother and sister, I bear you affection- 

 ately on my heart, and long again for your endeared 

 society 



His sympathetic feeling when any danger im- 

 pended over those whom he loved, may be seen in 

 the following letter 



TO MR. AND MRS. G. S. SILLIMAN. 



YALE COLLEGE, March 16, 1808. 



MY DEAR FRIENDS, I sympathize with you in your 

 distress, and have waited with trembling solicitude to hear 

 how it was to fare with the dear little lamb.* I did not 

 answer your first letter because I was in hopes of receiving 

 another immediately. That letter came to-day, and I could 

 hardly muster resolution enough to break the seal, till I 

 saw that it was not a black one. You must pardon me for 

 not having forwarded your first letter to Huntingtoa, be- 

 cause I really did expect better news, and thought that in 

 the worst event I could but send it as preliminary. I shall 

 now commit both letters to David's care (he is in town). 

 I am writing in the midst of company and conversation, 

 and must beg you to pardon my hurried letter. Most fre- 

 quently do I beseech Almighty God to spare the life of our 

 darling. She is very dear to me, for she is a very lovely 

 child ; but if she is to be removed, may God of his infinite 

 mercy grant that you may be sustained and comforted, and 

 that the affliction may redound to our good. My dear 

 friends, I feel most sensibly for you, and am anxious that 

 every passing hour should bring me news on this most 

 anxious subject. Write a line by every mail, yes, by every 

 mail, without omitting one, till our dear little lamb is out 

 of danger, for I trust that she will be soon, notwithstanding 

 her distressed state. I mention no other topic, except that 

 * Maiy, afterwards Mrs. Jones. F. 



