THE OCEAN VOYAGE 143 



and in good spirits. You will know it a few days later 

 and the joyous tidings which I intended for your birth- 

 day will reach you by New Year's or on the birthday 

 of my darling sister Mary. If the truthful assurance 

 that I am filled with happy courage and confidence in 

 my future success as well as in possession of as great a 

 mental and physical strength as I ever enjoyed or would 

 have enjoyed at home, can have the guiding and sooth- 

 ing effect upon you that it ought to have, I will give it 

 from the bottom of my heart. 



Now, farewell! All my dear ones at home! I would 

 have liked to add a few words of love and friendship to 

 many a one, but it was not possible. You, my dear 

 father, will find a few words of special nature in the 

 inclosure. 



It is hard for me to tear myself from this letter but— 

 it must— it must be! Good bye, all you who love me 

 and who think of me in kindness! 



Good bye! 

 (signed) Frank Lecouvreur. 



The Apenrnde Brig entered just after I closed this 

 letter; it is the same which we met on July the 19th. I 

 reopened the letter quickly to mention this. I am unable 

 to send the sketch which I promised you, as the time is 

 too limited. Fr. L. C. 



Valparaiso Harbor, the 12th of November, 1851, on 

 board of the Hamburg Bark "Victoria," (/apt. Meyer. 



My Dear Parents: You will have received my last 

 letter, No. 9, measuring so-and-so many yards, which I 

 forwarded by the Panama steamer on the 26th of Octo- 

 ber through caTe of Bartsch in Hamburg, and today I 

 seat myself again, pen in hand, in order to spend the 

 last day which I shall probably stay on board of the 

 "Victoria" by writing to my dear ones. I see already 

 that it will be my greatest pleasure here in America to 

 chat with you. 



