I] 
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 
HIS chapter may most appropriately begin with 
the following letter which has fortunately, been 
preserved. Jacob Heevener appears to have been 
a carrier or local expressman between Reading and Phil- 
adelphia who, in addition to packages, took charge of 
letters and delivered them, probably at a lower cost than 
the twenty-five cents then demanded by the United States 
postoffice. The admonition to Jacob is written on the 
outside of the folded and sealed sheet. 
From Mrs. Valeria Penrose in Reading, to Mrs. Lydia Spencer Biddle 
in Philadelphia. 
READING, Feb. 4th, 1823. 
Dear Mamma, 
I can readily imagine how delighted you will be to hear of the 
arrival of another grandson yesterday about half past twelve in the 
morning. It was about ten days sooner than Lydia expected, but 
she was, and still is so uncommonly well, we do not regret its having 
come so soon. She was not very sick more than an hour or an hour 
and a half, and I sent for cousin Betsey Eckert, who was the only 
person with her besides the doctor. We had no bustle or confusion, 
everything went on charmingly, and after the child was born, I was 
so fortunate as to get a pretty good nurse, who will stay until Mrs. 
Scott arrives, which I suppose will be on Thursday. 
Lydia expects you on Saturday or Tuesday, and I suppose if 
you do not come she will have a complete chill. She says she never 
felt half so well in any of her confinements, and I hope if you come 
up for a week or two, to take good care of her, she will soon be quite 
well. I almost forgot to tell you what a fine baby it is, very large 
though not very fat, and looks a good deal like Will only it has dark 
hair. They talk of calling it Spencer Fullerton, but I think it had 
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