206 SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 
to you instead, knowing that she would consider it as the same thing. 
I can scarcely believe that it is 27 years since you were given into my 
arms, as sweet and lovely a baby as was ever seen, and that you are 
now a man past the freshness of youth, fast settling down into the 
habits of mature years. I need not say, my dear child, that I wish 
you many happy returns of this day; this would be like an idle compli- 
ment, coming from the lips of your mother, but I will say that I hope 
many are in store for you, and that I trust that as each anniversary 
comes round, it may find you better fitted to act your part in the 
sphere in which your lot may be cast, both with credit to yourself, 
and profit to others, and that above all you may acquire that only 
knowledge, that “can make you wise unto salvation.” 
I am thankful, my dear child, to our Heavenly Father that he has 
made you what you are, that he has restrained you from much sin and 
wickedness that too many of the young fall into, and I hope that you 
also feel sensible for the numberless blessings for which you are indebted 
to him, health and friends, a good wife, and sweet child are all his gifts, 
besides innumerable incidents of his watchful Providence over you, and 
signally shown in your restoration to health last summer, when from 
all accounts your life must have been in great danger. : 
Forgive me, dear son, for the grave style of this letter. I feel 
unusually so, when I think how rapidly time is hastening away, and 
how little improvement we are making of it. 
I must not conclude this part of my letter without saying what 
I think, my dear son, you are justly deserving of, and that is that 
you have ever been to me a kind and dutiful child; in this respect 
you do not have any thing to reproach yourself with, and I trust 
never will. 
Your affectionate mother, 
L. M. Barrp. 
From Spencer F. Baird to Joseph Leidy. 
CaRLISLE, Feb. 16, 1850. 
Dear Lervy, 
Spring is fast approaching, and to use a mercantile phrase, you 
must send on your orders soon if you want them filled. In 
other words, let me know pretty soon what specimens you want me 
to get, and how many quarts, pecks, or bushels of each. 
