“I received your good letter of the 19th and 22d ult., and thank you for it.  I wish I had time to give you a narrative of my journey as you wish, but you know ‘time is money,’ and we must ’make hay while the sun shines,’ and ’a penny saved is a penny got,” and ’least said soonest mended,’ and a good many other wise sayings which would be quite pat, but I can’t think of them.

“The fact is I have scarcely time to say or write a word.  I am busily employed in getting the cash, or else Ned’s almanac for March will foretell falsely.

“I am doing well, although the city fairly swarms with painters.  I am the only one that has as much as he can do; all the rest are complaining.  I wish I could divide with some of them, very clever men who have families to support, and can get nothing to do....  I feel rejoiced that things have come to such a crisis in Charlestown that our family will be released from that region of trouble so soon.

“Keep up your spirits, mother, the Lord will show you good days according to those in which you have seen evil....

“I am glad Lucretia and the dear little Susan intend meeting me at New Haven.  I think this by far the best plan; it will save me a great deal of time, which, as I said before, is money.

“I shall have to spend some time in New Haven getting settled, and I wish to commence painting as soon as possible, for I have more than a summer’s work before me in the President’s portrait and Mrs. Ball’s.

“As soon as the cash comes in, mother, it shall all be remitted except what I immediately want.  You may depend upon it that nothing shall be left undone on my part to help you and the rest of us from that hole of vipers.

“I think it very probable I shall return by the middle of May; it will depend much on circumstances, however.  I wish very much to be with my dear wife and daughter.  I must contrive to bring them with me next season to Charleston, though it may be more expensive, yet I do not think that should be a consideration.  I think that a man should be separated from his family but very seldom, and then under cases of absolute necessity, as I consider the case to be at present with me:  that is, I think they should not be separated for any length of time.  If I know my own disposition I am of a domestic habit, formed to this habit, probably, by the circumstances that have been so peculiar to our family in Charlestown.  I by no means regret having such a habit if it can be properly regulated; I think it may be carried to excess, and shut us from the opportunities of doing good by mixing with our fellow men.”

This pronouncement was very characteristic of the man.  He was always, all through his long life, happiest when at home surrounded by all his family, and yet he never shirked the duty of absenting himself from home, even for a prolonged period, when by so doing he could accomplish some great or good work.