I enclose you a little book called the “Christian Pilgrim.”  It is for both of you.

We are all tolerable well except mama, though she is more comfortable now than she was.  We all send a great deal of love to you.  I must now bid you adieu.

I remain your affectionate brother,

S.F.B.  Morse.

I am tempted to include the following extracts from letters of the good mother of the three boys as characteristic of the times and people:—­

Charlestown, June 28, 1805.

My dear son,—­We have the pleasure of a letter from you which has gratified us very much.  It is the only intelligence we have had from you since Mr. Brown left you.  I began to think that something was the matter with respect to your health that occasioned your long silence....  We are very desirous, my son, that you should excel in everything that will make you truly happy and useful to your fellow men.  In particular by no means neglect your duty to your Heavenly Father.  Remember, what has been said with great truth, that he can never be faithful to others who is not so to his God and his conscience.  I wish you constantly to keep in mind the first question and answer in that excellent form of sound words, the Assembly Catechism, viz:—­“What is the chief end of Man?” The answer you will readily recollect is “To Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

Let it be evident, my dear son, that this be your chief aim in all that you do, and may you be so happy as to enjoy Him forever is the sincere prayer of your affectionate parent....

The Fourth of July is to be celebrated here with a good deal of parade both by Federalists and Jacobins.  The former are to meet in our meeting-house, there to hear an oration which is to be delivered by Mr. Aaron Putnam, a prayer by your papa also.  And on the hill close by the monument [Bunker Hill] a standard is to be presented to a new company called the Warren Phalanx, all Federalists, by Dr. Putnam who is the president of the day, and all the gentlemen are to dine at Seton’s Hall, otherwise called Massachusetts Hall, and the ladies are to take tea at the same place.  The Jacobins are to have an oration at the Baptist meeting-house from Mr. Gleson.  I know nothing more about them.  The boys are forming themselves into companies also; they have two or three companies and drums which at some times are enough to craze one.  I can’t help thinking when I see them how glad I am that my sons are better employed at Andover than beating the streets or drums; that they are laying in a good store of useful knowledge against the time to come, while these poor boys, many of them, at least, are learning what they will be glad by and by to unlearn.

July 30, 1805.