My dear sons,—­Have you heard of the death of young Willard at Cambridge, the late President Willard’s son?  He died of a violent fever occasioned by going into water when he was very hot in the middle of the day.  He also pumped a great deal of cold water on his head.  Let this be a warning to you all not to be guilty of the like indiscretion which may cost you your life.  Dreadful, indeed, would this be to all of us.  I wish you would not go into water oftener than once a week, and then either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and not go in when hot nor stay long in the water.  Remember these cautions of your mama and obey them strictly.

A young lady twenty years old died in Boston yesterday very suddenly.  She eat her dinner perfectly well and was dead in five minutes after.  Her name was Ann Hinkley.  You see, my dear boys, the great uncertainty of life and, of course, the importance of being always prepared for death, even a sudden death, as we know not what an hour may bring forth.  This we are sensible of, we cannot be too soon or too well prepared for that all-important moment, as this is what we are sent into this world for.  The main business of life is to prepare for death.  Let us not, then, put off these most important concerns to an uncertain to-morrow, but let us in earnest attend to the concerns of our precious, never-dying souls while we feel ourselves alive.

In October, 1805, Finley Morse went to New Haven to enter college, and the next letter describes the journey from Charlestown, and it was, indeed, a journey in those days.

New Haven, October 22, 1805.

My dear parents,—­I arrived here yesterday safe and well.  The first day I rode as far as Williams’ Tavern, and put up there for the night.  The next day I rode as far as Dwight’s Tavern in Western, and in the morning, it being rainy, Mr. Backus did not set out to ride till late, and, the stage coming to the door, Mr. B. thought it a good opportunity to send me to Hartford, which he did, and I arrived at Hartford that night and lodged at Ripley’s inn opposite the State House.  He treated me very kindly, indeed, wholly on account of my being your son.  I was treated more like his own son than a stranger, for which I shall and ought to be very much obliged to him.  The next morning I hired a horse and chaise of him to carry me to Weathersfield and arrived at Mr. Marsh’s, who was very glad to see me and begged me to stay till S. Barrell went, which was the next Monday, for his mother would not let him go so soon, she was so glad to see him.  I was sorry to trouble them so much, but, as they desired it, and, as Samuel B. was not to go till then, I agreed to stay and hope you will not disapprove it, and am sorry I could not write you sooner to relieve your minds from your anxiety on my account, and am sorry for giving my good parents so much trouble and expense.  You expend and have expended a great deal more money upon me than I deserve, and granted me a great many of my requests, and I am sure I can certainly grant you one, that of being economical, which I shall certainly be and not get money to buy trifling things.  I begin to think money of some importance and too great value to be thrown away.