Here it is: 

’New-York, May 15th, 18—.

’DEAR COUSIN:  Your letter of May 12th is before me.  I am glad to hear you are all well at Hampton.  We are much obliged for your kind invitation for the summer.  I think you may count confidently on a visit from my wife and myself some time during the season, and I have no doubt one of the girls will come with us.  I know I shall enjoy it for one, and I am sure we all shall.

’As to my namesake, I am glad to hear so good an account of him.  Now, cousin, I really take an interest in the lad, and beg you will not make any wry faces over an honest expression of my opinion.  If you want the boy to make a first-rate merchant, and SUCCEED, don’t send him to me at present.  Of course, I will receive him, if you insist upon it.  But, in my opinion, it will only spoil him.  I tell you frankly, I would not give a fig for a city-bred boy.  But I will enter into this compact with you:  I will undertake to make a first-class merchant of Hiram, if you will let me have my own way.  If you do not, I can not answer for it.  What I recommend is, that you put him into one of the stores in your own village.  If I remember right, there are two there which do a regular country trade, and have a general stock of dry goods, groceries, crockery, clothing, stationery, etc., etc., etc.  Here he will learn two things—­detail and economy—­without a practical knowledge of which, no man can succeed in mercantile business.  I presume you will consider this a great falling off from your expectations.  Perhaps you will think it petty business for your boy to be behind a counter in a small country store, selling a shilling’s worth of calico, a cent’s worth of snuff, or taking in a dozen eggs in exchange, but there is just where he ought to be, for the present.  I repeat, he will learn detail.  He will understand the value of all sorts of merchandise; he will get a real knowledge of barter and trade.  When he learns out there, put him in another retail store of more magnitude.  Keep him at this three or four years, and then I agree to make a merchant of him.  I repeat, don’t be disappointed at my letter.  I tell you candidly, if I had a son, that’s just what I would do with him, and it is just what I want you to do with Hiram.  I hope you will write me that you approve of my plan.  If you do, you may rely on my advice at all times, and I think I have some experience in these matters.

’We all desire to be remembered to your husband and family.

’Very truly, your cousin,

‘HIRAM BENNETT.’

He had added, from habit, ‘& Co.,’ but this was erased.

The letter was a heavy blow to the fond mother; but she recovered from it quickly, like a sensible woman.  In fact, she perceived her cousin was sincere, and she herself appreciated the good sense of his suggestions.  Her husband, whom she thought best to consult, since matters were taking this turn, approved of what her cousin had written, and so it was decided that Hiram should become a clerk of Mr. Jessup, the most enterprising of the two ‘store—­keepers’ in Hampton.  How he got along with Mr. Jessup, and finally entered the service of Mr. Burns, at Burnsville, must be reserved for a separate chapter.