The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-11-04
A LETTER II YEARS OLD
II is Good Reading and Manifesis
a Fathers SOlicitude for
His Children.

Misses Mary Ann Daney Smith and
Eliza Reliance Smith.
My Darling Children:
AlthO' your affectionate father hak
been compelled to be much from Jon
since your God has thought proper 10
deprive you Of your dear mother, yet
you were with friends and acquaint-
ances Of your youth. You are now
about to be differently situated-yon
are about TO launch forth upon TO
you) a new world, where every appear
aDce is different from what you have
been in the habit of witnessing, every
lace strange one, and alluring temp
tatlonS surrounding you on every side
but my dear children, althO' yonr
fathers heart bleedS that he carnUl
accompany you, he has every conf
dence in the friend he has selected for
that purpose, and in those with whom
you will be placed b. him.
My dear Daney is now at an age
when she should reflect, pause and con-
slider well the result Cf every step she
takes, but never hesitate, my dear
child, for one moment, to ask advice
from those in whose care you may be
placed, and recOlleCt that those wh9
have had more experience in this life
than yourself, must be better quail
fed to Judge the causes and effects OF
the different scenes or life through
which you viii have 70 pass, than yOI
can be expected to, from the limited
means you have Gas yeti had Cf pos
SeSsing that information and kncWi-
edge OF the world. its temptations.
vices, fOllieS, snareS and deluSiGnS 81
which society in general is composed.
Have no secrets Of your own, they are
an enemy to human happiness; and
never hesitate or delay TO cOmMuDt-
cate to your fond father whatever Ill
life pleaSeS, perDleXes, diStresSeS o.
annOyS you in any way-y0u well Know
his bosom flows but with affection fOr
his children-that you are his goal.
his every hope Of happiness, en- this
earth is now centered in his G3rllDE
children, and to yCr my first born.
my dear Daney, all the others lu0& f0I
example, consequent. = on yOua heavier
task is cnjoined.
l Shall expect YOU 20 write ne q ley-
ter jointly with ycgr sister at least
once Il f0rtnigt and send .IeSsiS-
Sprague & BObinSCn t. forward, nor
only before you go to school, but " hiiSl
at SchoOl-and 10 yCUr Uncle James.
shall expect you 10 write letter
every week after yOU are at school. I
should like for you t. write him whilst
at Brooklyn as soon after your arrival
as you have Sufllciently recovered from
the effects of the vCrage-be cdFefu1
and particular and get Mrs. Rathbonc
to examine it for yCI-yOu will hD0
her Of charming manner, atfectionate-
kind and Suasive, and her daughters
most engaging. Your father has ever
felt paternal fOndneSS for them, aS
you have often heard him express.
since his first acquaintance, and be
trusts there is reciprocity OF aTec-
tiOnate feelings subsiSting between
that family in general and himself;
the kind attention he has ever receiY-
ed from them when there, has been
the warranty Of his belief.
/ wish you to have look at the
principal places Of amusement in the
city ere you go to your school, and
Mrs. RathbOne and the children viii
accompany you to the theatre one
light, should Captain RathbODe be al
home; I am sure he will take great
pleasure in accompanying you around
With his family, and to him l look to
Jake you to sch ool.
Direct your letter to your uncle t0
COl. James A. Smith, Post Master,
Palmyra, North Carolina. 20
l hope and trust, my dear children,
&c be with you ia u few months, but
:annot tell how long it may take 10
arrange my business here. Sly inten-
ion is, when l leave Bermuda again,
lot to return, except perhaps on =
7iSit, but to take all with me-
Be particular and attentive, my dear
in your devotiOns tS yossr
sod; and l trust your prisons, ioi2fd
With your fathers, Will ascend sz;sa e,.
by. your angel mother &C Be-
hrone of grace, from whence ycfE al
eceive support to pass you thrCzgn
his sublunary life, With henDE Ter
yourselves and frienG> and glory e.-
7our Heavenly Father.
May God s choicest blessings attend 2.
ny dear children, and may their COZ
luct through life be such as to merit
lis support. am, with every sentl-
nent Of affection pure,
Your devoted father,
f%AA6r CEy-ryy