.NTI.MTI5MQ

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�Sabbath Eve. 19. Sept. '52. We have just bid your uncle Washington, "good by, on his departure for the far East.

    Mr. Small has preached to us one of his most 

interesting Sermons, this afternoon, + I hope it will do us good. A large number attended church. I miss you, there, very much. You having always attended meetings with me since you was old enough, it seems as if I must see you, now, [underlined], going out, or coming in. The effect of your separation from us, upon my feelings + enjoyments, Zadoc, is considerable, I assure you. It leads me to review our past life in relation to each other, + my discharge of my responsibilities as a father [underlined]. In this review, although I see, on my part, no intentional [underlined] wrong + no motive inconsistent with the Thought and tenderest affection; yet, I do see what distresses me, fault which, with deep regret, I will confess to you, that you [underlined], if you ever have to act in the same relation, may avoid them + their unhappy con- sequences. The chief error [underlined] which I refer to, is, that, in all my government of you, in all the lessons of instruction which I have given, in all my trials with you, + in the performance of my whole duties, as a parent, I have not, in patience possessed my Soul, [last five words underlined], but have been often hasty, irritable + angry. This is the besetting error of my life, + has been a bar, my son, to our mutual comfort, + a bad example [last two words underlined] for you, + therefore now saddens the memory of our past life. Do think of this life an abiding con =