My dear Frederick,
I was very sorry indeed to find from your last that you were not satisfied with your place, and that your master was always finding fault with you. You must not imagine that in doing so he is at all cruel or severe; but, having a great interest in your future welfare, he wishes, whilst there is yet time, to correct the faults he sees you commit. It is not with you that he is angry; it is with the faults and errors he sees you fall into. It is for your good, believe me, my dear Fred, that he speaks; and in after years you will look with gratitude and respect on Mr. C——, who now appears to you to be harsh and unkind. With our fondest love, hoping you are well, and that you will become more contented soon,
Believe me,
Your ever affectionate father, ______
A Letter of Condolence.
Hampton Road, April 4th, 187—
My dear J——n,
I sincerely commiserate you in this your fearful and awful visitation. Sad indeed it is to lose your wife and your expected child in one short moment! Your dear wife, we are well aware (as far as human beings can form a judgment of the lives of their fellow creatures) was in every act, deed, and word a true Christian. Your account of her death is deeply touching; but how grateful you must have felt to have seen her so resigned and happy in the thought that, although her loss would cast a shadow on your life on earth, you would meet her hereafter in that better world, where no trouble or sorrow is to be found. She was good in every acceptation of the term: her charities (so unostentatiously dispensed), her cheerful willingness to relieve any real distress, her talents and charms, endeared her to all. Naturally you must deeply grieve for the loss of one so dear and excellent. You have again another source of grief in the loss of your child; dear J——, and at present all consolation must seem to you impossible; but God has ordained that Time shall bring comfort and soothing for all earthly sorrows, and to its healing influence we must leave you. As soon as you feel equal to the journey, come to us, and stay as long as you feel inclined. We will walk and ride together. There is great healing in Nature, and open-air exercise—I speak from experience—does as much as reason and philosophy in soothing a great grief.
My wife unites with me in best regards and truest sympathy.