9

    To Samuel Phillips Savage Thatcher

    New York City        31 January 1788

    My dear little Son

    By several Letters, from my friends, I hear such good accounts of you that I cant keep from you the pleasure they give me—

    Mr. [Silas] Lee, who loves you dearly, wrote me—that you got up every morning before any body in the house—and are very helpfull to him Charles in making a fire1

    This is very kind in you—you must always help Charles make fires; and bring in wood for Ratchell when Charles is gon away—because she loves you, and will always help you do those things that you are not able to do yourself—

    Your Mamma sais you are a good boy, & willingly tarried at home, the other after noon, whilst she, your Cousen Tempy [Temperance Hedge] & little sister went abroad—Now you must always tarry at home when they want you should—

    You must take care of Ratchel and bring in her wood, & help her do a thousand things—because she is older than you; & the youngest ought to help, and wait upon the oldest—

    When I come home you shall go abroad with me—You shall ride Dagon, & I will ride Rhoda—

    Mr. [Thomas B.] Wait, the printer, said a thousand pretty things about you—But I thought he seemed to like your sister [Sally] the best—

    And I dare say you love little Lucy MeIntire better than your dear little friend, Billy Hooper—When you see Lucy & Billy you must kiss them—& tell them your pappa, loves them both—

    You must kiss all the little Girls & Boys you meet—but you must never strike them; for if you do, they wont play with you, but run away & leave you—Do you ride with Charles every day to water Dagon & Rhoda? Little boys should always le[arn to] ride; and you must learn t[o do it] alone before I come home—a[nd] then I will get you a little p[air] of Boots & Spurs and a little horse,2 for you to ride to Kenneb[unk] with your papa when he goes to <torn> Court—Good night, my little dear—remember your pappa—and tell your mamma he will come home when it is warm weather—

    * * *

    ALS, TFP. Addressed to Biddeford; franked.