CHAPTER IV.

Letters Home while teaching in the Family of Mrs. Shields-Notice of George W Pierce-Letters from his Class-mate, Appleton-Takes Charge of an AcademyTrip into Louisiana-Anecdotes of him by one of his pupils-Is Licensed, and commences the Practice of Law in Partnership with Gen. Huston-His Appearance at this time-Anecdote of his first Speech at the Bar-Trip to Columbia Springs-His Views of Slavery.

ET. 19-22. 1828-1831.

то HIS MOTHER.

NATCHEZ, February 12, 1828.

MY DEAR MOTHER:

I again sit down to the pleasant task of writing to you—and, for a little while, shall almost imagine myself at home. Indeed it requires very little stretch of the imagination to carry me back amongst you; and often, when I awake in the morning, I expect to hear you calling me to breakfast-forgetting that I am two thousand miles beyond the reach of your voice.

I received, last week, a letter from you and William, dated December 24th; and was very glad that you had heard of my safe arrival here, as I knew you would be anxious about me till you did. William says you were all astonished at my letter from Louisville-you cannot have been more so than I was to find, by his letter, that you had sold the farm, and moved into the village. Though I doubt not it is for the best, still, I assure you, it made me feel disagreeably to learn that the place, where we had so long lived together, where I have so often been a-gunning and fishing, had passed into the hands of a stranger. Perhaps, one of these days, one of us will be able to repurchase it. But I doubt not, as I said before, it was much the best

thing you could do; and I am more especially glad because it will free you from so much care and trouble, and will give the children such great advantages for schooling. You must now be very pleasantly situated-that is, if you have got into your new house. I imagined it could be no other than Mr. C's, as I had heard you speak frequently of purchasing that, in case you should ever move to the village.

I am glad that William has given up the idea of going to sea; in my opinion he has acted wisely. What does Samuel turn his mind to? As for G-, we were to make an admiral, or some other great character, of him; tell him to mind his book, and take care of the garden. I am glad Abby has the advantage of the seminary, for she is sufficiently old to attend some such institution. The girls ought to have all the advantages possible; we boys can easily take care of ourselves. am very much alarmed to hear that your health is not as good as it has been. I hope you will take every possible care of it-do not be overanxious about us children.

The first quarter of my school is out to-morrow night. I go into company very little, though I have been introduced to most of the people hereabouts-I feel no inclination for society-and, besides, I cannot afford the time from my studies. I wish to get through with my profession, and settle somewhere as soon as possible. Sometimes, however, I am very lonesome, and would give a good deal, could I drop in of an evening, and find you all together.

I do not like the manner of living here, so well as I do our Northern fashion. The white people themselves differ very little, as I can perceive, from those of our own part of the country. Slavery is the great pest of this as well as all the other Southern States. It is considered disgraceful for a white man to do any kind of hand labor-and everything is done by the slaves. Of course, things are done in a very poor and slovenly manner; and, though the people here are far wealthier than they are in the North, yet I do not think they live so comfortably or so happily. The negroes themselves, however, appear to enjoy life, and are, for aught I see, as happy as their

masters. It is not often that they are treated so cruelly as we are accustomed to suppose, and in general they are better off than they would be if they were free-still it is a hard case for them at best.

I have nothing new to tell you concerning myself since I wrote last. As I shall probably continue here a year, at least, and should like to have the news from Maine, I wish you would send me the weekly Eastern Argus. If you will speak to Mr. Pierce, he will attend to it.

And now, my dear mother, as it is very late, I bid you good night, and also the children, to all of whom I send my love. Remember me, as usual, to all my friends.

Your affectionate son,

S. S. PRENTISS.

то HIS BROTHER WILLIAM.

DEAR BROTHER :

NATCHEZ, April 20, 1828.

I was very glad, as you may well suppose, to hear from you all again, and to know that you are well and happy. I have nothing new to tell you concerning myself, as I keep pretty close to my business-studying all the time I can spareand, of course, meet with nothing very interesting or extraordinary. I continue to be much pleased with my situation—and, indeed, do not think I could have found one in the whole State so well adapted to my views. As I told you before, I have the sole use of a very extensive and excellent law library, which I consider as good as a hundred dollars a-year at least. There is also a large library of miscellaneous books-so that I am in no want of this essential article, without which, indeel, I should hardly be able to exist. The family is a kind and amiable one; and, if I did not utterly detest the business of teaching, my situation would be quite bearable.

Mother requests the names and ages of my scholars. They are as follows:-William, who has just returned from Nashville; he is about eighteen years of age, and a fine young fellow. The

next is Gabriel, who is sixteen, an excellent scholar, and also a fine young man. The others are Francina, Joseph, and Elizabeth, of the respective ages of thirteen, nine, and six. They are all of good disposition, and I find no trouble whatever in managing them.

I am glad to hear you have given up the idea of going to sea; at least if you can get business on shore. Probably you will turn your attention towards trading, with the intention of becoming a merchant. At any rate that is what I would do myself, had I not a profession. I consider it far the easiest, as well as one of the most respectable, roads to wealth; and did I care much about wealth, I would, even now, change my pursuits. For I consider the profession of law in New England (where I think I shall settle myself eventually, after all ), as one of the very poorest, in point of emolument. In this State, however, the lawyers "live in clover," as we say; the most ordinary make two or three thousand dollars a-year, and some of them five, six, and seven. Perhaps you will ask me why I intend leaving a place where money is so easily made? I am not sure that I shall; but the reasons which induce me to are these--one of the first and most powerful, as you may well suppose, is that I may be nearer my friends; another is, that I would dislike to live in a slave-holding State; furthermore, I have seen no part of the Union which I think pleasanter, all things considered, than that which I left. The only advantages which these Southern States possess over those of the North, are the greater facilities they afford for the accumulation of wealth, and this, you know, I consider a very small item in the account of human happiness. At least, I know it would have small influence upon my own. There are some other reasons which induce me to think that, in the course of two or three years, you will see me amongst you again.

think about it

You astonished me very much by your account of the wonderful things that are going on at Gorham. A dancing school! and you attending it!! Why really, brother, I should not have expected that of you. I am afraid you have become entangled with some of the young ladies at the village, and are trying to "hop" into their good graces.

Pray write, you or mother, as often as every three weeks, and oftener still, if convenient. Tell me everything that hap pens-even the most minute news will be interesting. My love to you all. Remember me particularly to Mr. Pierce and wife --as well as to all our relatives and acquaintances.

Your affectionate brother,

S S. PRENTISS.

My kindest respects to my new-married cousin B——, and tell her I wish her much joy. How is Aunt D-? Tell her I think of her often.*

то HIS BROTHER WILLIAM.

NATCHEZ, June 23, 1828.

DEAR BROTHER:

The weather here, for two months past, has been intensely warm; I do not, however, suffer so much from it as I anticipated-owing in a great measure, as I think, to my very profuse perspiration, which is so great that my clothes are almost continually wet through with it. My health has, as yet, been very good, and I have hopes will continue so through the

summer.

I have ridden round the country considerably since I have

* This venerated relative died in 1849, at the advanced age of more than fourscore years. She was a native of Cape Cod, and an excellent specimen of the household energy, thrift, good sense, and self-denying toil, which marked the noble women of New England in the age of the Revolution, or in the earlier days of the Pilgrims. Her kindness and personal devotion to the sick, were quite wonderful. At Gorham, where the most active portion of her life was passed, she was a true Sister of Charity; and long will her memory be cherished in that pleasant village. For many years hardly anybody could be sick without sending for "Aunt D-;" and whether it were night or day, in summer or winter, sunshine or storm, who ever knew her refuse to come, if she had strength to do so? It was worth a fit of illness to have her to tend you; she was always so cheerful, and motherly, and strong-minded. It would be a long record that should commemorate all her acts of mercy and neighborly love; that should tell how many nights of watching she spent in the sick-rooms, alike of rich and poor, or how many eyes were, by her friendly hands, closed in death. This passing tribute to her worth is the more grateful, inasmuch as she had a particular affection for the subject of this memoir.-ED.