9

know my antipathy to any thing like
strife and the countless vexations that are
incident to any public position; and
you, more than any one else can appre-
-ciate the sacrifice I make in again
taking up the sword, which I hoped
I had laid aside forever. "God bless
you, my darling, the hopes that you
have kindled in my breast have
thrown a broad flood of light across
my gloomy way, that erst made
life look brighter & the green Earth
more beautiful, & Heaven more near,
and the sail of my birth more dear
But as "all thats bright must fade," so
our hopes that are dearest, fall like
the leaves of Autumn, & the memories
that sweep across our minds in after
years, are ike the winds of winter
that barely shake the branches of the
lisfless tree. Thus, while I had hoped
ere long to share with you every