[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, July 16, 1816]

July 16th 1816 (illegible)

My dear child Although I have received nothing from you by the mail of yesterday, yet I must not omit sending you a few lines by the return post, and few they must be this time my love, for you must know I am to dine today with Mrs. Jackson the (illegible) new bride. I hope, my child, that you have conducted yourself with the same degree of self (illegible) since your return to school, that you displayed with so much attention to your mother's feelings on leaving home; I that you are again cheerful and happy. I will forbear now to enter into a course of reflections which naturally present themselves to me. Your own (I hope well cultivated) sense of right will lead you to make this conclusion, that there is real happiness and cherfulness to be found in pursuing closely a right line of duties, no matter what immediate sacrifices of feeling that pursuit may claim. I am endeavouring to be as happy as I can without your endearing society. The day you left me truly was not a happy one; but I thought as little as possible of you, and to that end went out to dine with Aunt Nelly after I returned from

meeting. You see, I went actively to work, first to sermon, and then to visit Aunt N, and on the whole found a good account in it. You will ask Mrs. Greland's advice concerning commencing on the harp. If she thinks you are far enough to do so, it is my wish that you should, but by no means to neglect lessons alternativelity on the piano, but more by the next letter on that subject. Mrs. Prince attends cousin Elizabeth here, and she is very studious and a very smart girl. We had 5 of (illegible)(illegible) young ladies here on Saturday and Sunday. They were glad, or course, to be free for a short time. Never neglect writing to me May heaven help you and preserve you from all evil in the prayer of your mother. E U T

Best love to Mrs. Greland and her daughter. Be you a good child and an obedient pupil to her. I know the merits it (illegible) you.