fully sick I was, I thank God for my deliverance, and love you and all the family more than ever, for such kind, patient, and affectionate care of me during my peril. I would I might never be separated a moment from you especially, nor from those bound to us in the near and tender ties of domestic love. I hope we may soon have a reunion, though I cannot now fix the time for returning home. So, my dear L., be, as you ever have been, patient and full of love for Your most affectionate husband, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO A. M. DICKINSON. NEW YORK, October 11, 1865. MY DEAR AUBIE-Your dear good letter of Sunday came yesterday. I was very glad to get it, and very much pleased with it. It was neatly written, well punctuated, and spelled right. Besides it showed that you had listened to and understood Mr. Greeley's address, and remembered it so as to describe it, and that too in handsome language. I read it to your mother, aunt Lillu and uncle Samuel, and told them I did not believe there were many boys of your age who could so well understand such an address, and describe it so well, in such apt language. Keep on, my dear boy, with your good conduct and studies, and you will soon be able to help me much. We are all well as usual here, the weather is bright and fine, but it is not as pleasant here as at home. All send much love to you and your mamma, dear Stevie, Mary, Johnnie and Dickie. Your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. MYGATT. (On her birth-day.) NEW YORK, October 20, 1865. MY BELOVED MARY-The light you brought to our house hold on your natal day has never been quenched, but has grown brighter and lovelier as time has advanced, and new reIations have multiplied. I have only time to send you this one word of affection, and to hope that your dear boy may be as pure in paternal regard and love as you have been. Wishing you and yours the choicest of God's blessings, and with love to all, I am your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MISS CLARISSA MYGATT. NEW YORK, October 26, 1865. MY DEAR MISS MYGATT-Your most acceptable note came in the usual course, and was very welcome. Pray do not next time apologize for writing so much, but for writing so little. We suffered no detriment from the incident which arrested our travel, and escaped all the perils in short, though like Paul we had them in number and variety. We wholly escaped one which greatly affected the apostle, and that was "peril among false brethren," for we found none but dearly-beloved friends. Ah, my dear Clarissa, you know not how deeply my heart can sympathize with you in your inability to talk about your sainted sister, or converse on any subject that recalls her loss. Will you believe it? I lost a little sister aged five years in 1814, when I was 14 years of age. I have never, to this day, been able to speak two consecutive sentences of her, for grief and emotion will choke my utterance; and now that fifty years have rolled in succession their turbulent waves over life's ocean, other bereavements in a nearer relation have been mine, and my hairs are silvered with age, and my life has been one of excitement and vicissitude, and my heart is tested by time and trial, scarce a day has passed that I have not paid to the sweet memory of that beloved child the tribute of tears; and this recurrence now causes them to flow down my cheeks as they did at her little grave fifty-one years ago. The pure fountains of domestic love, so deep and exhaustless, tell me that we shall meet again and know each other there. We speak often of our pleasant visit to Westport, and to me, devoted to cares, it seems like an oasis in the desert of life. Mrs. Dickin son unites with me in kind remembrances to Mr. Treadwell and in love to you and the children, and I beg to be regarded as not merely a friend, but a most admiring and sincerely affectionate friend. D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO D. S. DICKINSON, JR. NEW YORK, November 27, 1865. MY DEAR BOY STEVIE-I write this for your 17th birth-day note and to tell you how much we all love you. You are now almost a man, and we all pray that you may be as a youth and man as upright as you have been as a boy. We must all love each other, and do all we can to render the journey of life pleasant, for it has many sorrows which cannot be turned aside, and at best is brief. May that Being who presides over the destiny of all his children keep and protect you, and shield you from all harm and temptation and evil. Your mother, aunt L. and uncle S. all unite with me in love to you upon the occasion, and also to all the family. Your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO A. M. DICKINSON. NEW YORK, November 27, 1865. MY DEAR BOY AUBIE-I have not forgotten your 15th birthday, nor to tell you how much you are beloved by us all, and how proud we are of our noble, manly boy. It is our prayer and desire and expectation that you will be as good a youth and young man as you have been a boy, so that all will see you are free from the follies and vices which destroy so many. You have high capacities for usefulness, if properly cultivated and improved, and we are satisfied you will do all in your power for good. God bless and protect you, my beloved son, and make you the support of your father and mother and of all the dear household. Your mother and aunt and uncle write in love to you and all at home. Your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MR. BALLARD. UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE, MY DEAR SIR-On a recent short visit to Binghamton, we received the melancholy intelligence of the death of your dear boy, George. We know, alas! how painfully, my afflicted friend, how the parents' hearts bleed under such a bereavement. He was a beloved and excellent child; and his loss is beautifully portrayed in the obituary notice you sent me.. Death long since held the majority of those with whom we have lived and loved; "they will not return to us, but we shall go to them." This has severed another of the strong yet tender ties which bound you to earth; and though it is yet bleeding, the spirit that has flown beckons you away, where there are no separations nor sorrows. "The world is full of farewells to the dying, and mournings for the dead." Mrs. Dickinson and myself, while we know the impotency of all human consolation, convey to Mrs. Ballard and yourself the assurances of our sympathy, and pray that this affliction may be sanctified to yourself and family for spiritual good. Sincerely yours, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. MYGATT. LILLA'S, Sunday, December 24, 1865. MY DEAR MARY-Your affectionate letter was indeed most welcome. Since I cannot be with you, I am always rejoiced to receive your letters. My domestic love is so strong that I ought never to have been tempted, even by a laudable ambition, into a course of life which has so much separated me from those as dear to me as my life. I yet hope that a time may be permitted me with those whom God has given me to bless my declining years. I returned from Washington last Tuesday, and found all as usual. Your aunt Lucie, who went up yesterday, will give you all particulars. * * * * * * I send you and John and the dear baby, Charlotte and the beloved boys, each and all a Christmas greeting from your mother and myself, Samuel and Lilla. Upon this holy festival, may we all experience renewed interchanges of affection: and cheer and console each other along the chequered pathway of life. May you be given strength from above to rear that precious bird of domestic hope, in which we all feel so much pride and solicitude, to be a light in the family circle, and an ornament to society. Your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MISS KNAPP. LILLA'S, December 24, 1865. MY DEAR ELIZA-My argument at Washington was closed last Monday, and was characterized by the papers in advance as "powerful," in which opinion, it is needless to say, I concurred; returned here on Tuesday, and found your letter, congratulating yourself that it would be pretty sure to find me at this home. I found all here as usual, your aunt Lucie's eyes having improved. She went up to B. yesterday. This is a rainy, snowy, uncomfortable morning, and I shall make the day one of physical and spiritual rest. To-morrow will be Christmas! I have written you how little I enjoy holidays, because of the excesses usually practised. The day is more tolerable in the country, where there is some sincerity; but I am too close an observer to feel much sympathy with what I see going on in this great Babel. There is nothing on earth that cannot be purchased here, most of it, to be sure, far above its value. Wealth and want, dinners and debaucheries, religion and rum, splendor and starvation, cards and coffins, music and |