Mrs. Leward to Mrs. Herbert

My dear Mother,—I never felt so sad since that saddest day when my dear Father died. My darling boy has gone to school, and the light and life of my life seems gone too. How we used to scold him, especially Francis, if he made too much noise and now I would page 4give worlds to hear him romping about the place it scarcely seems like home to me without him. I know it is foolish but I do so look forward to the holidays and it seems so long before they will come and he is so far away. I feel as if I must rush off and give him one kiss and come away again. When I look at the lock of his hair when he was a baby it is almost too much for me to bear. I have another curl I cut off when he was fast asleep in bed last night.

He had been so full of going away he could talk of nothing else all day long. I broke down dreadfully as the carriage drove off. Francis although suffering from a severe cold and sore throat went with him.

We hear the highest accounts of Dr. Pott Francis is much pleased with what he has heard of him, and we trust our boy will be kindly treated. But there are so many temptations for boys at school.

Good-bye, dear Mamma. It is such a relief to open my heart to you there is no one I can do so to as I can to you.