Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals - Volume I. | Page 6

I saw him asleep, so can say nothing of his
eye or his genius peeing through it. He may have the sagacity of a
Jewish rabbi, or the profundity of a Calvin, or the sublimity of a Homer
for aught I know. But time will show forth all things."
This sounds almost prophetic in the light of future days.
[Illustration: HOUSE IN WHICH MORSE WAS BORN, IN
CHARLESTOWN, MASS.]
The following letter from the Reverend Mr. Wells is quaint and
characteristic of the times:--
MY DEAR LITTLE BOY,--As a small testimony of my respect and
obligation to your excellent Parents and of my love to you, I send you
with this six (6) English Guineas. They are pretty playthings enough,
and in the Country I came from many people are fond of them. Your
Papa will let you look at them and shew them to Edward, and then he
will take care of them, and, by the time you grow up to be a Man, they
will under Papa's wise management increase to double their present
number. With wishing you may never be in want of such playthings
and yet never too fond of them, I remain your affectionate friend,
WM. WELLS. MEDFORD, July 2, 1793.
Young Morse was sent away early to boarding-school, as was the
custom at that time. He was taken by his father to Phillips Academy at
Andover, and I believe he ran away once, being overcome by
homesickness before he made up his mind to remain and study hard.
The following letter is the first one written by him of which I have any
knowledge:--
ANDOVER, 2d August, 1799.
DEAR PAPA,--I hope you are well I will thank you if you will Send
me up Some quils Give my love to mama and NANCY and my little
brothers pleas to kis them for me and send me up Some very good

paper to write to you
I have as many blackberries as I want I go and pick them myself.
SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE YOUR SON 1799.
This from his father is characteristic of many written to him and to his
brothers while they were at school and college:--
CHARLESTOWN, February 21, 1801.
MY DEAR SON,--You do not write me as often as you ought. In your
next you must assign some reason for this neglect. Possibly I have not
received all your letters. Nothing will improve you so much in
epistolary writing as practice. Take great pains with your letters. Avoid
vulgar phrases. Study to have your ideas pertinent and correct and
clothe them in an easy and grammatical dress. Pay attention to your
spelling, pointing, the use of capitals, and to your handwriting. After a
little practice these things will become natural and you will thus
acquire a habit of writing correctly and well.
General Washington was a remarkable instance of what I have now
recommended to you. His letters are a perfect model for epistolary
writers. They are written with great uniformity in respect to the
handwriting and disposition of the several parts of the letter. I will
show you some of his letters when I have the pleasure of seeing you
next vacation, and when I shall expect to find you much improved.
Your natural disposition, my dear son, renders it proper for me
earnestly to recommend to you to attend to one thing at a time. It is
impossible that you can do two things well at the same time, and I
would, therefore, never have you attempt it. Never undertake to do
what ought not to be done, and then, whatever you undertake, endeavor
to do it in the best manner.
It is said of De Witt, a celebrated statesman in Holland, who was torn
to pieces in the year 1672, that he did the whole business of the
republic and yet had time left to go to assemblies in the evening and

sup in company. Being asked how he could possibly find time to go
through so much business and yet amuse himself in the evenings as he
did, he answered there was nothing so easy, for that it was only doing
one thing at a time, and never putting off anything till to-morrow that
could be done to-day. This steady and undissipated attention to one
object is a sure mark of a superior genius, as hurry, bustle, and agitation
are the never-failing symptoms of a weak and frivolous mind.
I expect you will read this letter over several times that you may retain
its contents in your memory, and give me your own opinion on the
advice I have given you. If you improve this well, I shall be encouraged
to give you more as you may need it.
Your affectionate parent, J. MORSE.
This was written to a