Samuel F. B. Morse, His Letters and Journals - Volume I. | Page 8

Let this
be a warning to you all not to be guilty of the like indiscretion which
may cost you your life. Dreadful, indeed, would this be to all of us. I
wish you would not go into water oftener than once a week, and then
either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and not go in when
hot nor stay long in the water. Remember these cautions of your mama
and obey them strictly.
A young lady twenty years old died in Boston yesterday very suddenly.
She eat her dinner perfectly well and was dead in five minutes after.
Her name was Ann Hinkley. You see, my dear boys, the great
uncertainty of life and, of course, the importance of being always

prepared for death, even a sudden death, as we know not what an hour
may bring forth. This we are sensible of, we cannot be too soon or too
well prepared for that all-important moment, as this is what we are sent
into this world for. The main business of life is to prepare for death. Let
us not, then, put off these most important concerns to an uncertain
to-morrow, but let us in earnest attend to the concerns of our precious,
never-dying souls while we feel ourselves alive.
In October, 1805, Finley Morse went to New Haven to enter college,
and the next letter describes the journey from Charlestown, and it was,
indeed, a journey in those days.
NEW HAVEN, October 22, 1805.
MY DEAR PARENTS,--I arrived here yesterday safe and well. The
first day I rode as far as Williams' Tavern, and put up there for the night.
The next day I rode as far as Dwight's Tavern in Western, and in the
morning, it being rainy, Mr. Backus did not set out to ride till late, and,
the stage coming to the door, Mr. B. thought it a good opportunity to
send me to Hartford, which he did, and I arrived at Hartford that night
and lodged at Ripley's inn opposite the State House. He treated me very
kindly, indeed, wholly on account of my being your son. I was treated
more like his own son than a stranger, for which I shall and ought to be
very much obliged to him. The next morning I hired a horse and chaise
of him to carry me to Weathersfield and arrived at Mr. Marsh's, who
was very glad to see me and begged me to stay till S. Barrell went,
which was the next Monday, for his mother would not let him go so
soon, she was so glad to see him. I was sorry to trouble them so much,
but, as they desired it, and, as Samuel B. was not to go till then, I
agreed to stay and hope you will not disapprove it, and am sorry I could
not write you sooner to relieve your minds from your anxiety on my
account, and am sorry for giving my good parents so much trouble and
expense. You expend and have expended a great deal more money
upon me than I deserve, and granted me a great many of my requests,
and I am sure I can certainly grant you one, that of being economical,
which I shall certainly be and not get money to buy trifling things. I
begin to think money of some importance and too great value to be

thrown away.
Yesterday morning about ten o'clock I set out for New Haven with S.
Barrell and arrived well a little before dark. I went directly to Dr.
Dwight's, which I easily found, and delivered the letter to him, drank
tea at his house, and then Mr. Sereno Dwight carried me to Mr. Davis's
who had agreed to take me. While I was at Dr. Dwight's there was a
woman there whom the Dr. recommended to Sam. B. and me to have
our mending done, and Mrs. Davis or a washerwoman across the way
will do my washing, so I am very agreeably situated. I also gave the
letter to Mr. Beers and he has agreed to let me have what you desired. I
have got Homer's Iliad in two volumes, with Latin translation of him,
for $3.25. I need no other books at present.
S. Barrell has a room in the north college and, as he says, a very
agreeable chum.
Next spring I hope you will come on and fix matters. I long to get into
the college, for it appears to me now as though I was not a member of
college but fitting for college. I hope next spring will soon come.
My whole journey from Charlestown here cost me £2 16s., and 4d., a
great deal more than either you or I had calculated on. I