Nashville (Meris School House) Nov [November] 29 1842My Dear Mother

I have been procrastinating for some time and if excuses were not so common, I should attemp [attempt] to give one; but you know a school boy who has studdies [studies] to attend to, has not much time to Spare otherwise than at his studdies. All persons when grown up to the age of maturity regret that they did not devote more of their time to study. Therefore it is eventually requisite that we should study whyle [while] we have an opportunity and whyle we are at it we should not only study the contense [contents] of school books, but we should we connect virtue with it and make that the principle part of our studys [studies] for unless virtue is well studied and fully practiced, we are apt to be led astray; for you know the many vices and evils connected with the habit and dispositions of the [added: youth] of the pressent [present] age that it is almost impossible to escape.

But virtue ever simple and credulous; conscious of new designs of itself it [unclear: suspits ] none in others; it wears no guards before its breast; evry [every] door and portal and avenue of the heart is thrown open and all who choose it enter. One of the most vicious and poisonous [added: enemies to virtue] and one whose fang enters deeper in the heart than any other, is the craving appetite for for wealth: and we too frequently [added: stop to] look upon the many splendid objects which it presents to our mind; and then it is that we are allured from the path [of of] virtue, into the dark and mercyless [merciless] ways of vice, without one bright ry ray of hope to cheer us on our way. Knowledge is

standard and virtue is my guide

I frequently think of Old Rock Cave and the many hapy [happy] hours that I have spent there; but those happy hours have [added: passed] never more to return and when I [added: think] that I shall never enjoy them again, it produces quite melancholy feeling

We are all getting a long [along] finely for the hard times: lots of weddings and as the saying is parties till you cant rest. The Capt [Captain] says that he believes he will sit out as a widower: and I believe there is something it in it, for the topick [topic] of his conversation is women, and he thinks about them, talks about them, goes to see them, and is so much taken with them, that he even goes so far as to dream about them and Ill tell you what? he is just about the greatest ladies man you ever heard of Tell sister if he does not get see her very soon, my opinion is that she will be a grass widow. Since all this marrying and party business has commenced I am I have got in the notion myself, so you must not be supprised [surprised] if I bring Mrs Hamilton over next Christmast [Christmas] I have become quite a gallant since you left here; I go to see the girls very frequently and if you were to see me gallant them up Church street, you would not know me.

I was down to see Miss Mary Craighead the other evening and she desired to be remembered to you and sister. Bob and Kitty are as loveing [loving] as ever and I rather believe if he were [added: were] in buisness [business], that we would have a wedding Mr Pillar was down to see Susan the other day; the Hill family seem to be very much pleased with him and I think if he would say the word, we would have a match

Count [unclear: Lemonovske ] (from Poland ) has been lecturing

upon the life of Bonepart [Bonaparte] , he is said to have been with him in all his battles

I shall endeavour [endeavor] to come over there Ct [Christmas] — as I suppose you will want some help about moveing [moving]: an [and] I do assure you that it will give me great pleasure to render you any assistance that may be in my power for I know a child can never pay the debt that is due a parent. I will feel thanful [thankful] that I have it my power to render you assistance

Tell sister that she must comply with hir [her] promise to write to me. I do want to see you all, and especially little jimy; I expect he has forgot me but you must talk to him about me, that he may [gap] Little Mary an Lenora are very fat and plu[gap] the healthyest [healthiest] children you ever saw

Say to Tom an [gap] that they must write to [gap] (both of them) Will promised to favour [favor] me with a corespondence [correspondence] [gap] I was over there last summer The arrangement [gap] he was to write the first letter which I have [gap] received. Tell him that it is high ti[gap] as writing [gap] fail to answer this [gap]

Sister Emeline wishes you to get her some Eggs and send over before Ct . It is geting [getting] late and I must stop. All of our family send their love to you and sister give my love to all of our relations. give my respects to Mr & Miss Dawson Harriette and all the ballance [balance] of the family also to Mr & Mrs Freman

and all other enquiring friends. Give a thousand bushels of love to sister and jimmy. kiss jimmy a hundred times for me. Except [Accept] [added: for your self] all the love that a loveing son is able to bestow

Your affectionate Son

Jos. [Joseph] D. Hamilton Jr

[added:

Mrs S [Sally] B Hamilton Russellville Kentucky

]