1811 September 15, Philada, to William

              Philada 9 mo 15 1811 First day.My dear William will perhaps be almost ready to adopt the old adage "Out of sight, out of mind" - but thou are not so with me, and it has not been for want of thinking of thee, that thy Clothes have not been sent on long since.Two weeks and a half have elapsed since we reach'd home and tho' I immediately set about the business, I have not been able to accomplish it yet. before the Articles were purchased & in readiness to go, B. Coates made his appearance; and tho' they have now been for some time waiting a conveyance thy Father resolves they shall still wait for his care. I have been quite uneasy at his staying so long, not knowing how thou will make out without thy Coat. Mary Allen being in the Country and not expected for some time and not knowing of any other hand I would trust to make them, I concluded to send the stuff on, and let thee employ your Taylor. I would have the Coat made like the one I brought with me to make the new one by, unless thou would'st prefer it plainer - and the Sur-tout exact like Francis's - made full large every way, as thou are still growing, and it will last many winters. 
Thy Father & Brother Henry are closely engaged in business Thy Father says if it were not for Henry's useful qualifications he could not get on at all. He has three hands less in the [--------] house than usual. Those talents therefore, with which providence has entrusted thy Brother, tho' they may not be called very striking, or very brilliant, yet tho' his early and diligent care to improve them, now enable him to render that assistance to his Father, which are attached to our sphere of action, is always such; and likewise because every Son who loves his Father as Henry does, must feel peculiar delight in the capacity of affording him relief! To bear a part of the [--------] of those we love, is an Office dear to every virtuous mind: And it is an honour to him in every Sense. It proves that he has not wasted the golden hours of youth in idleness, or an undue indulgence of the vagrant inclinations of boyhood after unprofitable pleasures, or mere pastime in such manner as to occupy his mind to the exclusion of more important Objects: but from a sense of duty and laudable ambition to excel, and give pleasure to