1810 February 9, to Brother

              February 9th 1810

Dear Brother. 

It seems as if it always came to my lot to write to thee, and although I have not much objection in common, especially when I have any thing to tell thee of that may give thee pleasure, yet when anything of a contrary nature happens, I think I had rather give up the pen to an able hand which while it informs of the affliction, can at the same time mingle some portion of consolation therewith, but as no other has time to write, I must, however unpleasant the task, proceed to inform thee of thee sorrowful loss we have sustained in our family, since thee last heard from us. 

Death stalks forth in darkness, his approach is silent as the grave, his hand is ev-ry where; no one can say he will see the light of tomorrow; our dear, our beloved, our affectionate Samuel is no more.  The unrelenting tyrant has taken him from us in the prime & vigour of his life; that sweet voice, which has oft  been the first sound, that has struck my ear upon awaking in the morning, 

alas! is silenced forever; that little tender bill that so oft hath received its food from my hand is stiff, cold, dead!  On fourth day evening just before I went to school I got up and look'd at him in his cage, he was sitting sorrowfully in one corner. "If he lives till tomorrow" said I, "I will take him up stairs, put him out at the window, perhaps the sun & fresh air may revive him."  I then went to school. After school I again look'd at him, he was sitting in the corner as before, very sorrowfully and look'd very poorly indeed.  I went down cellar & caught him 3 or 4 spiders he eat them, poor fellow!  it was the last morsel he eat. after having