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.