MY DEAR JAMES[77] Another year has dawned upon us—May it prove more happy, & more to our Eternal interest than the last. Yesterday Mr. Huntington gave us an excellent sermon upon the New Year. The Discourse tended to wean us from the world by shewing us that we were not born for ourselves, but for God. He mentioned that there had been but nine persons died out of his Congregation, & those chiefly aged persons. I felt that _ten_ were _gone_. The idea that our dear brother was one who tho’ he was no more, was uncounted in his Native Village church struck me to the heart. “tho’ no weeping friends around thy tomb. The unfading wreaths of virtue there shall bloom. And when the last great Day shall wake thy dust. Thou there wilt meet the honors of the just. Ah, what is earthly pomp compared with this. What the world’s glory or its present bliss.” ... I suppose Mary has left you before this. I am sorry Mamma can’t do with out her. I should be glad to supply her place, but my family & school are so large, I can hardly find time to run in & see her once or twice in a week. Tell sister Pierce I hope she has not forgotten the promise she made me of sending the copy of poetry, concluding Parnell’s Hermit. Tell her I shan’t use my brains at spinning poetry for her again if she serve me thus. My love to all friends, adieu. SALLY PIERCE. [No date] MY DEAR JAMES. ... I have found loaf sugar so amazingly dear that I wish you would get a few loaves and send with Wadsworth’s goods. I am sorry that I am not there to spend a little money, I have so many wants. Yours affectionately. M. PIERCE. LITCHFIELD. Jan. 4th. 1819. MY DEAR JAMES.