The first use I make of my pen this new year is to wish my _only_ brother a happy new year. May this year see you as ardently engaged in the cause of your Maker & Redeemer, as you have hitherto been in the walks of science & the cares of the world. Every new era of time reminds me of the approach of Death. My days appear to me to be numbered & nearly finished. May the evening of my life be as serene as the meridian has been. How many mercies has our family to recount. Fifteen years have elapsed since we have been called to weep over the grave of a beloved friend, but how short that period appears. it seems as but yesterday, & what have we done in that time to prepare us to follow our relatives to that region of joy where we have reason to hope they are gone. What a flood of knowledge & glory they must have travelled through, since they were released from this prison of flesh. With what pity they must cast a look on us, & wonder that the cares & the silly trifles of time can so engross our thoughts & hearts as they do. Could we but for one moment feel what blessed spirits feel, who are purified from the infirmities of mortality, how we should long to fly away, & be a partaker with them of the bliss of heaven. We had a letter from Ann on Saturday, she & her husband were tolerably well, though she complains of the high seasoned food, parties, as not benefitting her appetite, or her husbands eyes. Our neighbors & friends are generally well, except hard colds which are very common though the season has been uncommonly fine. I have at last completed a history in question & answer for the use of schools, beginning at the creation & reaching to the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. The intention of the work, is to unite Sacred & Profane history with moral instruction & designed for the use of schools. If you are acquainted with any bookseller whom you think would like to take a number of them to sell upon commission I wish you would speak to him about them & let me know of it & I will forward them, by the first conveyance. Mr. Diderrer wanted a set for Eliza, if there is any way of sending them to him I would forward them. I thought that it was best to have some deposited in N. York for those who wished to purchase. Should you see any of my friends remember me to them & believe me as ever your affectionate sister. SARAH PIERCE. LETTERS FROM MISS S. PIERCE TO MR. JOHN P. BRACE, HARTFORD, CONN.[78] Dec. 7. 1832. DEAR JOHN.