“I suppose that he thinks that I idle away my time writing letters. to be sure I do write a great many letters, but I _don’t_ write them until all my studies are learned. now this is so. And while a person is away from home he wants to hear from his friends. All the boys write a great many letters. “Please send me some postage stamps in your letter. “Here I must stop with love to all. “I remain your aff. Son WILLIE.” “WASHINGTON, CONN., “_Jan. 22, 1865_. “MY DEAR MOTHER: “Are you getting better, I hope so. I am very anxious about you, & you must not think that I forget you, because I think of you all the time, and pray for you every night. “Willie Beecher has a prayer-meeting in his room every saturday night, & a great many boys attend. I am one of them, and I am liked more this term than any yet. Willie is superintendent and he can explain, about any passage in the bible, to us, so that we can perfectly understand it.” But the poor boy did not always keep his lofty and self-approving mood. Near the close of the same year he had occasion to realize how hard it is to tread the right line of virtue. His wrath at one of the boys and his doings got the better of his good feeling, and he vented himself in some strong language written to one of the boys at home. This, being brought to his mother’s attention, drew down a sharp reprimand, which was quite effectual,--almost too effectual one feels, on reading dear Mrs. Gunn’s calm and wise view of it. But the quick, passionate grief of the repentant boy shows his warm and wholesome heart: “WASHINGTON, _Dec. 9th, 1863_. “DEAR MOTHER: “I received your letter and with repeated sobs heard Mrs. Gunn read it to me. I am very sorry for what I said in Frank’s letter and I sincerely promise that I never will commit such a wrong again. And do please forgive me this time and take me into your arms again. Tell Mrs. Howard if you see her that I am very sorry and will never permit such a thing to come out of my mouth again. I will write to Frank and apologize for it. And I don’t think you will ever reprove me of such a wrong again. “With much love I remain your affectionate Son “WILLIE. “_He that calleth his brother a fool is in danger of hell fire._ I will remember this.” When this letter went to his mother Mrs. Gunn sent the following with it. “_Wednesday eve._ “MY DEAR MRS. GIBSON: