This was a single letter; to save on paper and postage, each parent wrote as if a separate letter. John's father has terrible handwriting that I still haven't been able to decipher. On many words, I have given up. Sue Helm To: John James Towles Alexandria, D. C. Henderson June 16th 1840 My dear John, I could not have believed that you would have _________two months & a half to lapse without writing to me or even sending me your good wishes. I hope that I am justified in believing that you are both well and perfectly satisfied with your situation for I feel assured you would have written more frequently had this not been the case. You promised you would write often, I hope you will think _______not once in two months is hardly often enough. I have written one letter to you both one to Walter and this is the third. I hope Walter if he has not done so will immediately answer any letter to him and that you will reply to this. We are all well. I have just returned from Louisville to attend the episcopal convention where I met with the reverend Mr. Jackson of Virginia who told me he was to preach in your chapel in about 3 weeks and that he would see you both. the Bishop received (?) to be remembered to you & Walter & that I should say to you both that Benjamin his son was going to school in Danville and that you must ___ which could___ ___ often in _______ & goodness.Tell Wat that his bear has been missing for two or three weeks and that I am afraid _________ killed him. I have not heard from your cousin Philip since you went on. I hope he has been to see you before this and that he will have cause to _________ with your and Wats good conduct. Mr. Wadsom wrote to me you had found a cousin at the School , let me know who it is, how many school Fellows you have , how you like them, what you are learning and all about the school. Please present my respects to Mr. Smith. he wrote to me that he would supply you with clothing and what you wanted, and I will always endeavour to keep money in his hands for that purpose. give my best love to Wat and that you may be both good boys and safely restored to your homes is the almost nightly prayer of your affectionate Father, Th Towles My dear John, I received your letter 3 weeks ago & would have answered it before this but Miss Tudor wish'd to write to you both and I thought you would like better to hear often than we should all write togeather. I am very delighted to hear you and Watt are both will pleased with your school, your china Aster seed came safe & I sowed them as you directed, they are growing finely. I was very much obliged to you for them and shall take great care of them. I went to the schoolhouse & got all the writing I could find of yours and Walters and put them in the bookcase in the room, Miss Tudor keeps school in the house when the weather permits, the children rather gots the school house as it gives them more room to play, and be unconfined, the little Elms Mr. Washams planted are alive, and we had potatoes on the 7th out of his patch the first week or two, I never sat down to the table but I thought how Watt would be delighted to have the bowl of Milk, and plate of honey by him that was by me and often did I wish that he had it. I wish that it was near enough to you that we might send many things that we have more of than we want we have plenty of Raspberrys very few cherrys and I had to gather them before they ripened to get them from the birds I suppose you are feasting on them if you can send some of the seed as they are so much finer there that hear we could try how they would do. Anne Sublette came to school & stayed a fortnight and went back home and sent word she was not coming anymore. Miss Tudor, Betty Virginia & myself went down to your Uncle Haywood on Saturday we found Miss Besty Green there staying with your Aunt untill your Uncle H acme ba[ck] from New Orleans. I suppose you saw in the papers an account of the dreadfull storm at Natches the steamboat Vicksbourg was two hours & a half behind the storm it had forty five Hogsheads of your Pas tobacco on board and would have been destroyed. It had stopt that leangth of time to do some repairs to it and the Captain was vey sorry to loose so much time but when he saw what a storm he had escaped he felt as if it was a providential escape. Miss Tudor sends her love to you both all your relations & friends are always after you both, give my love to Walter and I hope you both will write oftener every fortnight would be as good _____ as you could make & where one cant write the other can take it by twins give my love to Walter and Betty send love believe me to be your affectionate mother Elzbth Towles