72. Letters from a Son to a Father
BY FORTH WINTHROP (1622)[243]
Most Loving Father,
Having such a chance as the coming down of my room
fellow, Thomas Archisden, I thought good,
though in some haste, to write to you. I hope you are all in
health as I am here, blessed be God Almighty.
I humbly pray him to help me by his holy spirit to
keep in the way of goodness and to escape the poisonous sins
of these evil times. I was once entangled in such sins, but I
hope by the good spirit of God to avoid them more and more.
My teacher sent down a letter to you some time ago by
Deverux. I did not know about it. Now I have heard that he
forgot to deliver it. I wish you to send word whether you got
it, for that Deverux, as I am told, takes in hand letters to
deliver and then opens them and does not send them.
I suppose you have heard our college news about the change
in the rules of the library. The duke is about to come to the
college. If you have not heard all this, Tom Ark. can tell you
when he sees you.
I remember my duty to yourself and my mother, and I send
love to the rest of my friends. I wish always to have your
prayers and blessings. In haste, I am,
Your dutiful and obedient son,
F. WINTHROP.
I wish you to send me the shoes of which I wrote
you. I have need of some clothes, for these are worn out. I ask
you to send me, sometime when it seems best, some stuff to
make me clothes. Or do as you think right about this.
[[243]]
This is a manly school-boy letter—loves his
father, means to do right, and wants some new clothes.
