friendly; told them the consequences of their continuing to cherish so
much malignity and malice, that it would end in their destruction, the
disgrace of their families, and bring me down to the grave. No one can
conceive of the constant trouble that I daily endured on their account--on
the account of my two oldest sons, whom I loved equally, and with all the
feelings and affection of a tender mother, stimulated by an anxious
concern for their fate. Parents, mothers especially, will love their
children, though ever so unkind and disobedient. Their eyes of compassion,
of real sentimental affection, will be involuntarily extended after them,
in their greatest excesses of iniquity; and those fine filaments of
consanguinity, which gently entwine themselves around the heart where
filial love and parental care is equal, will be lengthened, and enlarged
to cords seemingly of sufficient strength to reach and reclaim the
wanderer. I know that such exercises are frequently unavailing; but,
notwithstanding their ultimate failure, it still remains true, and ever
will, that the love of a parent for a disobedient child, will increase,
and grow more and more ardent, so long as a hope of its reformation is
capable of stimulating a disappointed breast.

My advice and expostulations with my sons were abortive; and year after
year their disaffection for each other increased. At length, Thomas came
to my house on the 1st day of July, 1811, in my absence, somewhat
intoxicated, where he found John, with whom he immediately commenced a
quarrel on their old subjects of difference.--John's anger became
desperate. He caught Thomas by the hair of his head, dragged him out at
the door and there killed him, by a blow which he gave him on the head
with his tomahawk!

I returned soon after, and found my son lifeless at the door, on the spot
where he was killed! No one can judge of my feelings on seeing this