Freedom O. Aug, 9th 1863
Dear Arthur, The ever to be remembered Aug. 9th has come again, and with it sad recollections & reflections. one year ago & my Heroic son, and your much loved and cherished Brother, laid down his life for his Country! blessed be this memory! we can, & do, drop the silent tear, and wish it might be otherwise Gods ways are inscrutible, and past finding out. We cannot say why does’t thou thus or so. let us be submissive to the divine will. “No affliction for the present seemeth joyous, but grevious, may it work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” He is gone from a world of sin and sorrow. His state is unalterably fixed for vast eternity! let us all be prepared for our own departure. soon the brittle thread of life will be sundered, and we ushured into a world of spirits. Do we reallize that it is even so. This life is a vaper that soon vanisheth away.** We recieve the “Beacon” regularly. we esteem it highly. those Pictorials are duly appreciated for which be assured we are thankful. It has been very sultry for the last 20 days more or less, and to day, just about Milking time, had a powerful thunder shower, and is now threating us with an additional one. it lightens internantly, the drought no longer exists. Vegetation is now recieveing a powerful auxilliary to its growth. Then, George Robinson is going to Akron to learn a trade? May success attend his efforts! You will have a pleasant companion. I conclude that you will soon (if you have not already) taken all or most all of those “Boys up garret” Now is the time/ to form, and establish a good character, avoid all that will tarnish your reputation. Fear god & keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Take the Bible as your directory & all will be well. Your Mother is writing, and Sarah has done so, and between us three will have enough to read awhile. I must close for this time & go to my couch, as I am becoming incapacitated to write much more this evening.
Aideu! Your Father,
Daniel H. Wright.
Monday Morning 7o clock Aug. 10th 1863
This is a beautiful day, the air is clear, the sky unclouded, one of the lovely days of the year & Nature may put on her most gorgeous garb & still we feel sad and lonely in the contemplation of Daniels demise, amid all the lovely scenes of nature. I want you to communicate with us oftener by letter & keep us posted with regard to every thing that you know would interest us. You must remember that you are our only son, & our hopes for the future arre centered in you. now do not disappoint us in these expectations. embrace every private opportunity to send letters or papers, or any thing else, as the case may be
I have not done much towards frameing my barn, as yet, but hope I shall get it done this fall. every thing devolves on me & it goes slow with me to accomplish every thing I have undertaken to do. still I have no reason to complain. My health is very good. Write soon, & often, & by Mr. Robinson if convenient. This from your Father,
Daniel H. Wright.