God bless you my son--
YOUR OLD MOTHER
who loves you dearly--dearly.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
PHILADELPHIA,April 17th,1883.
MY DEAR BOY:
You are to be nineteen years old on Wednesday.After two years more you will be a man.You are so manly and good a boy that I could not wish you to change in any serious or great thing.You have made us very happy through being what you have been,what you are.You fill us with hope of your future virtue and usefulness.
To be good is the best thing of all;it counts for more than anything else in the world.We are very grateful that you have even in youth been wise enough to choose the right road.
You will find it not easy to keep upon it always,but remember if you do get off struggle back to it.I do not know but Ithink God loves the effort to do as well as the act done.
I congratulate you my dear son,on your new birthday.I wish you health,happiness and God's loving care.May he bless you my son forever.I enclose a trifle for your pleasure.My love to you always,but God bless you dear Dick.
DAD.
In the fall of 1885,Richard decided to leave Lehigh and go to John Hopkins Universi-->>