Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/76

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60
Jane Lewis Chapin

longer a Child and his Errors are the less pardonable he told Mr Finlayson by way of complaint that My Brother only allowed him twenty five pounds pr Annum for his Clothing and Pocket Money, and he wrote me so formerly and I wrote him in reply if he Exerted himself at His Studies and that his Uncle was pleased with his conduct and that it was Necessary, My Brother would Increase his Allowance though while he had enough to eat and drink, was lodged, and that his teachers were paid, twenty five pounds pr Annum was enough for his clothes and for what purpose he require more money. I sent him to France to Learn how to Earn his livelihood in a Respectable Manner and giving him Money to spend in Disipation would not only have been Wrong, but would have Destroyed the very Object for which he was sent he writes me an Apology for his Misconduct but he does not write me what it was he did which obliged his Uncle to send him away and if he felt any Contrition he would not be spending more Money than is Necessary as your father Well Knows and Neglecting his Studies as Madm. Trudeau informed one of my partners Mr McDonald this Gentleman called repeatedly at Madam Trudeaus and not finding John at home appointed an hour in the Evening to meet him—When Young Men who study ought to be at home—he accordingly called as he wished to see him to give me some accounts of him from his own verbal communication John had been home to Tea But was gone out and Mad. Trudeau finding who Mr McDonald was told him John did nothing but go about and Neglected his Studies. Is he so destitute of feeling or have they been Destroyed by his Misconduct that he is not ashamed at his time of life after so much Money has been spent on his Education and having had the Oppertunities that he has had to be unable to Earn his food and to be Indebted for his support to the Labour of Another. There never was so far as I know a Young Man from this Country who had so fine a Prospect to begin life with and now he has thrown it away. But as my Brother has not wrote me what John has done all I do at present is to write your father that if John Conducts himself as a Gentleman and applies Zealously to his studies to Allow him any sum he considers necessary Under a hundred and fifty pounds Halifax it is more than is necessary for his support But I wish he should have enough