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When a child I have often sat at my mother's feet, (who was a native of Concord) and listened with eager delight to her rehearsals of the beauty of New England towns and scenery_ but, no language can paint the beauties of this highly cultivated region.  Intelligence seems to radiate from every flower sheaf of grain, and blade of grass.  It was such a beautiful sight to me to see, as we passed along, the stout manly forms, and intelligent faces of the men, as they gathered up the newly bound sheaves of grain, and raked in heaps, the newly mown hay.  I have so often seen the bondman as he bent over his weary toil, gathering the rich fruits of the earth for the benefit of others, that the contrast present to my mind was very striking.  I am stopping at the residence of Capt. Wm. Shockley Bridgewater Mass.

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and have every comfort & luxury that heart could wish; although, there is a dark sadness, hanging over the house that no earthy wealth can remove.  One week ago last Friday Capt. Shockley died at Saratoga Springs_ was brought home and buried on Tuesday last.  He leaves a young widow and their small sons.  They have plenty of this world's good, but, that cannot compensate the want of a loving husband and father.  I am going to New Bedford Mass, the middle of this week.  Please write me a few lines at that places.  also Please tell my son, that you have heard from me, and, tell him, to write me at New Bedford.  My kind regards to Mrs. Kimball and the rest of your family.

Your friend Truly
[[signature]] Mrs. L.M.E. Ricks.  [[/signature]]