Allyn Mather, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1767 July 4

Author Mather, Allyn

Date4 July, 1767

Call Number767404

abstractMather requests to leave school and stay with his parents while he recovers his health.

handwritingHandwriting is small and wanders somewhat, but it is largely clear and legible.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.

inkBrown-black.

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier

Rev. and Honour Sir/
The Paternal care and love you have
exercised towards me, incite me to ask your
advice in this affair (viz) whether or not it
would not conduce much to my health, and the
advantage of the School, to go Home and live with
my Parents, while I have got a better state of health.
The advantages I give of my going home
are these. — If I tarry here, and continue to be—
weakly I shall not answer the design I came upon,
and therefore you will be disappointed and the expence
you have been at lost, but if I go Home, future ex‐
pence will be prevented, and Christ money saved.—
if I tarry I can not study for advantage, while
this weakness remains, for I find by applying hard
it increases, — so upon that account it will be as
well for me to be at home a here.— Another
thing is, if I continue to be weakly, and tarry here
I shall be a disturbance to some of the Scholars of
the School.— As often as they go out to work
if I am not with them, they are very snuffy
and speak out in some such words as these

Mather is a good for nothing lazy Fellow, and his
sickness is sent upon him for a Judgment
because he would not work, an Indian
makes no allowance for a sick man, if he can't
do the work of a strong hearty Man, he is esteemed
good for nothing in their opinion — Rev. sir
would it not be better then for me to go Home, and
live with my Parents 'til I have got better
in health — with submission I leave it with
you to do that which you think is best —
adding no more then this, I am with dutiful
respect —

Your Dutiful Pupil
and most obedient and humble servant

Allyn Mather
Blank page.
From Allyn Mather
July 4th 1767
To
The Rev. Mr. Wheelock
in
New England
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