If children are disobedient, a parent has a
right to be severe with them. If I recollect right I expressed to
you that your two oldest brothers' conduct was very reprehensible,
and I there predicted their ruin. But I then little thought that I
should soon witness the sad consequences of their ill-conduct. I
received a letter from President Bates about two weeks since and
another from Charles the same day, that Charles had been turned away
and forever dismissed from the college for his misconduct; Roswell
must suffer a public admonition and perhaps more punishment for his
evil deeds. Charles was turned out of college the 7th of March, and
I wrote on the week after to have him come directly home, but we
have heard nothing from him since. Where he is we can form no
conjecture. But probably he is five hundred miles distant without
money and without friends. I leave you to conjecture the rest.
Roswell is left alone at the age of fifteen to get along, if he is
permitted to stay through college.

These, Mary, are the consequences of dissipation and bad conduct.
And seeing as I do the temper and disposition of my children, that
they "are inclined to evil and that continually," can you wonder
that I write with severity to them? Our hopes are blasted as relates
to Charles and Roswell, and you cannot conceive the trouble which
they have given us. Your mother is almost crazy about them; nor are
we without fears as to you. I say now, as I said in my former
letter, that I wish my children were all at home at work. I am
convinced that an education will only prove injurious to them. If I
had as many sons as had the patriarch Jacob not one should ever
again go nigh a college. It is not a good calculation to educate
children for destruction. The boys' conduct has already brought a
disgrace upon our family which we can never outgrow. They
undoubtedly possess respectable talents and genius, but what are
talents worth when wholly employed in mischief?

I have expended almost two thousand dollars in educating the boys,
and now just at the close they are sent off in disgrace and infamy.
The money is nothing in comparison to the disgrace and ruin that
must succeed. Mary, think of these things often, and especially when
you feel inclined to be gay and airy. Let your brother's fate be a
striking lesson to you. For you may well suppose that you possess
something of the sa