saw them last, are old still. But it costs me a good deal sometimes to think of those who were at that time young, as being older than they were. Not having been an eye?witness of the change that time has made in them, and my former Idea of them not being corrected by observation, it remains the same; my memory presents me with their Image unimpaired, and while it retains the resemblance of what they were, forgets that by this time the picture may have lost much of its likeness, through the alteration that succeeding years have made in the original. I know not what impressions time may have made upon your person, for while his claws (as our Grann'am called them) strike deep furrows in some faces, he seems to Sheath them with much tenderness as if fearfull of doing injury to others. But though an enemy to the person, he is a friend to the mind, and you have found him so. Though even in this respect his treatment of us depends upon what he meets with at our hands; if we use him well and listen to his admonitions and instructions, he is a friend indeed, but otherwise the worst of enemies, who takes from us daily something that we valued, and gives us nothing better in its stead. It is well with them who like you, can stand a tip: toe on the mountain: top of human life, look down with pleasure upon the valley they have passed, and some?times stretch their wings in joyful hope of a happy flight into eternity, yet a little while and your hope will be accomplished.
We are obliged to your mother and your sister for their kind remembrances. Mrs. Unwin is still afflicted with a nervous malady, to which I believe this East Wind which has lasted so long, contributes not a little. She begs me to present her Respects. When you see my aunt, and when you write to Mrs. Maitland, assure them of my affectionate rewards,and of the Pleasure I have in hearing of their Welfare. When you can favor me with a little Account of your own F***ly without Inconvenience, I shall be glad to receive it, for though Separated from my Kindred by little more than half a Century of Miles, I know as little of their Concerns as if Oceans and Continents were interposed between us.