He is desirous to be a true Swiss and to enter into foreign service, but we cannot part with him, at least until his elder brother returns to us.

My uncle is not pleased with the idea of a military career in a distant country, but Ernest never had your powers of application.

He looks upon study as an odious fetter; his time is spent in the open air, climbing the hills or rowing on the lake.

I fear that he will become an idler unless we yield the point and permit him to enter on the profession which he has selected.
"Little alteration, except the growth of our dear children, has taken place since you left us.

The blue lake and snow-clad mountains--they never change; and I think our placid home and our contented hearts are regulated by the same immutable laws.