As you are aware, I promised your wife when she was dying that your remaining child should never want a home while I lived.

This promise I now desire you to ratify by gaining your consent to his remaining with me, at least until he is old enough not to need the care of a lady." "You have placed me under many obligations already, Dr.Humphries," replied Alfred, "and you will pardon me if I feel loath to add another to the already long list.

I have already formed a plan to place my child in the hands of the Sisters of Charity at Charleston, by whom he will be treated with the greatest kindness, and with but small expense to myself.

You must be aware that as a soldier my pay is very small, while I have no opportunity of increasing my salary by engaging in any mercantile pursuit.

Such being the case, and as I could not consent to your defraying the expenses of the child, I think it better for him to be where I shall need only a small sum of money to pay all needed charges.