Norwich Sunday Evening Augt. 4th. 1838 –
      Dear Son
                        I wrote you a line or two in great haste 3 or 4 days ago – since which we have had the pleasure of receiving your letter of July 31st.  I am very glad to know you were homesick. I love you the better for it. I hope you will never forget home.  I think it a feeling that should be cherished – & not abandoned during life – so many pleasant feelings are occasioned by it.
      What a change one short week has produced.  I have lost a beloved mother without being present to close her eyes & smooth her pillows. Those with her when dyeing said she declined any service from them & took nothing but one glass of Wine – after which she refused every thing else – telling them all, they could do her no good- & told your mama she had better go home where she must be much needed – for herself she wanted nothing but to sleep.  this was soon after Breakfast – & she gradually sunk away until about noon, she expired with apparently less pain than she had experienced any time for several weeks.  a little past midnight I was by the side of her body in the West Room where it was laid out- she seemed to smile upon me- without excepting your dear Uncle Joseph I never saw so pleasant a face in death – it had been talked of by the friends that the funeral must be on Tuesday & a Coffin had been procured by John. Knowing her feelings when living about sudden funerals & the horror of being buried before life was extinct as we know has happened- I once told her when she mentioned the subject that if I survived her she should never be interred until such symptoms of decay had taken place as could not be mistaken- of course I put an immediate stop to all preparations & fixed on Wednesday at 4′ O Clock.  such a change had happened in the appearance of the body however on Wednesday morning that it became necessary to have the funeral at 10′ O clk. She was a good mother to me & I hope my duty has been faithfully discharged to her during life. I reflect with great satisfaction on the little attentions it was in my power to render her, such as riding &c. and so strong had become the habit of thinking when I first awoke in the morning- if I could possibly do any thing during that day to comfort & cheer my poor sick mother. That the same train of thought presents itself until I am wide awake when the sad reality is apparent that I have no mother.  So, this morning when the first bell rung it seemed that I must go – to where I have gone so many Sabbath mornings & spend an hour with one who so long had welcomed me & mine to her hospitable board.  I think of her much & yet the House having no inmate we are under the necessity of dividing the furniture &c – as your Aunt Tracy to whom she left one half requires it immediately  – she being about to go a journey & it may not be prudent to leave it where it is – So your Mama & she began yesterday afternoon to divide things – adieu my son let us often hear from you – Your affectionate father Chas. P. Huntington