Nantucket July 23d 1834

Ever Beloved and Honoured Parents

I Reub am here! And as ever worthy to be called your son; After sailing from Callac in Nov. last we went to the Galapagos, and not meeting with much success except a 50 bbl. whale which I obtained we zig zagged to the long. of 106 the 1st of Feb’y found us with 200 bbls. 13 mo. out! Our neighbors are not better off. Japan was now spoken of - the 2nd mate under whom as mate the crew refused to serve in Callac, we left at that place when last in – The 3rd and fourth Mates, now 2d an 3d had acquired more confidence in their abilities, and when the practical parts of Navigation and seamanship were wanting I found in them industrious pupils - By making one promotion from the crew of a fine young man, they would be fully officered, and seeing but little prospect of making much money, I thought I owed myself and family to return – I parted with them on the 9th of July. The utmost harmony prevailed between Capt. G. and myself and with all hands – I took passage in the Whaling ship Wm. Thompson Capt. Potter of N.B. who refused any compensation after our arrival at Toleahiwa Then I found my old friend Shubael Worth, son of Richard, about my age, with full ship bound home. She sailed from there on the 28th of April and I hopped on board the pilot boat off Block Island – But let me pause – I have jumped over an immense deal of ground that my dear friends should not be in suspense. We are all well!

And a purer feeling of gratitude never animated the heart of a man – We banged about in the pilot boat, got into Oldtown, where I staid, not slept, all night – I took a boat next morning, and landed at the West of the cliff – I could not trust myself to go to the wharves - Could I bear to receive the congratulations of friends, who in the same breath would tell me, that my long absence from Lydia ---! Then the scarlet fever among the children had ----! That the cholera in Ohio had ----! No, no, my intention was to seek some shady place, after stowing my trunk in the grass, or wander about until night fall, and then, by questioning some neighboring boy, or stranger, to learn by degrees my fate.

As I stood gazing upon the heights upon the housetops, basking in the sun, the southerly breeze brought the bell for dinner – It was 37 months that very day I heard that very bell, as we passed the inner buoy in the steam boat bound to N. Bedford! What had we not all passed through since! I fancied I could see Lydia, hurrying to cut open the dumplings to cool, e’en footsteps of the Philistines (as Aunt Abby used to call them) were heard coming from school -. To wait untill night in suspense? The sun would never go down! I walked down the slope, crossing the lots, avoiding the haymakers. I came by Jo Chase mill, down by the town house, turned the Quaker meeting house corner, and went into Elihu Swain’s grocery store opposite -. He was sure my family was well - I will not attempt to portray my feelings - I sent a note to Lydia by his boy, and waited for his return – notwithstanding this notice, she was much overcome – I left a list of the ship for Swain to give to Jenks and in front painting it - They are not hungry thought I; I expected to find Lydia somewhat worn with care, but on the contrary, I found her not in the least altered - All the children were at school - They came home at tea time – and then I was completely overcome - As I gazed upon them, for

some time, for I could do no other, and I thought of the Malay cresses as they glittered in a Sumatra sun, of the baleful climate of the island of Java, of the storms of every ocean, of the yet hidden reefs and rocks in half explored seas, all of which I had escaped and I thought I felt gratefull - But I can’t tell what I thought, or how I felt – and Harriet remembered me in aprt, came to me – Charles stood smiling, as much as to say I hope it is Father. While Judith stood staring at me, her mouth half opened with new and strange delight she never felt before – Lydia wiped the perspiration from my forehead, and said to them – “Tis your Father, true! The charm was broken, they scuffeled for a birth and all tjeir tongues went at once, “Stop, Charles, stop, I want to tell Father –“ It was no use, they all talked at once – I could not realize it, nor do I yet. – Though I say it I have never seen handsomer children in my life – Harriet is perfect – They are in excellent health – In fact thus far they are all I can possibly wish – In the evening a bed was made for H and C in the chamber bedroom -. I went to see Mother Glover – with the assurance that Father would come home to sleep they went to bed, and Charles was soon asleep – not so Harriet – for when I came home between 9 and 10 she hailed to know if it was me -. She probably had a nap, but the fear that I was not going to stay all night operated on her dreaming senses, and as near as Lydia could judge about 2 in the morning, she appeared at the bedside – Lydia demanded what the matter was. Why, she had come to see if Father was there – Being convinced, she went off and no more of her until morning, when Lydia informed me of the circumstances –

My little wife is everything my fancy ever painted her - she has managed her own domestic concerns indoors and out, and her judgement as to what course we should steer, and how many watches we should be divided into has generally been better than mine. If the blessing I am now permitted to enjoy can be enhanced it is in the reflection that she is highly esteemed in all directions – She says nothing herself, but I have it from the virtuous and good, and have heard it “besouth Magellan” – The state of excitement which would cure an ossification of the heart, and to one of my temperament of course, wrought to the highest pitch, at this moment barely permits me to thus hastily say, that I, Reub, am home - To call upon near and dear friends was, of course, a pleasing duty – and thought I sought the most unfrequented streets to stop and shake hands with one, was to collect a crowd. It is truly flattering to enjoy the respect and esteem of good citizens, and if I did not, my disappointment would be great as it is a point I have studied to gain, and I need not assure my Dear Parents that I never yet took a lesson in the School (of) sycophancy.

With regard to my health and appearance I never was better – I shall soon be able to make the last payment for my house. And though we are not in affluence, we are far from want -. I may believe that Lydia, better than any one except my affectionate Mother, where to draw the line which shall separate a laudable economy from parsimony -.

Father wants to know how I like whaling – I answer very much – it is the kind of making I dare say, mother will add he is fond of – It is hard work but the excitement attending it is agreeable -. I can kill a whale with the best – I dare not tell how short a time I was in cutting of a

45 bbl. Whale hear and getting the jaw in – No matter – In this does not consist of conducting a voyage, My extensive nautical peregrinations, and consequent intercourse with nautical men, has taught me not only to govern them but myself also, and for want of such knowledge upon he part of many now a days entrusted with ships, proceeds the broken voyages, consequent upon desertions, intemperance, stabbings, knocks down, etc., etc., It has long ago been predicted that on my return I should take a ship and go whaling. But I have not got home yet –

My anxiety to embrace you all, My Dear Parents and Brothers, and my Beloved Daughter. is greater than I can express – Father and Mother have so often said nay to a journey here that I will waive that hope. But Thomas, Wm. and Deborah, is it not easy for them to come – We have warm hearts, warm friends, a house they may be proud of, plenty of room, and leisure, and oh, how proud we should be to see either or all of them here – There is plenty of time for a good visit, and Lydia has her plans laid, to return it (in) due and proper time – She is mentor, a kind of counseller without arrogance -

I have read some of Father’s letters to Lydia - Ah. How happily did he know how how to admisister consolation to Lydia – I am truly sensible how destitute was my dear Mother under the like circumstance – If she held her own it was by carrying sail to the endangering of spars, with no lee how current not to carry through the squalls, was to go ashore and to loose the spars was ditto – My little Wife with her own little experience, aided by a pretty correct account of what happened through a series of years, from the time Father and Mother drank tea together the first time, and Father laughed so, has enabled her to judge very correctly, and fully to appreciate the value of such a Father – For this hasty note for which I labor under the gtreatest excitement I hope to have several letters by return of mail – Don’t think that a dollar’s worth of postage is anything – It may not be uninteresting to say that a postage bill is anything, so long as there is no grog bill in sight – It is a long time since I threw wines and spirits to the dogs – As for the service I must of course stick to it - But the days of Lawrence and Decauter have gone by – So much the better for the world – My moral courage, I hope, has not yet to be established and I am willing to endeavor to deserve the name of good officer or citizen without having mine shed, or shedding the blood of my fellow man - . Though I have already proved that when my country demands it, I do not turn from the post of danger –

Please to write immediately, and by that time my feelings be more compressed, and I may produce a letter – Perhaps we may be gratified with the sight of a letter soon in form of a biped – Though in haste for this to be on the way I am no less

Your Affectionate Son
Reuben

Lydia and the Children’s love, of course, and always.

[addressed to Andrew Pinkham Esq. 
Bantam, Clermont County, Ohio]