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Phillipston May 9th 1847 Dear Son

                  Not having received a letter from you to let us know where you was, and being under the necessity of writing to you for Jesse, I shall direct my letter to Townshend Vt. Jesse came home to me last friday Mr. Bragg having sent him after breakfast to turn the cows out and go to work, he took a direct course across to Mr. Richardsons and then home got home about noon without any outside jacket with his old clothes. he said he had stayed expecting every year to leave but found it of no use I ask him if Mr. Bragg had misused him he said he had not, but there was a boy last week told him Mr. B said he only kept him to accommodate you; and then he went to ? hill the day before and he had a great many stories told him, he said he promised not to tell who told and we could not persuade him to tell, I expect he was influenced to come away. David came home that night and Edwin also, David said he told him, if he wanted to to come home he should changed his clothes & told Mr. B where he was a going and Edwin has the same but now they know not what to do for we thought Mr. Bragg's people must feel very bad not knowing where he was. Edwin conducted to go with him saturday night and see Mr. B and get his clothes if they would let them come. Edwin thought he had done very wrong. I think the boy did not consider the step he was taking. Mr. Bragg came to our house saturday forenoon felt very much grieved to think he should leave in that manner did not know he was discontented said if he had changed his clothes and let them know he was coming he should