resolved to throw away my care no longer upon you; to think no more of
you; to act just as if you never had existence; whenever it was possible,
to shun you; when I met you, by chance, or perforce, to treat you merely
as a stranger. I write this letter to acquaint you with my resolution.
Your future letters cannot change it, for they shall all be returned to
you unopened.

I know you better than to trust to the appearance of half-yielding
reluctance which your letter contains. Thus it has always been, and as
often as this duteous strain flattered me with hopes of winning you to
reason, have I been deceived and disappointed.

I trust to your discernment, your seeming humility, no longer. No child
are you of mine. You have, henceforth, no part in my blood; and may I very
soon forget that so lost and betrayed a wretch ever belonged to it!

I charge you, write not to me again. H.F.




Letter XIV


_To Mrs. Fielder_

Philadelphia, October 24.

Impossible! Are you not my mother?--more to me than any mother? Did I
not receive your protection and instruction in my infancy and my