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For Maggie
Ma take care of it
Carlisle May 2nd 1853
Tell Lan to answer post need not write much but good his best
Old Folks at Home in general and Maggie in particular,-- I have a spare moment now before dinner the others are on the ball alley and I just thought I would begin a letter. I am getting along pretty well and I am not considered a new student any more but have to take my share equally with the rest wether easier or harder than before but I think it is the former. I have now been called up in every room save Prof. Johnsons where I should have written a composition last but I will do it this week because he did not give me notice. He called on me to read a peice of Poetry also. Dr. Collins called me up last Tuesday (we only have one recitation a week to him) I did not recite as I was unacquainted with his regulations and intend telling him about it next Tuesday and get excused which will be easily done. He also put the church question then and I saw some tell the most barefaced lies which I could do on no condition as there is a double wrong in it, We petitioned for a new arrangement which was granted: namely, preaching in the chaple every Sunday morning so that I need not dress up till afternoon because it is considered the same as going to the church you registered for. Prof. Tiffany preached last Sabbath I hear Borne say it was a revised edition, I did not go in evening I had a chill and thought I was going to get sick as there is a great deal of sickness here. (But the dinner bell rings & I must go 1'11 finish the letter day after tomorrow when I have time). (Evening Before supper) I have just come from recitation and feel easy now for to day as I was very much afraid he would call me he up and it was a memory recitation 8 pages a foot long a piece fine print a very bonus thing: Manual of Classical Literature he has not had me up for four recitations. I will now give you a brief sketch of what happened since I left off writing. The students here are mostly southerners in heart & spirit: so an argument arose or rather a contentione about great men north and South the Masons & Disonts line. It was warmly contested the southerners got to a boiling point, Billy Barnitz got his mouth slapped as the fellow said partly for a grudge he had about society, The southerners generally get their blood up about such matters and it is on that account I don't like the college so well as I should. But I must stop writing as I have two memory recitations to morrow of 10 pages each and two others. I have now recited on mathematics and the memory recitations was called up in neither and now I can write with pleasure. I have a recitation this afternoon and will be called up but I prepared the recitation for last Friday and the darkey fell asleep and did not ring the bell we had no recitation This is a lovely day the robins, martins, and blue birds are fluttering through the green branches enlivening all with their artless melody and rousing the lazy student with their noisy tete-a-tetes. Wednesday May 4th. The students have just signed a petition to get off this week on account of sickness there are a great many students sick may be one half or third the diseases are chicken pox and fever billious - some are very sick have to be set up with all night our class benches look very thin and when the roll is called there is a continuous cry of “Sick” they are every day becoming more numerous and it is scarcely known they are sick (until) when they are very sick it seems so sudden to me;
in the evening in bed. Some that are pretty well now are going to leave thinking it is the climate. The sick are attended very well have every thing that they desire. Our section at least our floor was has excaped, till now there are some sick in it. I felt a little sick the other day but I am as hearty now a ever. Should I get sick I will make for home as there are too many sick here. I pass my time right pleasantly that I have to spare I was out at the Barracks the evening I recd. Helen’s letter saw them fire 2 rounds or 8 shots with the cannons in honor of Vice King. I was at a soldier’s funeral last Sunday and saw the whole of it. Louisa Carl is or was in town I saw her down at William Barnitz’s she was up looking at the Library, when you see her ask her which is the best and prettiest, I have had occasion to use my thread and needles. I intend getting some clothes may be this after noon. There is a tailor shop and clothing store right behind the college where the students get their heavy mending done the light mending the washer woman does. I have a dormitory to myself and ventilaters at the top of every dormitory so that they are well ventilated. I have a bed just large enough to turn in. I bought my bed-stead, wash-stand & ward robe together for $5.00. I dont know who to room with next session whether Chas. A.Ebert or if George comes on (as his father wrote he is) may be with him. Andrew Popplein also talkes of corning he would make a fine chum. Billy Barnitz wants to room with me but I will give my reasons for not doing so in another epistle, I have just come from recitation there were only 15 there out of 30 we are off for tomorrow for certain and I suppose for the whole of next week. I expect George in this afternoon.I’ll scarcely know what to do next week. I wish you to save the Latin catalogue I send to
here && 4 since I've been here. I recd. Mitler Currans Letter and will answer soon, George did not come this afternoon I don’t think he'll come atall. I wish you would send me a paper now and then I hardly know the news of the day. I hope we'll get off next week it's not quite certain that we will get off to morrow to go to the funera1 of Hon. Judge Gibson a graduate of this institution. We burn camphene altogether here in that we are ahead of you my love and best respects to all yours C.F.H. Lou take good care of chickens and Mary & Maggie Who tends affairs now