Last sabbath's mail brought me another of your very welcome
letters, the perusal of which, I assure you, gave me, as it always does, much
pleasure. For the last few minutes I have been sitting in one of the large
windows of my room, listening to the conversation of my little "chum"
2
and one of our neighbours; but as I
feel
am in rather a musing mood, and like communeing
with my own dear Mother, I have vacated my pleasant seat, for this most
pleasing
3
duty. I wish very much that you could [
[unrecovered]] only have as delightful a room, as I occupy. I
think that you would not complain of
it, as being
close, inconvenient, &
c But as I have but little else to fill up a letter,
you must excuse me for giving you a short description of it, though I cannot
promise that you will be much edified by my descriptive powers. In the first
place then, it is some 20 by 18 feet, with a ceiling 12 feet high; three very
large windows, with long green curtains;
and furnished with a neat centre-table covered with green
baize, a neat
toilette table, two beds, a good
wardrobe, washstand,
cedar bucket, cocoa nut
dipper, and a large cupboard for candles, candlesticks, &
c On the
mantel-piece we have a pictures of
Genl.
Taylor and
Genl.
Scott, and between them the picture of a very pretty lady. I
had almost forgotten the chairs, sofa, easy chair &
c which we have. So, if
this you will forgive me for tiring
you
Page 2
with the description so far, I will drop it,
hoping that before long, you may have an opportunity of judging for yourself. I
wish also that you [could] see the crowd which
are is now congregated in here. On the other side of
the table sits my "chum" a nice little fellow, all life and spirit,
and is at present chatting away as usual, little conscious of what an important
part he occupies in what I am now writing. He thinks there is no one like
"
Rufe
", and were it necessary, would go to
any lengths for me. He has just returned from a visit home, and brings with him
a large quantity of cakes, candies, &
c the largest of the former (a good
sized one, I assure you) being sent, as he says, especially to his roommate by
a young lady in
Pittsboro.
Sitting farther off, is a round faced jolly fellow, my friend
Shober
, who is a
fi
perfect gentleman in every sense of the word, of ready wit, fine disposition,
kind heart, and
with almost
an inexhaustible fund of jokes, witticisms,
&
c Beyond him, talking as if he were on board a steamboat, is my friend
Seawell
. Always in a good humor, ever ready to do a kind
act, fond of fun, and an excellent mimic, he is universally liked. Behind me,
is a quiet sedate looking youth,
Peter
Hale
, who is everything comprehended in the two words, gentleman and
friend. Beside him sits a very handsome boy,
Benj. Kittrell
, who is likewise all that a friend could
wish him to be. Last but not least, is the handsome, generous, and noble
Settle
, who is a friend alike under all circumstances,
"With heart never changing and brow never cold."
4
But I fear I have long since tired you out with my nonsense; so I
will endeavour to speak of something
Page 3
which may be
more interesting. Wednesday morning. I have just
finished my morning's recitation to
Prof.
Phillips
, and have concluded that as it is raining quite hard,
not to go to breakfast, but spend the time in writing to you. I have just been
thinking that probably at this very moment you are engaged in writing to me.
Would that we had a magnetic telegraph between us, so that we could converse
constantly, and as much as we wished, instead of our present slow mode of
communication. Yet if this is denied us,
yet there is a magnetic influence existing between us, which
nothing can destroy; my thoughts wander homeward, with the rapidity of
lightning, whenever my time is not otherwise occupied; and although I cannot
know exactly what is transpiring there, yet imagination has full play.
On last wednesday commenced the Senior Orations, and continued
until friday night. We had [some] first-rate speeches, and fine music, and the
h three holidays passed off
delightfully. The Senior vacation has now commenced, and most of that class,
who do not get speeches at Commencement, have left
the
Hill. On saturday morning, the "Declaimers for Commencement were
read out, myself being among the number.
5 I
have had the fortune or misfortune rather to draw No 1, and will therefore be
the first speaker on the list. I have chosen an Extract from
Gov.
McDowell's
speech,
6
which perhaps you have read. It is a beautiful thing, although I fear it will
be rather hard to declaim. I will however endeavour to do my best.
For the last day or two, quite a gloom has fallen on some of the
students, on account of the departure of
Miss
Bryan. She was accompanied by Miss
Martha
Mason,
Page 4
who has also been here for the last
week, on a visit to Mrs. Hubbard.
7
Miss
Bryan has been a perfect "lion" hero, receiving more attention
than any young lady who has been here, in a great while. I do not admire her
very much myself, though I do not pretend to be a judge of beauty. When you
write again tell me certainly whether you have concluded on going to
Virginia or
not. That is, if you have come to any determination as yet. It is now just four
weeks until Commence
ment and I assure you, I
never was more anxious to see
m both of
you and my dear
of old home,
8
than I am
at present. Give my best love to
Father
, and tell him, that as he is one of the
"Visiting committee," I hope he at least will come to Commencement,
if it is out of your power. Tell him also that I notice, he has had the thanks
of a large meeting in
Polk
County returned to him for his efforts to save that county. I have been
told several times here, that if I ever learn to wield the pen as ably as my
Father, that I
w may
look forward to
9
high distinction in this life. That however, I never aspire to, nor do I hope
ever to be the man he is, in scarcely any respect. And now, my dear Mother,
again "Farewell." Write very soon. As ever,