I arose this morning and went to prayers, When I came out I was
directed to look at the belfry, to which all eyes were turned—I could not
see until I had gone nearer than the chapel door, what excited the gaze,
admiration with some, and jolity with all—When I had gone near enough to
see plainly and to distinguish the pictures I was equally pleased—for the
first thing [I] saw was a large
bull painted on the
side of the belfry—to represent
Mr James
Phillips
over the bulls head were drawn a bowl (of
hot) punch!
glass &
Jug representing
Old
Mike
, who, it was said, when he caught whiskey in a student's room
always took it, to the Elaberatory and made punch to drink himself—As you
went round, to the left on the belfry was—a pair of the most knock kneed
legs any one ever saw—These were the legs of
Bunk
—and on a little farther was a man, who strutted
largely—apearantly of small capital—but who wished to be reputed
more than he really was painted—to represent
Old
Wheat
—in the Campus. On farther was a skull with bones
under it, with the motto "Kill & eat" This is said, to represent
the life and character of
ole
Bull
, during the ten years which
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he never
speaks of—Under the skull & Bones there is an anchor drawn, with
letters at each corner—Next on the row was a
Jack ass, made very large,
above it being "x + y"—this is to denote
old
Fatty
—and next you come to is, "Pay your $1.00 for
vaccination" but on the door was written "
Dr
Dave Barum
will vaccinate for half price"—This was to cut
Old
Mike
who has been advising every boy to be vaccinated, saying the
"price was only one dollar"—After looking over all these
curiosities & talking about who could have been
so rude as to put them there—I returned to my room and went to breakfast
after having dressed, Came back and talked with
Jeff
—and soon several boys came into my room and sat
until it was church time, We went to church and heard a tolerable interesting
sermon from
Old
Mike
, I went down to dinner, The stage had not arrived when I had eaten
so I did not wait for it—I returned to
College and read over my
Bible
lesson—and talked with
Murchison
,
Worth
,
Jeff
, &
Dandy Laurence
until
recitation—Went to recitation was not taken up—but if he
Page 51
continues to take up in rotation I will come either
first or second next time—Aftr prayers and supper I went up by the P.
Office thinking
perhaps I would get a letter but I
can but imagine my surprise & pleasure on reaching the office to find in my
box three letters—One was from
Brock
Holden, & one from
John
Wilkerson—and the other from my dear niece
Virginia
Wiley of
Misspi
which last had been directed to me at
Leasburg— Father & Mother had read it—and
had it forwarded to me at
C.
Hill—I read the letters with much pleasure—
John
Spoke of his visit to Miss
Mary
Holden on Monday last at
Milton—I was glad he went to see her. I think the
little difficulty which existed is now blotted out and they both love eachother
more affectionately than ever, for they both are my frinds and, I love them as
such—
John
promised to tell me more of his visit when he writes again—I intended
answering one of the letters to night, but have been what I
called bored,
2
until now, and
now one or two
bores
are in my room talking hard as they can I
will go to bed soon as I finish this It is now nearly eleven or past
ten—