Letter from Charles L. Pettigrew to his Ebenezer Pettigrew, November 7, 1835
University
Nov 7th 1835
Dear father
Brother William received your letter containing the bill of $100
without any delay or any hindrance. The sum will be more than will be needed for
this session, but as you remarked the surplus can remain to lessen the sum
necessary to be sent at the commencement of next session. I have now but a few
more months to remain on the hill and will not require a sum much larger than I
have hitherto had. You of course have recived letters from the faculty
concerning our relative standing in our respective classes, whether it be good
or bad; I hope that my general position has been such as to please you and
entirely fair. I should be much gratified to learn from you in you letters what
my number has been in my several studies so as to know whether it is as good as
I expect it to be and whether I should apply myself with greater diligence.
There has been a much greater amount of studying in college since this plan has
been adopted, as all wish a good account to be sent to their parents and
friends. It would be a gratification and more than probably a permanent good to
have an account of what the faculty consider us in our college duties.
Mr. C. Burgwyn met with quite a severe
accident yesterday: he with four other young gentlemen went partridge hunting
and when in the act of shooting a bird one of them shot Mr. B. the bird having flown between him and the one
shooting. His injury is not very serious, but it has made quite sick, he
received two shot the one in his nose in the place where it joins the face and
the other in the extreme corner of his eye. That kind of hunting where they
shoot entirely on the wing is quite dangerous and more especially when there are
several in company; the animation is so great, and so great quickness is
necessary, that they never look what they are about or who is in danger, the
bird is the only object that attracts attention. I have dear father received
nothing very deffinite with respect to the place where I shall spend my
vacation. Some month ago I received a letter from James Shepard in which he
said that grandma expressed great joy at the prospect of seeing us this winter.
It would doubtless be a source of the greatest pleasure to spend it in Newburn, when I should
have an opportunity of seeing my relations and my dear little brother and
sisters. But I am inclined to ask you for another destiny, for a very good
reason. My teeth are in a very bad condition. I have but few teeth that are not
decaying; all my jaw-teeth are rotting and one of them so far that I shall have
to lose them and my front teeth have also commenced, and the decay proceeds so
fast, that I really fear, unless something is done quickly, nothing can be done.
The mere rubbing them with a brush, makes the bleed every morning. Therefore I assume it as position that something is
necessary to be done. The dentists in this part of the country are quacks and
frequently do more harm than good. By going a little farther North I may come
a-cross one that is a good one. The sum of money it will take to go from here to
Baltimore is
$22.50 this account I saw the merchant make out, who had been from
here there only a month ago; and from thence to Washington but little additional
expense will be incurred. It would take $12 to go from here to Newburn and to home
$21. So thus it will cost but little more to go to Baltimore than to go
home, where I might meet with a first rate dentist. My dear father I write this
as the honest conviction of my heart for my own good, and not because I wish
[to] go for the purpose of having a fine jaunt and of saying I have been to
Baltimore or
Washington. I
have, I am glad to say, no such silly anxiety; silly because it is childish. For
my own part, if it were not to see my relations, and but for the reasons just
given, I had infinitely rather remain on C. Hill. But not withstanding those reason of the
calmest kind I submit myself entirely to your better judgement and without
pressing the matter further will cheerfully do as you say: and I would not even
now have suggested the plan I proposed had I not been influenced by the firmest
conviction of my mind after thorough consideration that the small sum spent now
will be of incalculable value hereafter, and that if that sum is now with held
in a short time the desired object could not be obtain even with 20 times the
amount.
We are both well. Brother William sends his love to you and Please answer this
letter soon.
Believe me to be ever dutiful and affectionate
Charles L
Pettigrew