Lewis, William Figures
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Chapel
Hill
Sept. 19th. '41
Dear Sister
Your letter of 26
th ult. came to hand in due time, and should
have commanded an earlier reply. I was very sorry to hear of the illness of
Mother
and Mr.
S.
, and hope by
this they have recovered.
Allow me to congratulate you my dear
Sister
, on
what I concieve to be a most happy event. I have heard by a letter
Exum received from his
Mother, of the birth of your
son; and hope it will prove to
you a source of the greatest joy.
I received a letter a day or two since from Cadmus Cotton, containing the melancholy news of the death of
Brother Exum's younger
daughter; after a short but severe illness. I am very sorry for Bro. E. It seems he is doomed to
constant suffering and misfortune He had been keeping school at Canton
Miss.;
and studying law at the same time. He had however at the time the letter was
written, returnened to Meridian
Springs, and was then electioneering for a commission merchant in
Vicksburg, for whom he
expected to act as agent on board a steamboat, or employ himself in some other
way, until he could obtain license to practice law; when he expected to move to
Texas, where he
hoped he would do better than in Mississippi.
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I believe there is not much news stirring about the Hill at this time.
There was a fray here between two students, a few weeks ago. A student a brother
of one of those engaged was shot. The ball struck him on the hip; in such a
direction however, as to glance without doing him any serious hurt. It was a
very fortunate escape. It would doubtless have proved a more serious affair, had
not some seven or eight students in anticipation of it, gone down to prevent the
friends of either party from interfering. They were both dismissed from college
of course.
Such serious difficulties among the students seldom occur here; less frequently
here I believe, than at most colleges.
I think Chapel
Hill is coming out a little. There has been of late a decided improvement
in its society; having had a valuable acquisition, in some 8 or 10 young ladies.
It is thought by some that it would be an advantage to have a female academy
established here. I have no doubt it would be the best place in the State.
for such an institution, on account of the salubrity of its climate, and for the
advantages that might be derived from the large and choice libraries we have
here; but I apprehend that the students would soon be found to slacken in their
progress up the steep of science's rugged mount, and would be found more
frequently paying court at the shrine of Venus, than of Minerva, Some retired nook in old Orange might soon attain the celebrity of the far-famed Gretna Green.
Exum and the girls are in the
enjoyment of excellent health. I dont believe they have got to thinking much
about
sweethearts yet; however, I can't speak for
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certain of
Nanny. She seems rather fond of reading novels, to the
neglect I fear of her other studies. I gave her a lecture about it the other
day, without a promise tho' of amendment.
Martha is very studious and industrious, and upon the whole,
I think our sisters may felicitate themselves on having found such a good place
for the education of their daughters; both of whom, tho' they may never make a
great show, will I doubt not turn out well. Let me hear from you again soon.
My best love to
Mother
— Remember me to Mr.
S
.
Tell Bro. H. I should be very
glad to receive a letter from him.
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