MAPA May 12^th 1863

At my school-house half past 8 AM

 

M^rs Palmer

 

My dear friend

                  I trust you will pardon me for neglecting to fulfill my promise so long and believe me when I tell you I have nearly every day thought of writing a letter for you but being very busy and at times not feeling well enough to write I have neglected it thus long. This morning I thought I could possibly find time during the school-hours.—Perhaps you have been informed that I was to teach our school. Well I have commenced my school, and like it very much. I like teaching any way and perhaps this is why I always like my schools. I taught here the first season I taught. my scholars are glad to have me teach again. They tell me I am not as cross as some of their teachers have been. when I look back and review my school days I find I learned more and was much more interested when I had a teacher who was kind and gentle than when one who was the reverse. therefore I act and govern according to my own experience. 

 

My health is not good yet. my throat troubles me when I take cold and I am not as strong as before my sickness I am hopeful the warm weather may restore my health to me as it was. Do the girls Mary & Fannie ever speak of me? Tell them I think of them almost every day and wish I could see them. if I could only have them in my school this summer how I should like it. Who teaches your school this season. I hope you will have a good teacher. Is there much sickness about your neighborhood. there has been and still is considerable in Mt. Pt. M^r Prentiss the shoemaker in the village buried a little daughter monday of this week. I was in to see her several times while she was sick. she was a lovely little girl the idol of her mother. How often it is those "the favorite ones" that are called away. How do you all like M^r Pierce your new minister I have never seen him I think I shall come up some sabbath afternoon to hear him. I have been up to Henry Thirstins and to M^r Tallmans since but didn't go around past your house as I wished to. I carried those patterns with me but was obliged to bring them back. May 15^th It is now noon-spell and I will endeavour to finish this epistle I / don't know how soon I shall have an opportunity of sending it, but hope I shall soon. What do you think concerning the war. sometimes I feel encouraged and think it will soon close, but oftener I see nothing cheering or encouraging and so at present. It seems as though the recent bloody battles have accomplished us nothing comparatively speaking, and to think of the vast number of lives lost it seems truly disheartening. Capt James Mumford I suppose you have been informed is dead, so also Orin Wilcox, Ambrose Wilcox's oldest son. I was well acquainted with Orin and esteemed him highly as did all who were acquainted with him. Franklin Dix of the same Co. writes he had several bullet holes through his clothes Was Abner in that battle? does Harriet hear from him often? I have always believed notwithstanding the gloomy prospect, that we shall come out victorious in the end, but at what period that will be, God only knows. We are aware as a nation we were very wicked and corrupt we deserved nay needed punishment, and we know not when we have been humbled ourselves enough, but He who knoweth all things and who is just and right will when he sees fit restore unto us peace and happiness. We have this to cheer us that we / shall not receive greater punishment than we deserve God is just therefore our punishment will be just. It is friday, my school is closed for the first week and I have seated myself to finish my letter as I saw one of Mr Rhonis boys pass and I shall if I see him send this by him I have had 20 scholars expect more. Tell Fannie I have 5 little girls only 5 years old. I think a great deal of them. I havn't seen any of the people from your district excepting John Hine's his wife & Kettie since I came home. I would like very much to see you all and if ever you come out this way I want you to call and see me Ma was in the village one day and met with Royal Hine and his wife also Mrs Philander Hine I was glad she happened to meet with them. Well I must be going home. Give my love to all inquiring friends and reserve a large share for yourself. I send a kiss to Fannie and much love to Mary, as Mary I believe don't care so much about a kiss as Fannie. Now I shall expect a reply to this poorly written letter very soon I have written in great haste and with a poor pen. Tell Harriet to write a few lines to me if she can. Good-bye, From a sincere friend,

                                                           

Nettie S. Hall.

SOURCES