Jonesboro N.C.
Sept 26th 1861
My Dearest Schoolmate,
According to promise I seat myself to night to write you a few lines for the first time. I have been thinking of writing to you ever since I saw you at the communion at Buffalo and I thought as Ruth & Mr Shepherd was going up to Union that I would write you a few lines. It will take you a good while to get through reading your letters when you get them, you will have some three or four I expect. Sue Bryan, Jannie Dye, and Alice McIver talks of writing to you and sending by Ruth. Sarah why have you not written to me before now? I have been thinking looking for a letter from you for several weeks, but no letter yet. so I see I will have to break the ice before I can get you to write to me.
There has three companies left Jonesboro / I tell you it was a sad time there then I wish you could have been here. Well Sarah are you teaching school now or what are you doing? I have been going to school am studying the same studies that I was session before last I and Sue are nearly through our books will be in a few days we are going to review when we get through.
Sarah, I want you to come down some time and come and stay all night with me. I think you might stay a week with me It has been raining all the evening and I am afraid that it will be raining to-morrow so that I cant go to school. Sarah, I dont expect to go to school any more after this session are you going any more. It is just as I expected it is raining so I cannot go to school it commenced yesterday evening and has been raining ever since till now it looks a little like it was clearing up I wish it would. I believe it has quit raining at last the wind blew very hard today it blew down a good many trees.
I reckon you will be surprised after I told you that Alice and Jane was going to write and not get their letters. I will tell you the reason, they were going to send their letters to Ruth by me, and I did not go to school today nor I don't expect they did, so they will have to wait till next time. I dreamed of you last night, I thought that I and you were at preaching at Union and that you would not say a word to me scarcely, and I said to myself "I wonder what Sarah is mad with me about" but it was all a mistake when I awoke I had not seen you but I hope I shall see you before long for I would be more than glad to see you. have you ever written to Eugenia Harrington yet if you ever write please tell her to write to me I would write, but I don't know where to direct my letters
I must bring this letter to a close
Give my love to Eliza Kelly when you see her and except a portion for yourself. Yours affect...
You must write to me and not put me off like you did before.
F A Bryan