Buffalo Sept 26^th 1861

 

Dearest Schoolmate,

You must know that since I have seen you my heart has often beat with an anticipated hope of once more meeting you at the old schoolroom as pleasant as in days past. Oh Sarah how I wish you could come and go to school with me. I am very lonely this session as I am the only boarder that Mrs M^cIntyre has. If you was here we could enjoy ourselves very well together for what few girls are here are very lively considering the times. I like to of forgoten to tell you how I am I am well and getting on well with my studies, we have quit studying Grammer, we parse in poetry, we will get through Algebra Arithmetic and Watts on the / mind this week, you know we have been smart this session. you must come and catch up with Flora and myself in our studies. Mrs M^cIntyre is teaching both schools now, but what I hate there is no large boys but Thomas Watson and James L Petty all the rest are gone to the war poor things I went to see all three of the companies start off from Jonesborough (the depot) oh Sarah you cant immagine how sad it made us all feel when they told us good-bye, it was the most solumn time I ever saw the day they all started off. I never felt so bad in my life as I did when I told all my Cousins, acquaintances and sweetheart good bye, but there is one consolation to me I have got his likeness and he has got mine you must not tell anybody it is sweet / George Coles. Sarah what on earth are you doing so incessantly that you cant come to school nor cant take time to write to your friend Sue? I have been wondering what was the matter, you know you promised to write first but have faild to do so, so Flora Bryan and myself concluded to brake the ice and see if you would follow, as I think that is the only chance to make get you write to me. I should be more than glad to see you, you must come up to Cousin Sandy's before long and come and see me, if you will come up I will go and stay all night with you. Bella Cole and Andrew staid all night with me last Saturday night we all went to church at Cool Spring on Sunday I went with Andrew I enjoyed myself finely. I will close respond soon to your friend. Yours truly S.P.J. Bryan

                                                                       

Good night.

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