New Haven June 20^th 1862

 

                        My dear Cousin Frank,

                                                            To make amends in some degree if possible for not writing to you all last term, I will write to you now without waiting to receive an answer to a letter that I sent you some time ago. I don’t blame you a bit for not answering my letter, after my delaying as long as I did without writing to you. Perhaps however you have so many Normal friends to attend to, that you have no time to spare for those in this direction. But then, I should like to hear from you none the less, if you have the time or inclination to favor me with a few words. I have no news to tell & nothing/in particular to write, except that could you be here next week, you might enjoy yourself passably well, as the Wooden Spoon exhibition, Presentation day, Pow Wow &c come off then. Wooden Spoon on Tuesday evening & the others on the following day & evening. I certainly should be very much pleased to see you here then, but I presume your duties will not permit your absence. So you will have to draw on your imagination for a view of the performances.

 

                                    I took another little walk of twenty miles, the other day, out to Derby & back, accomplished the whole in six hours, staid some time in Derby too. I think I shall get so I can walk in course of time. Are your strawberries just in their prime now? if so, I should like to drop in & take tea with you, just about this time./

 

If I was writing to Royal, I should ask how that old abolition goose succeeded in bringing her goslings to see the light, but I don’t know as you would relish such questions so I will let that pass.

 

I suppose you are progressing in your Normal affairs, at least in acquaintences. I judged by what you said in the spring, that you were getting along very well in that department. I fear I shall not have an opportunity to take you to California with me.

 

Frank, you had the blues tremendously last spring some of the time. I hope you’ve got over them, for though I don’t know much about them myself, I should think they must be mighty unpleasant. Be “gay & happy” you know I will enclose with this letter one of the Wooden spoon invitations/

 

You can tell Alice, it will apply just as well to her, also.

 

Please remember me to inquiring friends, & I will close hoping you will see fit to honor me with a reply to this most unworthy epistle, as soon as convenient.

 

                        From the most humble of cousins

                                                            Kirt.

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