I wish you Merry New Year

Elmira Jan 1^st 1862.

 

Friend Wm

                        Your most kind and friendly letter was duely received and be assured most welcomely for I dearly love to hear from my old friends. And now I improve the first opportunity William of answering your letter that I have had since the receipt of yours.

 

            We were all happy to hear that you were attending school, and that you never find a dislike for study / You no doubt are attending a good school and at a pleasant place. Oh! if I could always be a student I should be in the highth of my element. But that cannot be. "Tis money you know that make the mare go". and it is a hard time now to accumulate money. I now imagine I see you reclined over Algebra, puzzling away over some hard problem. But I think those problems add a great charm to the study. I well recollect studying so heard on one of them once and after three days study on it I dreamed it out. Beat that if you can.

 

            I am teaching in / fathers district again this winter. I have a very good school. A class in Algebra, two classes in grammar, and a fine class in 3^d part Rays Arithmetic. I suppose you knew I am studying Medicine. I was with my Preceptor in Stuben Co. Ind six weeks last fall, and shall return there again in February. I like the study very much. I believe you have never told me what you intend to be. if you have made up your mind I should like to know.

 

            You wished to know what System of penmanship I used to write. It was the Warrenian System, and since I / have got the Spencerian System, but I do not know that I like it any better. I will send you the principals of the Warrenian System as you desired them and if I can do anything to help you in writing I shall be happy to do so.

 

[writing stroke diagram]

 

            We are all well. give my respects to your folks and write soon

 

Francisco said he answered your letter, he is teaching this winter.

 

Your friend Byron

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