Bartlett, I. Chapin. Letter to father (January 3, 1859)

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Science Hill
Jan 3rd 1859 [January 3, 1859]

Dear Father

Since last I wrote that long looked for box has arrived, and be assured it came precisely up to our ideas of the elegant. Of course our fellow students in the family were invited in, and we had a good time generally, but we were not green enough to set out our best things to tempt the palates of a hungry set of students, and the happy result of our wise foresight is that we have yet a small supply to which we can go when we feel inclined in that way.

Well, our holiday has gone, and this morning the Chapel bell with its long silent tongue bid us again assemble with in the walls

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of Old Centre. I cannot exactly say that I was glad to hear the awakening sound as on the whole I have spent a pleasant time reading and chatting in the parlor with the family which has been considerably increased by the arrival of Miss Lettie Green from boarding school at Walnut Hills. She also returned to school this morning. At the earnest solicitation of a fellow student I was prevailed upon to spend a couple of days with him at home, whose family I had previously become acquainted with at Doctor Greens, they being related. Miss Green is yet sick confined to her room, is afflicted with a severe cold. As to that matter of blotting my paper of which you have spoken two or three times

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I think the fault is in the paper which being so thin causes a mark of too much pressure which sometimes cannot be avoided, to cause a blot. See if you observe any on this paper. I wrote to Uncle Vess & [unclear: Virginius?] last week and Grandmother yesterday.

Prof. Patterson our teacher of Mathematics has not yet arrived. We expected him this morning. I must not forget to mention that those slippers were just the thing. Fit me beautifully. Would want no better. If you are in no particular hurry, I would advise you to defer your visit to Danville until the 22nd of February, which is a great day with us here. At which time two speakers from every Society deliver speeches, and of course it will

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be an interesting time. You find within my report of the leather market.

Garnis sends his respects,

Yours [unclear: & etc.?]
I [Chapin Bartlett scratched out]

The "Batterten" [i.e. Batterton] is the best hotel in town