Bartlett, I. Chapin. Letter to mother (January 26, 1859)

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Danville Jan
26th 59

Dear Mother

I indeed! was delighted to hear from you today, and find that you can get along so well without me whom you now I expect begin to think used to be some [illegible word] in spite of your many former assertions to the contrary. Aha! I have no doubt while Nena was away that your thoughts frequently turned to Centre College, and wished that one who now stands amid its hallowed walls would but return for a few days any how, and lend a helping hand in domestic affairs.

But be assured that however great pleasure it would give me to have lent you a helping hand in those needful times, yet the deep and eloquent orations of Demosthenes and the celebrated poems of Horace have much more attraction to my mind than the unharmonious den of rattling pots and kettles. And Miss B.R. has at last bestowed her hand upon some worthy object, and is now a blushing bride. When will wonders cease? Ma your letter was truly very welcome, but since I have read a particular sentence in it, my mind has been wandering at one time to chopped apples, minced meat,

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brandy, and such like ingredients which [unclear: compounded?] make a pie which would tempt the palate of a gouty man. A kingdom for a mince pie if I but had the powers of transferation. At the same time that Nena called you out to make them I would take a pressing invitation out to eat a piece. Such a delicacy we have despaired of here.

Mrs. Green has been appointed agent in this county to collect funds for the Mount Vernon Association, at which she has been very busily engaged for the past week or two. Last Friday night she handed me a paper the subject of which was an appeal to the people of Kentucky on behalf of said association and requested me to read it in Society that night, and ascertain if the members would not contribute to it, which I accordingly did, and after making a few remarks on the subject and the noble cause of the institution, I sat down whereupon a member moved that the Society contribute a hundred dollars to said fund, which after some interesting speeches was carried, and an amendment made that each member contribute 1 dollar apiece to be restored to the treasury. So that we have 49 dollars out of the treasury and there being 51 members in Society giving 1 dollar apiece made an additional

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amount of $51 to the 49, total $100. Which act was greatly applauded by the citizens of Danville and will be published at the suggestion of some of the citizens in the different papers of the state, thereby offering inducements and holding out encouragements to the rest of the people of the state. The ladies are also going to give a fair 22nd of Feb., proceeds of which are to be given to the same laudable cause.

I received a letter from Grandmother this evening, written by Aunt E.P. Bartlett but I unfortunately don't know who that kind Aunt is. Do you? Answered it immediately before this. Our grate, Mrs. Green says, is to be put in tomorrow which will please me mightily. But the hour is waxing late so I must close. Will write Pa soon.

Love to all also to Mrs. Purnell

Yours etc. [I. Chapin Bartlett scratched out]