Bartlett, I. Chapin. Letter to mother (December 2, 1860)

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Danville Dec
2nd 1860 [December 2, 1860]

Dear Ma

I propose answering yours of 26th Nov, but whether I shall be able to finish the letter before church time is a matter of some doubt. I have just returned from the Theological Seminary where I heard Dr R J Breckinridge hold forth, an event of which you doubtless would have been glad to avail yourself, but which to the people of Danville who are so accustomed to listening to distinguished divines, it is a matter of small moments.

You have or have had du-

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ring the past week with you a man whom I consider a very superior preacher, Dr. Lacy. He preached a series of sermons here a year or so ago.

I have been expecting some of those compositions of which Sis expressed an intention of sending me for criticizing, perhaps though she has concluded that I am not a safe hand to entrust such documents with. Tell her that she judges prematurely. She ought to give me a fair trial. I have answered hers and Nannie's letter, not for the purpose of silencing them as circumstances would lead me to believe they think, but that I might constrain

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to a speedy repetition of their favors. Tell Pauly and Lizzie that I will have to try them after Christmas and see if they won't make more faithful correspondents.

I had a letter from Uncle V.P.C last night. He will go to Washington City soon, where I suppose the destiny of his "bill" will speedily be decided, he has promised to send me Congressional documents. The students were to have had a meeting yesterday to draw up resolutions in regard to the question of the day, but the Faculty put rather an unceremonious stop to the matter. Ma, if you can make it convenient sometime between this and Christmas, I would be glad

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if you and your "sewing machine" would make me a couple pair of [unclear: canten?] Flannel drawers, as my last year stock are rather superannated [superannuated].

I will follow your instruction in regard to Sis' essays. I can fully appreciate her position. I recollect with what trembling hands I used to receive my productions from the critics hands.

I shall be home now in little less than three weeks, giving you time to prepare an extra allowance of "mince meat." You know my failing on the mince pie [unclear: score?], so take advantage of your knowledge.

I received a secession letter from Pa yesterday evening, and in

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the language of Felix of Biblical notoriety. Pa(ul) then almost persuadest me to be a disunionist and soon I expect to be not only almost but altogether such as thou art.

We now regulate our meals according to the strictest rules of "high life" Lunch at 12 & 1/2. Dinner at 5 1/2, at which time as you have already imagined I can do full justice to the luxurious table. But oh! Such dreams as I do have. To borrow from the lines of [illegible word] "Fancy unrestrained by sense or judgement, strange makes confusion of future, present, past. combining things unseemly. Things unsociable in nature we most absurd communion, laughable". And after Mrs. Green gets the

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coffee, sugar, etc., which I expect she will order this week, we'll fairly revel in pudding bags, sauce, etc., but I won't anticipate coming luxuries, lest they turn out to be unsubstantial dreams. How does [your] "[illegible words]" No. 2 bear the Northern blasts?

Love to all
[illegible word]
[Chapin scratched out]