Norman Cary 1865

Phillips Academy Andover Friday Dec 30th 64

Dear Father,

I rec'd your short but very welcome letter yesterday morning and this is the first opportunity I have had of replying. It was the first one I had rec'd from home since I left and the 2nd from Palmyra. I never went so long with so few letters in my life i.e. since I came to Andover. I felt rather provoked and somewhat crusty at it as perhaps the tenor of my last letter showed you. But your letter fully made up for it. I wondered that my box did not arrive. I expected it by Christmas Eve but was of course disappointed. All I ask is that you will send it as soon as possible. My Boots have about given out entirely, err not entirely but considerably. That is to say the wet weather & Andover mud have considerably depreciated their value. And owing to lack of grease I have not been able to attend to them properly. Don't fail to put

all the articles I sent for and besides a holder for the stove, to take hold of my [pokers?] with. I'm sorry that the firm in Rochester have made such a botch of every order for books that you have sent for me. I have already read Smith's History of Greece & [Bruex?] Virgil They arrived before I left so if you have another copy or copies of either of those you can return them to Rochester. I want Doderleins Latin Synonyms, Henshaws synopsis Greek Verbs Long's Classical Atlas & [Gumpt's] Latin Grammar (Revised Edition & Larger works). Look in the preface and be sure that the Latin Grammar is the latest & largest edition. Also Liddell's History of Rome which I see by your letter they did not send. The German and French books I have no reason for and will be an unnecessary expence. Write on receipt of this and don't wait your letters on account of the box. I wish if it would not be too much trouble you would put in 5 or 6 lbs of your better crackers. you have to pay more than double for them here than there.

And as my lessons are tough when I get up very early in the morning I find I need some aliment before breakfast. We have supper at 4:30P.M. & breakfast at 6:30 A.M. and when I study all the evening and then am obliged to before breakfast I find I need nourishment between whiles. I will write the first of next month and send over as I promised a list of my expenses to that. Have you ever written to Josiah Hammond M.D. of Plimpstown yet? Remember me to Webster, Sophie, Jo and mother, Aunt [Marni?] and last but not least give the hand [puncher?] also to Andrews. I have no time to write more at present indeed I've been obliged to take time from my lessons in order to write this. A Happy New year to you all. I don't have time to do much of anything now but study and only hope my health will be preserved both of body & mind. Don't forget to write nor to send the crackers. If you have any [?]

? nicknacks or ???? to eat or to ornament ? or shelf ? plenty of room in the ??? considerably more and the rather breadth of carpet does ? for want of sufficient space to breath in. ?? ??? put one more stove consider to keep one in here and a

Andover Jan. 13 1865

After the lapse of one week & a half my dear Sister I snatch a few moments to write you a few lines. Since I last wrote we have had some of the coldest weather I evere experienced.

In your letter of the 8th inst. & rec'd on the 10th, you say the girls are all grumbling. I suppose in Philade the thermometer stood at about zero or perhaps a little below it. Will you please tell the young ladies with my complements that on that day I only wished I could get in a house that was so nearly airtight as yours. But this is one of the digressions for which Mr. Gough is so famous. Sunday morning I awakened at the usual time but when I put my head out of bed I concluded that I would not go to church that morning. Before making a fire the thermometer was about 15 above zero in my room. The thermometer outside of my window was 7 below zero. Seymour went to church but when he returned he said he would not go to church in the afternoon on any consideration. He ran all the way home