PlunkettWmR1850_18480105_001

Andover Jan 5th 1848

My Dear Mother,

Something quite out of
the ordinary course of human events must
have happened since I left home as I should
have received some answer to my letter. What
has happened even "conjecture" cannot tell
but it is hoped that "time that great revealer
of mysteries" will make known the great
secret. My appearance for the first time
this term was made before the P M Soc in
the august character of Editor ^{last Wednesday}. As I was
confidently expecting some anonymous
contributions from home my paper was not
as full as it would have otherwise
have been. The powers of my genius were
called into active play to supply the
deficiency which of course did not fully
succeed but in some measure compensated
for the loss. As I had nothing amusing
I read "The effort of Genius," but of course
very much remodelled. It created much
laughter as I intended it should.

The quiet citizens of Andover were much