William Plunkett 1850

and has a string in the middle. I thought it might be a [pen-wiper?] but it does not look much like one. I believe I have now enumerated all the things the box contained and sent thanks where they were due. You say that you have had no particular description of my room. I shall accordingly try to give you one with the best of my ability. I shall begin first with the carpet. The different colours are white brown and purple and it looks very neatly. My looking glass is rather dwarfish but a man of my appearance dont want a very large one. I have a shade to my lamp so that the light is thrown down and therefore does not affect my eyes. my table is a recent one and I have just been adding about an inch on to the legs which keep me from stooping when I study but as this letter will prove does not do my writing any good. Of the rest of the furniture I have very little to say. I have a ward robe in one corner bed in another bureau in another. [Hook?] in another and in the other there is not anything. I suppose

you imagine my room to be in a most indescribable confusion, but if you do I think you are mistaken for I keep my room pretty neat. I have got to write a composition next Tuesday upon the life character and times of Miltiades. We have been reading his life in Nepos. I have been appointed to criticise the last meeting of the Philo Soc. and therefore my time is nearly all taken up Saturday in writing. When I wrote Father I did not expect he would find time to write me as I knew his time was better employed. You ask if I do not begin to love Latin. I will answer that I like it a great deal better than I ever did before. I think I have learned more this term than I did all last term. I might have been prepared for college by the time I was thirteen if I had begun to study here when I commenced Latin. I might then have had two or three years to study English branches and have perfected myself with them. My paper has been so taken upin writing about my box that I have not room to say anything more. I hope I shall have a regular letter after this every week. W.R. Plunkett

Andover Oct 26th 1848 My Dear Mother, Mr. Humphrey arrived in Andover today bringing me my package which I received with no ordinary feeling of pleasure. I can assure you I have heard of "tumbling up stairs" which I never would fully realzie until [the?] night when I received the "said" package. The average number of stairs "taken" at a leap I suppose would average no less than five as I proceeded to the "Attic." My extraordinary expectations were fully realized. -- In answering your letter I am "by dire fate compelled" (criticism) to use blue ink which you doubtless perceive. The chambermaid tipped mine over this morning by which accident no very special damage was done except Mrs Peirce's spread was a little blackened.-- Yesterday in the P.M. we had a half a holy day to give the boys an opportunity to go to Boston. Most all went but remembering last fourth of July I concluded I would not go as then I got back to Andover at 4 o'clock well exhausted both in body mind and pocket. I had a fine

opportunity of distinguishing myself this morning in recitation for the recitations of the "Boston boys" showed how they had spent the preceding day. By their looks you would have imagined that they had. all been driven through a knot-hole I was assuredly glad that I ^[staid?] in Old literary Andover.---- I think that I in some degree comprehend and feel more and more the necessity of exerting myself. To speak candidly I believe that I am lazy but if I can do anything by a determined resolution & be diligent and persevering I shall do it. My studies this term have in no degree tended to make me more indolent. Those Greek irregular verbs are the most violent enemies of this fault which I have seen, read about, or heard of.

I like my "Wilson" very much indeed. It is very interesting and written in a fine poetical style. I think with my deficiency of language that a better book could not have been found. I have nearly finished one long article in which the attempts to elucidate the fact that there is but one great poem in the English Language and that one is Paradise Lost The aforesaid article is headed "An hours talk about Poetry". My Mirror will ^not come

until two weeks from yesterday ^ason account of the celebration of Boston we did not have any meeting of the Soc last night.

Your pieces were very fine as I said in a letter to Father. Do not exert yourself to write a piece for me. as-- I received a letter from Sarah a day or two since which justified the commendations you bestowed on hers to you. It was really quite a curiosity for I believe that I have not received a letter from her since last March.-- Aunt Eliza does not exactly like it that Sarah should not write her and indeed if I were in her place I should not. Aunt Eliza as you doubtless have noticed regards Sarah with very strong feelings of affection and of course feel her seeming neglect very much.-- Charles during his vacation I hope will [spend?] time to write me one of his interesting notes. & for Master Tommy and Miss Harriette I suppose they are not yet quite old enough to write me. Remember me to Mr. Blaney Delilah Olive [illegible] cows dogs ^worms and cats &c You must not tell D & O in what a connexion I put them. My term will end in four weeks from Monday which I am very glad to find out as I am anxious to see that little sister of mine. Mr. Cook when he left