Metadata
Title
David E. Hale to Sarah Josepha Hale
Date
1829-07-30
July 30, 1829
Subject
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-176
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
West-Point July 30 [1829]
My dear Mother - You complain somewhat in your
last letter that I do not write often engoug [enough] - perhaps
you have given the only reason yourself. That it
is partly owing to the multiplicity of my occupations
but chiefly to my averseness to writing.
I have every thing now to occupy myself with Drills,
two or three different ones daily besides parades.
The [DE: M] Artillery drills are very fine - we have a
large battery and we keep up a continued roar
of cannon at drill-time. I received your present
with great pleasure as books are so scarce here; but
I have read your letter with much more. Your
remarks I have treasured them [up?] and in these long
solitary nights when I am walking my part as
sentinel I continually think of them. I am sorry
to find that you are in such low health and spirits
I think a journey to the Springs would do you good.
You must remember that your health and comfort is
much dearer to them than the greatest luxuries you
could offer them even that of a good education
perhaps I may be selfish and presuming in offering
these remarks but I have been reading "Elizabeth
Latimer" and you must forgive me if the thoughts which
her fate give rise to have [DE: hurried] hurried me into my
remarks unbefitting me I have heard what good your
journey to Newburyport did you and this through the
fine scenery of N. York ought certainly to relax your
mind and restore its [tone?].
I study all the spare time I have and recite
with a small section (all of whom have had letters
to Superintendant [Superintendent] from their parents who are acquainted with
him, to Swift a cadet who stands first in his
class. I am indebted wholly to your name for the
chance I have of reciting. I am in the first section
about the middle of it - I shall study hard and get
to the head if I can. In answer to your former
letter concerning our board whether I eat much
meat I can say our chief food is wheat, rice [etc.]
and I do not eat so much meat as I did while
in Boston. - I have not been inoculated nor
can I be till I get in barracks (when we shall be
released from almost all duty except study) as [DE: I] it
will unfit me for duty for some days.
I hope you will excuse my bad writing as I write this
letter in the night. Remember me to my brothers and
sisters and my friends in N. and B.
Your affectionate Son
David E. Hale
My dear Mother - You complain somewhat in your
last letter that I do not write often engoug [enough] - perhaps
you have given the only reason yourself. That it
is partly owing to the multiplicity of my occupations
but chiefly to my averseness to writing.
I have every thing now to occupy myself with Drills,
two or three different ones daily besides parades.
The [DE: M] Artillery drills are very fine - we have a
large battery and we keep up a continued roar
of cannon at drill-time. I received your present
with great pleasure as books are so scarce here; but
I have read your letter with much more. Your
remarks I have treasured them [up?] and in these long
solitary nights when I am walking my part as
sentinel I continually think of them. I am sorry
to find that you are in such low health and spirits
I think a journey to the Springs would do you good.
You must remember that your health and comfort is
much dearer to them than the greatest luxuries you
could offer them even that of a good education
perhaps I may be selfish and presuming in offering
these remarks but I have been reading "Elizabeth
Latimer" and you must forgive me if the thoughts which
her fate give rise to have [DE: hurried] hurried me into my
remarks unbefitting me I have heard what good your
journey to Newburyport did you and this through the
fine scenery of N. York ought certainly to relax your
mind and restore its [tone?].
I study all the spare time I have and recite
with a small section (all of whom have had letters
to Superintendant [Superintendent] from their parents who are acquainted with
him, to Swift a cadet who stands first in his
class. I am indebted wholly to your name for the
chance I have of reciting. I am in the first section
about the middle of it - I shall study hard and get
to the head if I can. In answer to your former
letter concerning our board whether I eat much
meat I can say our chief food is wheat, rice [etc.]
and I do not eat so much meat as I did while
in Boston. - I have not been inoculated nor
can I be till I get in barracks (when we shall be
released from almost all duty except study) as [DE: I] it
will unfit me for duty for some days.
I hope you will excuse my bad writing as I write this
letter in the night. Remember me to my brothers and
sisters and my friends in N. and B.
Your affectionate Son
David E. Hale