University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenny, June 4th, 1862

Did you ever see a more disagree-
-able morning than this? Rain, rain nothing but rain
and has been so for nearly a week. Don't you pity the
school teachers such a day as this? Here have I walked
nearly half a mile through the rain and much before
eight o'clock, and after building a fire to make
it appear more cheerful have gone to writing. But
what are my inconveniences when compared with the
soldiers. Here I find a dry and pleasant school-room
to enter and although they are not now here, there soon
will be happy faces hurrying to receive their teachers
morning kiss. and then follows the pleasant hours to
be spent in learning and reciting lessons. While with
the soldier, how different. Perhaps for their employment
is a long and tedious march through the storm
with no covering, to be welcomed only with a cry
of revenge and maybe death. Really my labors

are but light. and how much nobler is the cause
in which they are engaged than is mine.
But you will be anxious to hear how my school is
prospering. I think it "goes of" finely. Not quite as well
as I could wish (for you know we are prone to wish more than
can be expected sometimes) but full as well and perhaps better
than I expected. Thirty scholars attend now. they are from
four to seventeen years of age. Have I ever told you the
branches that are studied? They are reading writing. Arithme
-tic. parts 2 nd and 3 rd Ray's. Mitchells Geography, Pinneo's
Grammar, and Ray's Algebra[1]. also Orthography. Now do you
not think I have a school? I do. There. I told you
they would come. one. two three four five - all coming to say
good morning. and the girls to receive the kiss which I
had to stop writing long enough to give them. I would
that you could see them, darling, one little boy wishes
me to stop writing and talk to him, shall I do
it? I know you would say yes, dear Charlie. were you
here so I will gratify him