University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, Evening of 17 December 1862

I was obliged

to cease writing this afternoon on
account of a recitation coming
at 2.30p.m. and another at
3.15 p.m., but school has closed
for today, tea has been served,
and now I am ready to resume
my writing. Winter has made
his appearence in force, and now
the snow lies upon the ground about
four or five inches deep, but as the
ground did not freeze solid there
is no sleighing. I should enjoy
a good sleighride very much, but
with no one but thee darling.
Oh well; the time may come when
we can enjoy life, God grant it may
as I have not heard from you lately
I know no more about your coming
home, Oh Charlie, dear darling loved
one could I but for one hour enjoy
your society, I would be happy.
Can you obtain a discharge? Please
write and tell me for this standing
between hope and fear is too tantal-
-izing. At times I am elated
with hope and at other times
find myself bordering on despond-
-ency. But these thoughts will only
tend to sadden you, so forgive me
darling.

Do you hear that? No, well it is
the bell, telling us that it is six
o'clock; the hour when students must
be in their rooms. Thank fortune it
does not tell us that we must not
write to friends after six.
Do you not wish you was a student
Oh, it is sport, this going to school.
Would you like to know the several
rules of our school? I will tell you
first we must arise at six (although we
must retire ere we can arise yet as
this is the first act we perform in
the morning, I thought I would give
it first) 2nd studying an hour before
Roll-call, 3rd Being present at roll-call
and morning prayers, 4th not whispering
during recitation, 5th making no unnec-
essary noise about the seminary
6th Being present at all of our recita-
tions.