1899

With Charlie Widmayer's consent I'm returning briefly at least to the ranks of the MAGAZINE columnists. Two reasons: One, I've used up my hoard of '99 news in the December newsletter. Two, friends in Coconut Grove, Fla., have given me as a Christmas remembrance the original copy of a letter dated October 31, 1825, written from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., by John A. Vinton, Class of 1828, to Mrs. Sarah G. Beach in Kingsborough, Johnstown, N. Y., "Kindness of Mr. Wells."

Dated Dart. College, Hanover, Oct. 31, 1825, the letter reads: "Dear Cousin, Your esteemed favor of March, April,' and July came safely to hand, about three months ago, and I have been promising myself that I would answer it ere this; but my time has been so occupied as, thus far, to forbid it. Today I have just seen, accidentally, a W. Wells of your town, and I cannot resist the desire I feel to send you a hasty scrawl by him. I happened to see a man in a waggon offering deer-skin mittens for sale. I conjectured he might be from Johnstown, and find on urging that it is even so.

"Since you last heard from me my health has generally been very good, and my circumstances on the whole prosperous. I like my college very well, and have the honor to belong to a class highly respectable in point of native genius, scholarship, numbers, and piety. I have great reason for gratitude to the Author of all good, for the numberless mercies with which He has strewed my path.

"I expect to instruct a school this winter in Weymouth, Mass., a little more than half a mile from my father's house in Braintree. I shall board at home and my compensation will be liberal. I shall probably go down in about a fortnight and shall of course visit Boston on my way. A. W. Wells informs me he shall be there in about 15 days, may I not calculate with confidence on receiving a letter from you by him?

"Last winter I received a pair of gloves from you, for which I beg to return hearty acknowledgement. They however proved to be a little too small about the palm of the hand, and I found I could not wear them. I therefore exchanged them with a classmate for a book which I wanted. If you will have the goodness to send me a pair by W. Wells with the price, I will satisfy you therefore. If they were a very little longer about the palm and thick front of the hand they would answer.

"I visited Middlebury College in our last vacation, and had the pleasure of seeing Thompson, Beach, Owen, and Cozzens. I should have gone to Kingsborough but the vacation was far advanced, and I was obliged to return to Hanover. If I should be spared till next summer, it is not improbable you may see me in the place of your abode.

"I shall write you very soon after I go home, and hope then to send you an epistle more worthy of your perusal than the present. Till when I remain with sincere regards, your cousin truly, John A. Vinton."

Secretary, 3304 Virginia St. Coconut Grove, Fla. 33133