RKFP-041

[circled] July 31st, 1853.

Neglected but not Forgotten Cousin.

Having been very busily engaged in preparing for examination, celebrations, &c I have much to my sorrow neglected answering your very acceptable epistle of the 16th June, for which I hope to receive pardon, as the will was strong enough be extreme laziness prevented the execution of it. With this bit of preamble duly registered I will proceed to state matters and facts which though they may not prove very interesting to you will still serve to fill my sheet.

We had but a very short visit from your father. I was much disappointed that he was obliged to have so soon ...... I presumed father is with you by this time, as the boat has arrived in which he took passage ...... What is the matter with Charley is he so immersed in business that he can find no time to drop me a few lines? -. I am glad that you think ploughing "nice", for it is a very essential labor, and one which contributes much to the prosperity of the "agricultural" man.

We had a very fine time "fourth of July". There was a dead swell on the lake, and most every one was "sick as death," It was fine fun dancing the boat rolled from side to side and it was very amusing to see the ladies, when the boat would roll suddenly; slide from their partners side, perhaps into the arms of the opposite gentleman.

Our term closed last thursday. We are to have a vacation until the first monday in September. I was second star, Miss Archer being 485 above par and I 418. I should have been as high as she as I was purfect in everything through the term but she had one more study than I. However stars of the second magnitude are quite brilliant. Aham! Mr. Stanton was presented with an elegant illustrated edition of "Bunyan's Pil= grim's Progress", as a farewell gift. We are to have a Methodst minister from Ohio next term for our teacher, and I sup= pose we will have to "walk straight."

Our Sunday School are to have an excursion to Portage on Tuesday. I anticipate fine times.

Why do not Alice and Cora write me now? Do they think it too difficult a task...... I had a first-rate ride up at riding school yesterday. I like it better than any

other amusements I ever participated in. unless it is dancing. - . It is "awful warm" to-day. It seems as though we would roast, and between this old pen and the flies I am in a complete perspiration ...... I had the extreme satisfaction of having my herbarium pronounced the best in school. Though I think had you seen the collection you would not think there was much "best" about any of them.

A house erected for the purpose was burned yesterday to try the efficacy of the[underlined] "Fire Annihilator". But they did not succeed either in dis[underlined]tinguishing the Annihilator or in ex[underlined]= tinguishing the fire.

I do not know what has become of Mr. Blanchard. I have not heard from him a long time. Mr Hode is still engaged in trying to instill into the luckless brains of his scholars a little of the article styled knowledge. Miss Nancy has also been engaged in the same good object. But I believe she intends retiring from her office at[strikethrough] present.

Now I have written you a long letter I hope you will do the same by me and after giving my love to all the folks I will bring the same to a close by wishing you "good-by".

Maria Ransom Cousin[underlined].