Horace Deming 1865

will only asnwer them promptly. By way of showing you the difference in the standards of the "P.C.U.S." and Phillips Academy I will mention just this one thing which will perhaps give you as good an idea as anything. I can furnish Alesson that I would spend one half hour on in nine cases out of ten receive a perfect mark when in Palmyra where will spend entire hours of hard, close study on and in nine cases out of ten "flunk." It would be rather difficult for me to state exactly what I am about during any ^{every given} portion of the day, my occupations vary however I will tell you as nearly as can. Latin week I rise at 5AM study till 6:30AM then go to breakfast. On some kornings I do not get up till 6AM it depends on the difficulty of the lesson. After breakfast (at 7AM I study till prayer time (8:30 AM). After prayers at 9 AM I [?] till 10:30 AM. Then study till 12M go to dinner, return and commence studying at 1PM or 1:30PM according to the lesson I am to learn. At 2:15PM again recite till 4:30 PM then prayers and after them supper. Then I usually walk till 6 or 6:30P.M. commence studying again at 7PM and retire at 9PM. On Greek week I rise at 4AM, study till breakfast time, then (after breakfast) study again till prayer time. The rest of programme is morning same as in Latin week. Immediately after dinner I get to work and continues & work till I again [?]

at three 3.15 P.M. During Greek week I generally get to studying at 6 P.M. Keep at it till 9 Pm very seldom much later if later at all then retire for the night. Sundays we have breakfast at 7 AM and Dinner at 12:15PM. A bit the different from week days. We have not been obliged yet to get "Biblical Exercises" on Sunday so I can not write out full programme for that day. We go to chapel at 10 AM and listen to some theologue or other "spout" till 11 or 11:30 AM. and again in the afternoon at 2 o'clock and hear another or the same one perform the same offices. Saturdays Wednesdays from a little after 3 PM we have to ourselves provided we do not have to hard lessons to get. (Not from 3 PM because prayers are at that time on Wednesdays. Saturdays from 12 PM is at our own disposal & till 7 PM ^on both Wednesdays and Saturdays and in fact on all week days from 7 till 9 PM are considered study hours. tell Mother to write me Remember me to Sophia, Prince, Fran, and the [?] brother Jack that live in the domicile back of the barn. Also give my love to "Chck" and the chickens and to Grandmother and Sunt Naomi if they are home and tell 'em to answer my letter. I am much obliged to you for the pencil and for Abraham's picture I don't care how many of his photographs you send me. By the way I would like your photo as much as his. Answer soon. Your affectionate son. "Reliable"

Andover Sept 24 1864

Dear Louise

What to write I know not but will try. I trust you are not offended with me for not writing you before but time flies swifter here in Palmyra. I nevr in my life say 4 weeks go so quickly by as the last 4 have. I have not had time to be homesick or even to think of home except I stole it. There is one portion of my time however when I feel free to think of home it is after I have retired to rest then I can throw off all care and anxiety and for a little time revel in the thoughts of home and in pleasant memories. Such opportunities I do not neglect I can assure you. I suppose you have been enjoying yourself to the utmost of your ability since I left. So many of your friends have come to see you and besides having no horrid brother to tease you I have only fifteen minutes left in which to write and I must make the most of it. I wish you would send me your photographs, one [?], Mattie Tefft, father's, [???] and a host of others that are so numerous that I have not time nor space to mention them. Do you ever hear from [Auburn?]? When you write give them my love. Perhaps Father could send me some fruit by sending [?] to [Judah?] he could send it free as far as Albany at any rate. I wish you would find out Charley [Schenkerhorn?]'s address for me. I would like to write him. Has Spencer gone to Washington yet? Save me some grapes till Thanksgiving when I shall be home to enjoy them. I can manage it so as to come the day before Thanksiving if it is bon Thursday. You must pettition the Governor to make that the day on my account if on no other. I wish I had time I could fill a volume with inquiries and so [?] my time is almost up and I must [?] don't in to this as a model for your writing but send me a long letter. Write soon to your brother HED

Andover Sept. 24. 1864 Dear Brother I was very glad to hear from you and I am also glad that you like to milk, I am sure I never thought it was "fun". What does Mother do with all the milk now I am gone? Do you think the old cow misses me any. You did not say in your letter whether you had expected my commands with regard to Hooky, Prince &c &c. Do write and tell me about them and if you have not done as I told you set about it immediately. What did you see at the fair? Was there many people in town? When did Cool Cornings company leave town and who were in it? I suppose you think me rather inquisitive to ask so many questions, but then you know I am very much interested in the things in Palmyra though far away from home, and besides I am in yankee land and I presume have imbibed some of their customs. I am glad you are doing so well in your studies, study hard, don't be afraid to work at an example or difficult sentence long after the case seems hopeless. Be at the head of your class if possible. We (the senior class) have engaged Mr. Gougs??? to lecture for us within two or three weeks and Aitemas? Ward next term, there will be others in the course of

the year. So you see we will have quite a treat before long. John and Horace have taken what is called the "Penny Post." Horace every morning at prayer stands in the entry ^{of the Academy} to receive the letters these he takes down during prayers and receives the letters for his subscribers these all coming in a bunch (the Postmaster having a list) occassions no unnecessary delay. These he distributes at 10;30 AM that being the time for recess and also the time when the respective classes come out. John does the same at night. They charge nothing for carring ^the letters of their regular subscribers to the post office [but?] for carrying of letters other than those of their customers they charge one cent. Hence the name "Penny Post." This, as near as I can find out, is the way they carry on the business. It requires very little time and is quite a source of profit as the Post office is quite a distance from the Academy. I think they have 75 or 80 names ^already on their list. Remember me to all the boys and girls and to Prof [Norman?] if he has come back. Tell him to write me and write yourself. Your affectionate brother HE Deming