RichardsonLeonard18530310_001

Phillips Acadamy, March 10th 1858,
My Very Dear Parents,
The articles from Home reached me in good season and
as is usual on such an occasion afford much pleasure -
The Expressman is hailed with delight as he drives up and
stops at the "4th House" for all of us know that some comrad
is about to have his heart gladdened with a package from
some friends - I am always on the look-out, and the moments
glide slowly away until he comes; but then I always find
"that patient waiters are no loosers" - Glad to hear you
were all well. This leaves me also in good health - Have
been unwell scarcely an hour this term - although I was about
tired out the day before I received the valise - We had
a fire "down town" about amile from us, at which we worked
from 6 till 1/2 past ten - This was thursday night and you may
believe some of us were not in a very good mood for study
the next morning - You know I am one of the "horsemen", +
by working at my post I got sadly disfigured - My face
was as black as soot, my clothes filled with smoke, which was
almost suffocating. Besdies this we got wet through and it
so cold our clothes froze stiff - while the fire burned briskly
we could keep warm, but whewn it began to go down then
we soon found out that it was cold - I had nothing on but
my brown coat, and expected that I should catch a severe
cold. I jumped round awhile but found it impossible to keep
warm, so I set out for my room, upon an easy gait, to change