File:M. Culbertson to Alice Mary Longfellow, 5 March 1889 (07cc5612-c569-4bb4-8466-b0641cd8a92b).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#040

[printed letterhead: Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute]
Hampton, Va., March 5, 1889.
To
Miss Alice Longfellow,
Dear Friend, -
I am going to write to you and tell you that I am very thankful for paying my scholarship.
I am now twenty one years old. I am from Flandrau, Dakota.
When I was quite young I used to go to school, but I did not learn much of anything, and at the time I did not have a very good chance to go to school.
This is my third term in this school. I have learned a great many things in these terms, some things that I never expected. I like the school very much, it seemed to me as though it is my own home, because I am so used to it. First term I was here I used to work on the farm, and last part of my first term, I picked out a trade, which was the printing office. I got along very well, and learning, very fast. My health was not in very good condition, [p. 2] that the Doctor told me not to work at any longer, which I was very sorry to do it. I am now trying to learn the carpenter trade, but is very hard to tell how I will get along with it. It is very hard for me to use to use [sic] the tools. I think it will take me along time get used to the tools, for I have not much time to work. I only work two days in the week, but l will try and learn all I can, in what little time l have to work.
This year I have more hard studies than I did last term, and I have been studying very hard. I have made up my mind that I will do better than I did last term. I have learn [sic] how to get along without any trouble, and punishment. I will try and make use of what I have learned. I have learned this year, that this is just a place to make a man out of myself.
I am now in the Middle Class, and studying very hard, for there are a great many things that l can not understand, my English is not very good, and it is the main thing that makes me study so hard, but I hope to learn some more very soon.
Yours gratefully,
M. Culbertson.

• Keywords: long archives; document; alice m. longfellow papers (long 16173); education; hampton institute; correspondence; Manuscripts (1007.001); (LONG-Subcollection); Correspondence (1007.001/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Scholarship Student Correspondence (1007.001/002.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Letters to Alice Longfellow (1007.001/002.003-001); (LONG-FileUnitName)