Letter from H. J. Grimes - 1850 - Davidson County, NC - Misc. Submitted by Claude Medlin CMedlin@aol.com Shady Grove Academy September 14, 1850 Dear Sir, You should have heard from me long ago but over and above some vexations to share in the pecuniary lapses of these accursed times, I have been plagued with the blue devils so much since I left home that I have almost hung my hanger on the willow trees, but I am now about to come out of that. When I came here, I felt lost - all perfect strangers, but since I have become acquainted with all the students I am well satisfied. This is a mountainous part of the country, yet a delightful place. I like it much better than I anticipated I would at first sight. It is a pleasant place situated on a mountain where you can take a fair view of all the surrounding country. The Academy is three hundred yards north of the house in a beautiful grove. On the right as you come down from the house opposite of the Academy in the same grove are the boarding houses in which all the students stay. This arrangement I like very well except in the evening the mosquitoes render it disagreeable, for there are ten thousand and some of them are as large as a quaker meeting house. This school is now in a flourishing condition. There are seventeen students that board with Mr. Smith and several that board at other places. I board with Mr. Smith and I am happy to say that I am not starved out like I was at Lexington. I get here all the delicious things (to eat) that this Earth can produce, or a human heart could desire, as Peter Leonard says. I get chicken, yes I eat chicken and drink coffee too. The watermelons and green corn see hard times about the vicinity of this place of a night. Here are any quantity of watermelons here of a might for sale, a great many of them are bought and there's no telling the number stole. All the people around here are up in arms against the students for stealing watermelons; several scrapes have occurred but no injury done. I want you to do me a favor by writing to that Mr. Sink which is at Salem in Virginia a going to school, and tell him to write back to you as quick as possible and state whether there would be any chance to get in there, and what the terms are, and how he likes it, and what sort of a place it is, and what board may be had at, and if it is good or not; tell him to send you a catalog of the school, tell him that I want to come there, and wish him to see if I can get in and on what conditions, and also the professor's name. I must bring my letter to a close for the mail is about to start and so I cannot write any more this time. I have no more I believe to tell you of any importance. I trust and hope that you will pardon me for my bad writing and blocking, for I am in a hurry and have a very bad pen. I hope that I shall have the honor of receiving a letter from you shortly after you get this. When you write to me direct your letter to Madison, Rockingham County, NC. Remain your true but absent friend, H.J. Grimes =============================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist.