1875 Handwritten Letter by James W Pringle Oxfordville, NH Signed New Hampshire For Sale

1875 Handwritten Letter by James W Pringle Oxfordville, NH Signed New Hampshire

4 pages with writing & folds Approximately 4.75\" by 7.75\"

This is an original handwritten letter dated January 13, 1875, by James W. Pingree from Oxfordville, New Hampshire, to his brother and sister. In the letter, James discusses his challenges and joys as a schoolteacher, including managing unruly students and navigating wintertime obstacles. He also mentions local names like Willard Harris and Mrs. Blood, offering a glimpse into 19th-century rural New England life. The letter closes warmly with brotherly affection and includes multiple pages of rich, period handwriting. A wonderful piece of history perfect for collectors of 19th-century correspondence and genealogy enthusiasts.

Oxfordville, N.H.
Jan. 13, 1875

My dear brother and sister:

Your letters have both been rec’d and I expected to have answered them long ago, but the duties of a pedagogue are neither light nor few. I am enjoying my school fairly well, although I fear that the scholars are not learning as much as they might under some motive other than my own. I had 26 but six of them were not fitted to be in the grammar, so I sent them back by the direction of the school board and one boy I sent home & he did not come back, and although I tried to show him his return, yet it was a great relief to lose him as he was rather dull & extremely fond of saying “ain’t.” Perhaps you remember this Willard Harris, lives just on the other side of the road from Mrs. Blood’s. I had a very hard time at first & was nearly discouraged, but have to-day both time and think that my next school will be much better taught & more enjoyable than the present term.
The scholars are bright and very noisy, but yet they are very interesting & I like out of the absence only after with the older girls, for they do not do as well as some of the younger and trouble me more by inattention & whispering.

I went out and spent the night last week, with Ennie Whipple, he wished to be remembered to you, a tidy & good mate.
Blood gets me to playing dominoes with her.
I have a class of four in Latin, the same number for Rhetoric and two in higher algebra.

I enjoyed the days I spent at home at Christmas & I think Mamma is better than she was. I was not bring able to see much of my progress was very uncertain and only after a long search & setback did I regain the road and find my way home the next day. I went back & by the snow & broken things, fetched my glasses & also discovered whither I had wandered though a swamp without knowing it, and with difficulty, in daylight & with my glasses, I picked my way where I had ran two nights before, without getting wet. I keep to the roads now when I go walking after dark.

My school closes three weeks from Friday and although I shall not feel that I have been entirely successful yet I am glad on the whole that I came out teaching. Please write soon again & I assure you I will not be as negligent again. With regards from Mrs. Blood and much love to you both,

Your brother,
James Pringle