The weather still continues to be warm and pleasant; no wind
and not a cloud in sight; have received two letters from Vermont to-night — one
from home and another from one of my old scholars in Chelsea. The teachers who
succeeded me in my school there had very poor success both last summer and this
winter. When the teacher announced to the school this winter one morning that I
had died of typhoid fever at Rockville, Md., it having been so reported, the
children refused to be reconciled and grieved so they had to be dismissed, the
same thing occurring the next morning. Poor things! I never think of it but
what my eyes — well, my throat gets lumpy and my lips quiver. I had no idea
they were so devoted. It seems as though they would follow me in memory
throughout eternity. Still, as their teacher I was strict and firm, but always
just, and never struck one of the flock of sixty during either winter with
them. Will I ever make such devoted friends again? Alas! it's only a memory now
but will ever be a sacred one. May the recollection be as blissful to them as
it will be to me throughout the everlasting ages of time. Nothing has occurred
to-day worthy of note; have had my cabin full all day. Lieuts. W. R. Hoyt and
E. P. Farr have been in this evening.
SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections
and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 7-8
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