Letter to Abel Harwood, 1842

Below is a letter written to Abel Harwood in 1842 from his friend Arnold Haunum. At the time, Abel was still living in Kentucky working as a school teacher.

Throughout Arnold's letter, he talks about the state of the country and the great "evils" that he thought were plaguing the country following the end of the Revolutionary War. 

In the second half, he talks more about his life. Discussing plants, farm produce, and the hot weather, he takes a very different tone than the first half of his letter. In an afterthought, he writes sideays along the edge of the paper talking about his lack of interaction with women.

Read the excerpts below to see what Arnold Haunum has to say! 

Tuesday, June 21st, 1842

My Friend,

Yours bearing date of June 7th I took from the Post Office last Saturday just one week after the same mailed at Shelbyville. I began to think that for some reason or other you had decided to drop me from the list of correspondents. But I am glad to find myself mistaken. The cause of the delay is the very same that has me more than once sleight a friend the duties of the school. 

...It is as yet doubtful whether greater good or evil has resulted from the Revolution as yet.Is the expression of such doubts reasonable? You have heard that the Rev. Sylvester Judd now degraded from the chaplainship in Maine legislature for preaching a sermon on the evils that how flowed from the Revolution. What foolishery! Ghast evils have flowed from that war is plain. Infidelity was introduced by the intercourse and alliance with the French.

…It is my opinion that we stand but one or two moves from anarchy and uninvested evil war.

…This as I said is the 4th. While others are making a great [fuss] perhaps, because they like to keep in remembrance fighting, for fighting is fun to them. I am at home far from excitement unannoyed by fudging celebrations. I have given holiday to my school, which consists of four only. Peaches are ripening and melons have ban eatable a long time; corn is hardening and cotton is from hence to breast high. The weather for three days has ban cool enough to put on a woolen coat at morning and at evening. Today is nearly as warm as usual. The hot sun is very oppressive to perform labor in the fields; some, may manage and appear to stand it very well so far as I know. My health has been good ever since I have been here with the exception of now and then a day of [rest] canted probably by the action or want of action of the bile. By care I believe health may be prosperous here, but greater precaution must be used…

…Your views of teaching, correspond with mine make my scholars work out the problems of Arithmetics one their slates, and then repeat the rules and perform the problems again before me upon the blackboard. I having gone through a rule, they review it, passing over it the second times as thoroughly as the first. 

…I am very secluded. I have spoken to but three or four females in Mifs. Except to the servants…. I never expect to find Mrs. Haunum. She is lost.

…I wish you would give my respects J. Allen and family, two his brothers David and Co. and to all ingrieving friends. Also to Mrs. Harwood. 

Your Sincere Friend,

Arnold Haunum