Background: Francis Jayne a student at Fergusonville Academy. It may be surprising to see a reference to ice cream since there was no electricity in antebellum rural New York. Ice was harvested in winter and stored in sawdust lined ice houses.

I suppose you will look at these lines with the greatest wonder scarcely believing that your humble malstrusive cousin Frank would dream of aspiring to such an unheard of liberty - - that of writing a letter to a collegiate. Whew! What an upward leap yet it is true and I am doing so not withstanding the heat and laziness of July. The weather we now have is truly that of July, exceedingly warm. Why two boys taking a walk yesterday afternoon across a meadow without having an umbrella to shield them from the rays of the sun did not return.

There was an excitement and this morning while searching for them Mr Ferguson found two huge cinders - - all that was left of them or theirs.

You know Sam, this of course are the true facts in their crude state, you can embellish them and season by means of your imagination the story to your own liking. The warmth makes it bad for the classes, Virgil for instance, which we (Whiteside and myself) recite at two o’clock, you frequently find us dozing while Collins, fired with the love of Alido and the deceit of Ascanius, is sporting eloquently in the praise of Virgil, his works, knowledge of human nature and kindred subjects. He let the cat out of the bag once as we were reading “ardescitque tuendo” 413 line, 1st book of the Aneid. “How natural” says he “how natural it is for persons deeply in love to gaze earnestly at the face of their beloved, I know - - ah! I mean, - - you know, - - I just thought how it would be likely to be.” He ought to have said “I know it is natural from sad experience.” He has now been in love, Oh! No, not at all. Sarah has thought it proper to honor Fergusonville with her presence therefore she is here, boarding at Mr - - I mean dominie Henry’s. Excuse mistakes. The fourth was celebrated here “wit a wush”. Collins had all the boys in the primary turn out after breakfast in red shirts black pants with a stripe of red flannel sewed on the outer seam, caps and plumes of white and red tissue paper and armed with wooden spears. He the grand leader, commander-in-chief of the mighty forces and prime mover of the mass was armed with Col. Goodrich’s sword and an all killing white plume. They were all trimmed with white red and blue ribbons in rosettes, knots and streamers. They stalked around in the broiling sun and also to the church where we were addressed by Squire Becker. Then we went to dinner but the military thinking it too great condesendion to dine with us had ordered a meal at Dominie Henry’s for which they were taxed one dollar a piece. All they had different from us was cake, pot cheese and ice cream. We had roast pig, tongue, gravy, mashed potatoes, bread, butter, cheese, coffee, pie, lemonade etc.

We would have had ice cream but enough ice could not be procured for love not money. Mrs Henry got some with great difficulty, but I had some of the ice cream. She called me up there the day after and gave me some.

Sam when do you visit us chaps at Fergusonville? You will have pleasant company for Miss Arthur boards at the Dominie’s (Uncle Samuels’) also Miss Pierce.

Collins attends the commencement at Union about the 20th inst. I believe Whiteside leaves to go to Union the first of August, Mr Wm. Poor enters the Sophmore class this fall.

Oh! How hot, I cannot write, I am now nearly asleep. The water is warm, love matters on an increase, Collins popularity on the decline, Collins and Whiteside’s standing on the female side, below par and still falling Pshaw! I tried to give you a list of “things current” but I fail. I room with Charlie Marvine, If you can spare time, please answer. Sarah and Caddie send much love as also does
Your attached “kuzzen”
Francis A. Jayne

Jan Smith is waiting patiently for a letter so he told me Direct (Burling Slip care Geo. Dow and Co.)
 

Yours etc.
Frank


 

Courtesy of the Davenport Historical Association, Davenport, NY, 13750. Over 500 letters from the Ferguson and Jayne families, most dating from the mid-nineteenth century, are available from the Davenport Historical Society in The Ferguson-Jayne Papers, 1826 - 1938, edited by Mary S. Briggs. Transcribed for this web site by Margaret Monaco. All misspellings have been carefully preserved.