Background: George Jayne was a student at Fergusonville Academy in Fergusonville, NY.  Many of the students at the academy came from the New York City area.  It was thought that the isolation of Fergusonville would protect the children from corrupting influences such as drinking and gambling. George Jayne's family lived in Orange, NJ. 

Tues. Feb. 2nd 1858.

Dear Charlotte,

I received your letter this morning. I was very glad to hear from you. We have only six more weeks and three or four days. I am looking to the time when I will be home. They have a very good library now at our Sunday School, I was very much pleased to hear of the new library books and also of the books Frank has bought lately. I expect good times reading Frank’s books when I go home, I think I would enjoy myself better in Orange, Last night it stormed (something between a snow and hail) and this morning it melted a little and so we have had a slushy day. Rehearsal is tomorrow night and speaking on Thursday evening, I am to speak.

 I am going to speak. The Song of Outallissi Cambell (I forget
(piece first name, the author of the Battle of Hoken – [piece missing]
It begins,  And I could weep the Oneida [piece missing]

[piece missing] letter

[piece missing] ase send me a newspaper.

Write soon. Give
[piece missing} to all much love for yourself.

From George

turn over leaf
I am almost sure that I got your letter this morning possible I may have make a mistake if I have received it on yesterday
Excuse the writing. Good bye
George.
 

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 in The Ferguson-Jayne Papers, 1826 - 1938, edited by Mary S. Briggs, Interlaken New York: Heart of the Lakes Publishing, 1981. Transcribed for this web site by Margaret Monaco. All misspellings have been carefully preserved.