On his studies in law and money due

(See end of letter for note across top of this page)

                                                                                    University
                                                                                                Dec 1st

My dear Uncle:

            After so long a silence you have doubtless given up hearing from me.  Remember that you are my debtor one letter & I am kept so confounded busy all the time that I never have any time to write.  It seems to be Study, study, all the day long, and even until the " "wee sura" hours of the night have far advanced do I sit up "weak & weary pondering o'er my legal lore."

Yes without any attempt at self laudation, I am studying well & unless I break down at it which is not very probable, I will try and accomplish what the boys consider as the next thing to an impropibility viz graduate this year.  It is most certainly an Herculean undertaking & one worthy of being engaging the greatest minds much less that of mine, which to my infinite disgust, I find weaker & weaker the farther I progress.  But the race is not always to the swift & the battle to the strong.  So with this very soothing reflection thoroughly imbedded

in my mind, I hope by making energy and perseverence my beacon star to guide me through the many, many weary pages of law yet to be studied.  To come out succesful in the end I suppose you are in the full enjoyment of winter, until within the last two days it has been remarkably warm, at least pleasant.  But since then there has been a sudden change & now with the beginning of Dec. I can fully realize that Winter is upon us.  So how are you getting along in general, every thing even your "hankering after calico."  As you told me to inform you some time before

Any money was due it is now my duty to tell you that a payment is due 1st Jan of $70.00 $60 of which will go to my board & $10 to buying coal.  I suppose it would be better to send it by check, fa stopped on his way to & from Staunton.  He braced himself up & gave a kind of condescending look to people who helped him.  He asked me if I had heard people ask who he was.  I told him yes.  Some thought you were Graty Brown others looked on in amazement & asked who I the world that fine looking w=man was.  It pleased him mightily and as a reward (I suppose) he told me to come round behind the

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 Depot &Sulling out open a carpet bag that he pulled out some sweet cakes & said fall to & if any of these people say anything about me write & tell me.  I must close as it is time for the mail.  Your aff nephew.  Lucian Gleaves

(This is how the paper looked that contained pages 1 and 4.)