Franklin County: Lauramann Howe Russell to Serena E.
Russell, [illegible] 2, 1862
Summary:
Lauramann Howe Russell writes from a hospital in Chambersburg to his daughter,
Serena, describing Sabbath School and entertainment at the hospital. He also
includes a description of quiet life in Chambersburg, mentioning the German
Reformed Church and the paper mill.
[illeg.] 2nd 62
Academy Hospital Pennsylvania
Chambersburg
My Dear Daughter Serena
Having just returned from the Sabbath School I am thinking that I want to write to some of my folks and as you have not written to me for some time as I to you now is a good time.
As I was saying I have just returned from School. it is half past two o'clock
Though you may think it rather late but it is not
so. the Sabbath School takes the place of the afternoon service the Church
meetings being in the morning and evening.
[page 2]
The Church is some five
minutes walk from the Hospital on the Main
Street and a nice looking building. The
[unclear: vestry] is about the size of ours altogether but there is a
partition through the center which makes two rooms for
the different departments of the School. The infant school is upstairs
where the meetings are held, The
room that I was in was very nicely furnished with
pews & I which was much more convenient than ours. The services were
nearly the same as I had been used to. Opened with Singing & Prayer.
Closed with singing. I have not been to a Sabbath School
before since leaving home, It was at the German Reform
Church I was conducted to a seat with a class of young men and had the
chance of
[page 3]
hearing this explanation of the Chapter that contained the
lesson. it did not differ from our version of the same texts.
Some young ladies have come to the Hospital to sing for the entertainment of the wounded inmates and while I am writing are performing in the hall, there is no bass and it does not interest me much although they are very good singers, Common tunes do not sound very well without the bass it is different with a duet.
My hand is getting a little better, I think and will be well in a few weeks.
Do you hear anything from Benjamin or John I have heard nothing in particular since being here-- I had a few spare
minutes yesterday and I went into a paper mill. it was where they
made [deleted: this] straw paper and it was a very curious operation. the straw is first ground then mixed with
water and some other substance
[page 4]
and taken by machinery from the trough and run between
rollers in thin sheets to press the water out. It
is then cut in [deleted: sheets] squares about 22 x 30 and put up to
dry. The building was about one hundred feet long by sixty wide and four stories
high including the basement. the basement was used
for manufacturing the article the other three stories for drying it---- This is
the most quiet town I was ever in. there is nothing going on in daytime or evening excepting Church going other then
the ordinary business of the week but it makes
little difference with me for I should not be the wiser for them.
I cannot write more this time. I hope to hear from you in due time. Tell me all the news that you can think of---- Enclosed you will find a little piece of change do with it as you think best only make a good use of it.---I was thinking yesterday how you & Ellen got along with your [illeg.], will you tell me when you write?--- - Remember me to all the rest at home-- It is a very warm and pleasant day I hope it will continue so for weeks yet to come. What is Williams Witherber & Charley W. and the Loring boy that were in the band doing these times-
yours From your
Father L
