Athens, O. June 12th/69

Dear Sister;

I got Wm's -- Annie's letter this afternoon, and now proceed to answer it in an indirect manner by writing to you. I had not intended to write until next week, but some things Wm. mentioned are important enough to demand an immediate answer. There is only one week before Commencement (by the way, Dr. Howard has repeatedly urged upon the students to invite the "folks at home" to come to Commencement, and I hereby extend the invitation to you), and after Commencement I propose coming home. I expect -- I will say more positively, that if nothing hinders, I shall start for home on next Saturday a week (26th) and may as well state that you may, if you please, be looking for me on that day; and you will also put me under obligations by being in readiness at Portsmouth with a buggy or sled or some other suitable equipage to convey me home in (or on), as I do not want to walk 14 miles under a June sun with a 300 lb. trunk on my shoulder. I believe I cannot get a situation here during vacation, in the way of making money, and if I can not get a school at home some where, would as soon take a two months' job in book-binding as anything else; and therefore will be obliged to Wm. if he looks out a situation. I expect to help with the harvest a couple of weeks, but I need to make about $60 at least while at home, and also to study some. I have been making fine progress in my studies, and am on good terms with all the Faculty, particularly Dr. Howard and Prof. Gibbons. By the way, Prof. Gibbons is to preach in Portsmouth next Sabbath (to-morrow) and also on Sabbath a week. He has taken a good deal of interest in me, and is one of the most kind-hearted men I ever knew.

I believe I will send $5.00 home to pay to Isaac Rickey. If there is anything more, tell him to wait until the 1st of July. Does the jack betray any unusual evidence of superior intellect, such as one might be led to expect from the son of a mother of uncommon talent? I would like to know how the wool turned out. Did you meet the demands?

I do not know whether I will write again or not. It will hardly be worthwhile, as you would probably not receive the letter until the day before I expect to be at home myself. I have been busy all day and hardly have time for writing any more. My health is very good. I take a trot around the green every morning at 5 o'clock in the way of exercise, and then I have a scuffle every now and then with one of the students, which helps to keep my physical frame in activity.

Tell Wm. that in the sentence, "He sees a name just above his reach," just is not "a preposition qualifying the adverb 'above'," but an adverb qualifying the preposition "above." If he turns to the last part of Pinneo's Grammar, to the Rule, "Adverbs qualify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs," I think that he will find a remark or two to this effect: "Adverbs occasionally qualify nouns, as, "He is an almost Christian," and sometimes prepositions" (I forget the other example).

Please write next week. I remain yours, etc.,

A. Stritmatter

Sunday evening

I thought I had finished the letter, but I have an alteration to make with regard to the time I propose starting for home. The Commencement exercises will be through on Thursday evening (24th), and if nothing hinders I can be ready to leave the next morning at 9 o'clock, so that you may look for me on Friday instead of Saturday. I would a good deal rather go home on Friday than Saturday anyhow.

Our minister, Rev. J. M. Jameson, preached the Missionary sermon to-day. I wish you could have heard him -- you would think there was power in his preaching. He is acquainted with several missionaries in foreign parts, Revs. Jacoby and Riemenschneider in Germany, and, I believe, Rev. J.M. Thoburn in India, of whom you will find something in almost every number of the Missionary Advocate. By the by, did you see the notice in the last W. C. Advocate about Prof. Young of this university? I do not know whether I wrote home or not that Bishop Ames preached in the M. E. Church here a few weeks ago, when Prof. Young was ordained deacon. As to Bishop Ames' preaching, it is just what one might expect from a bishop. I have the advantage over you at Blue Run, for every little while some big man comes along and makes a speech or preaches a sermon. Among the distinguished men to be here at Commencement are Gov. Hayes and Dr. G. W. Wiley, of the Ladies' Repository.

By the way, I got hold of the right No. of Harper's Magazine one day, and finished the "Woman's Kingdom." Would you like to know what became of Julius Stedman? Under the untiring care of his brother and Edna, he recovered; and the story leaves the entire Stedman family in comfortable circumstances; but Letty did not get reconciled to them, and the breach between the two families gradually grew wider and wider.