Athens, O. Jan. 5th, 1870

Dear Sister;

I find that I have been gone almost a week and have not yet written home; so that to allay any feelings of disquietude which might arise I will take time this evening to pen a few lines to you, as yours was the last letter I received. I had no trouble in reaching Athens, everything passing off smoothly on the journey, except that we were delayed a little while at Hamden; but I reached home in time to put the house ¨C or rather my part of the house -- in order, and secure a good night's sleep. Not many of the students had returned, and indeed there are a considerable number absent yet; nor are there many new ones here to take their places. I have got fixed up and ready to go ahead with my duties; I have only three recitations a day now, but I expect to be busy enough; I simply go on with the studies I had last term -- Greek, Latin, and Algebra. I have taken enough work in sweeping, attending to some of the rooms, etc., to give me an hour's good exercise every day, and to bring me about a dollar and a quarter per week. That will board me at least two weeks. I find that everything that I brought from home comes very good indeed to me -- they are just the things I wanted. And they are not going very fast; I have half the loaf of bread left yet, and have only nibbled away a little corner of the butter; the meat is so good that I have to watch myself and not eat too much. With reference to the flour, I intend to try and bake it up myself, in some eatable shape or other; I wish you would give me a receipt to make wheat cakes. Of course it will be utterly useless to include in it such articles as sugar, pepper, mustard, or chicken gravy; I must get along with salt, water or milk, and possibly soda. In milk I made the first investment to-day; I got a pint at the rate of 5 cts. a quart; and as I expect to use only a quart a week, a dime will furnish me half a month. I had mush and milk for supper for the first time since I have been here, and left enough milk to stir up meal for corncakes, at which I intend to try my hand about the day after to-morrow.

But the greater part of my letter is taken up as usual with what I eat and drink; but indeed I have not much of anything else of importance just now to write, nor time to write it in. The protracted meeting is beginning here, I suppose that on Blue Run has closed. Were there any other accessions? I hope those who have joined the church will be faithful. It is a good deal easier to join the church than to live a consistent church member -- to set out for heaven than not to faint or grow weary at the impediments we meet daily in the way. I trust you are not discouraged -- not that I think you have no discouragements at all, for I believe you have a great many, but then if we hold on by faith in Christ we shall gain strength. And it is of the utmost importance that we persevere; for if we go back it is not likely we will ever begin again; and even if we do we will find it four times harder. Don't neglect prayer and faith and an endeavor at resignation to God's will and all will be well.

I am etc,

A. Stritmatter