1. When there is no punctuation in the document, it is added in brackets if needed for clarity.

2. The notation [sic] is used to indicate a misspelled word if needed for clarity.

3. A blank space, i.e. ________ indicates a word in the document that is not dicipherable.

4. The capitalization style in the original document is copied.

5. Square brackets, i.e. [ ] are used to indicate an addition by the transcriber to clarify meaning in the original document.

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-Mary D. Edwards Summer 2000

1856-1861 16 items Letters of John P. Lightner to Amanda C. Armentrout Brand #11332

Brownsburg Academy

Sept 28th 1857.

Dear Friend

According to your request, I do hereby send these few lines to you, to let you know that I have not forgot you girls, (that is my old schoolmates,) on Christian’s Creek, that glorious spot of Natures earth, where I have met so many kind friends & relatives from day to day. Pen & hand cannot describe the thoughts that gather or collect upon minds about that spot. Some of them are free & open, & others are deeply impressive.

Some will be forever retentive in my memory ne’er to be forgotten. Oblivion shall never shroud its splendor over my mind. Such memories are worthy of remembrance. Friendship of kind friends, should be kept up, & it is stolen time, I have taken to show you that you and all my all my [sic] olde schoolmates, hold their impressions deeply. I have not got very much time to spend in writing letters. I go home every Friday evening & Saturdays I have to work, & that defends me in writing on that day[.]

I do not consider myself any better in one respect by going to Brownsburg to school, than I did when I went to school on the Creek[.] I am no higher-flung no how as you say ha! ha! ha! etc,etc, So So

I like the school a great deal better than I did the first week. I never was so dissatisfied in a school in my life as I was the first week in this school. I’ll not tell you what I am studying for fear you might laugh at me. I recon [reckon] you think I am studying badness for one thing, but I think not; I am a mighty good fellow now. I have reflected and taken the bacward [sic] track. God will have to excuse all mistakes & bad writing for the Present;

Write soon. Give my love to all inquiring friends & retain a due portion for yourself No more

I remain Affectionately yours

John P. Lightner

P.S. Direct your letter to Brownsburg

Rockbridge Co.

John P. Lightner