The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 63, July 1959 - April, 1960 Page: 457

Notes and Documents

rhomas W1. dl eCtters
Edited by LLERENA FRIEND
[The following is a continuation of the letters of Thomas W. Bell,
the first section of which appeared in the July, 1959, Quarterly.]
DEAR BROTHER. RUTERSVILLE, TEXAS, July 25th 1841
I have just received yours of the 12th June and am glad to hear
that you are all in fine health, and some flattering prospects before
you. I am doing pretty well, or I think so but cannot say that I am
getting rich very fast. The session commences this week though I shall
not begin with the first of the session, I have a house or rather a room
to build before I can enter the duties that now devolve on me.48
Uncle King had a poor arrangement for room to accommodate board-
ers and has more than he has good room to accommodate and I have
chosen to build one myself rather than room with so many others. Thus
you may see that I am entering on this with a view of permanency.
I intend now to complete my studies if health will permit. I think
also that my health will be better here than in Tenn. I have had a
very slight brush of fever this summer and have been at work since.
There is a great deal of sickness in the country at this time. Many
parts are visited with fever to an alarming degree while other portions
are entirely free from sickness.
From my observations on general health since residing here I am
still of [the] opinion as expressed in former letters, that it is equally
as healthy as where you live and I do not know that I would now
exchange places. And yet I do not advise you to come by any means
for unless you could come prepared to enter into business independent
of others you would do a very poor business here. If you wish to go to
school you can get an advantageous chance to do so here. The insti-
tution is now certainly permanently established and there have been
doubts heretofore with regard to its continuance in existence but there
is now none. There is now three male teachers including the President
and one female assisted occasionally by the President. My intention
is to continue in the institution for several years at least, and I there-
fore fear I will not find time shortly to pay you a visit as I would be
glad to do and as you request me to do. And I would be very glad
indeed to see you here merely to see the country yourself or father
ought to come and see what I am doing anyhow and take a peep at
48The second annual catalogue for Rutersville College listed Thomas W. Bell
as tutor.

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