Franklin College
Mar. 23, 1861

My dear children

I have received no letter from you since I wrote to Erasmus; but whether you write or not I will write to you. It always is of so much pleasure for me to receive letters from my friends that I am disposed to contribute to their happiness, if my letters can do so.

This is Saturday. I generally go some place on Saturday, but it is a rainy day and I am so hoarse I can scarcely speak and I concluded to stay at home today. I was taken hoarse Wednesday night and the hoarseness has increased ever since. I am not at all sick, nor am I suffering except my throat and lungs feel sore; but I can scarcely talk. A number of the students have been seriously affected with this cold. Some have coughed most violently, Joseph among the number, others have had slight chills and fevers and others have been hoarse. I suppose I am only affected with hoarseness from the same cause. Some have been able to recite all the time; others have lost some recitations. Those who have been hoarse seem to have suffered the least.

Political affairs seem to have quieted down. There is very little excitement compared with what it was a month or two ago. The farmers are very busy. It is said that greater exertions were never made than are now making by the farmers of Tennessee. It is generally believed that we are to have fine crops the present season. Considerable anxiety has been felt about the fruit. It is not all killed yet, but it may yet be. It will be a very great relief to the country if it pleases the Lord to send us an abundant yield of the fruits of the earth. 

Our friends are sanguine that our school enterprise can go successfully, whenever the pressure of the country is removed. I am inclined to believe that we can easily raise the money if things quiet down again. The agents will commence to raise subscriptions as soon as things become a little more calm. Brother Tremble, who preaches in Murray, Bedford and some other counties in the middle of the state says he can easily raise twenty thousand dollars.

I feel great anxiety to see you all. I suppose I shall not be likely to do so before vacation; if I live till then, I recon I will be in E. Tennessee. I have made no arrangements for vacation yet. The children I know will want to go, and I do'nt know how we are all to get there. Cousin Martha Davis has written to me that she wants me to take Nettie to their house to stay. I do'nt know what I shall do. Time must reveal. I shall try to do what I think right in the premises. The boys are anxious to know what Erasmus intends doing. I hope you will not fail to write soon. I shall write often, if my life and health are preserved.

As ever your affectionate father

W.D. Carnes


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

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Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan