My Dear Mother
I am glad to inform you that I have been almost quite well for the last
three years, and I hope that you were in the same way.
But when I first came here I was very unhealthy, but now I am quite the
contrary. After my arrival, I was
immediately sent to a boarding school in which I am still along with other 15
boys, and we are there as happy as if we were all lords.
We go to school at 7 o’clock in the morning and come out at 9 when we
all get our breakfast; and go again to school at 10 and come out at 1 o’clock
after noon and go in at 2 and come out at 4 when we get our dinner and come in
at 6 and go out at 8. when we get supper and off to bed at 10 o’clock.
We go on that way the whole year, except for 1 month when we go to see
our friends. I first saw Mr
Funlayson in the month of February, and ever since that time be has come to see
us very often for he only lives 5 miles from town; He told me that you wished to
know what I wished to be. And I
thought, as well as he the best thing for me to be a doctor as I was so far
advanced in the dead languages. And
in that way I may have a chance of seeing you again in about 6 years.
Do not be grieved about me for I am as kindly treated as though I were
with yourself. What a differance
there is between this country and America. Religion
is here kept by everyone. I hope
that you are not only trying to save your own soul but also those of your
neighbours for I know that that there are many there that don’t know that
there is a god in it. You would be
quite astonished to know how big I got. I
am as tall as Duncan. Which is about
5 feet 8 inches. I got the portrait
done, but I do not think that it is very like me.
What a number of bonny girls there are in this town.
I will be soon expecting to get a beautiful gold watch from you in a
present. Write for any sake write me
as soon as possible. The names of
the teachers are the Messrs Gair. There
are 3 brothers of them. The
direction if you wish to write me is
Mr Donald Mactavish
At Messrs Gairs Academy
Inverness
North Britain
I remain
Your most affectionate son
Donald
Mactavish
Write me. Write me.