. . .I am improving.

The short time that we had with the captain was enough to prove that he is, as Clay claimed, a Southerner, if only from his use of the word like. As we came down from the right shoulder, he said, “Don’t climb your rifle lahk it was a rope.” And at Present Arms, “That man is holding up his piece lahk it was a Christmas tree.” “Swing your arms,” said he, “lahk you were proud of yo’selves!” Other little localisms slip in. When a man had explained a question that the captain at first did not understand, he said when he grasped it, “Oh, Ah see; Ah didn’t locate yo’.” But it is a pity to misspell so broadly. The differences of accent, though evident, are slight and pleasing, even musical.

Love from,

Dick.

45 From Erasmus Corder, Assistant Professor
in Harvard University, to His Wife

Plattsburg, Monday, Sept. 11.

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