Harvard memorial biographies ...

Robert Gould Shaw.

173

Marschalk would die this summer, so he could never come
back and keep school." As it happened, the good old man
did fall ill and die, to the great consternation of his little pupil,
who could not make it quite clear to his conscience that his
naughty wish had not something to do with his teacher's death.
After this, in accordance with the judgment of his parents and
with his own consent, he was sent from home to school at St.
John's College, at Fordham, near New York.
How he fared there extracts from some of his own weekly
letters shall show, beginning with one written on his return to
school, after a short visit home:"FORDHAM, June 3, 1850.
"DEAR MOTHER,- I got here safe and sound, and have n't felt
hungry yet, though it is not far from supper-time. I wish you
had n't sent me here while you are on the island, because I want to
be there; and now I shall have to stay up at this old place. I 'm
sure I sha'n't want to come here after vacation, for I hate it like
everything. We forgot to carry that accordion to be mended this
morning. I wish I did n't feel this way every time I go home. The
boys that were homesick when they first came here are not so now,
even that little one who used to be crying all the time; and I 'm
homesick whenever I go home, and I always feel ugly when I think
of home. I wish you would n't want me to go away to school; I
don't see why I can't study just as well at home. I began with
Sam; and see where he is now, in Virgil, a long way ahead of me.
Don't forget to take that accordion the next time you go to the city.
I feel real ugly.
" Your loving son,
"R. G. SHAW."
On the ist of September he ran away from school and went
to New York, where his mother afnd sister were on a visit. His
father took him back very soon, and in a few days he wrote as
follows: —
" ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, September 7.
"MY DEAR MOTHER, - I received your letter yesterday. It
would not have made me feel homesick at all, if I had seen you. I
don't know the reason, but I felt just the same as if I were going
anywhere else. I wish you would give me those Waverley Novels
for a birthday present, or I think I could take care of a watch now