300 A DECADE OF WORK AT HOME.  [1848, 
TO MRS. TORREY. 
Thursday evening, 2d March, 1845. 
You will be anxious to hear how my first lecture 
succeeded, knowing it was to have been given to-day.’ 
But you must wait a week longer. Since my last 
letter was dispatched the president, finding the class 
would hardly be ready, desired me merely to meet 
them to-day for the purpose of pointing out the sub- 
ject in the “ Text-Book,” arranging general plan and all 
that, postponing my lecture to Thursday of next week. 
This I was most ready to do, as it gave me the oppor- 
tunity of entering by degrees upon my task, feeling 
my way instead of sali a plunge in regular desper- 
ation. The great thing is self-possession. The mo- 
ment I get that I shall “feel tolerably safe. So I met 
my class to-day, arranged matters, and made a few re- 
marks without stammering a ti so far as I recollect, 
or speaking much too fi My class consists of 
about two dozen students (andlor eee mostly 
Seniors, besides which any law or divinity students 
and resident graduates who choose can attend, and 
several pebahly will. For my recitations in natural 
history generally, I have divided the Freshmen into 
four sections, about sixteen in each, two of which I 
meet on Fridays, and two on Tuesdays; have given 
them their lessons, and to-morrow, consequently, I 
commence these recitations. I must not forget to tell 
you that since my return the Sunday-school class left 
by one of our people who has removed to Boston has 
been given me, a class of eight or nine very intelligent 
misses, varying from sixteen years old to twelve, all of 
one family, though originally of three, some being 
sister’s children (orphans, etc.). I am greatly pleased 
1 Lecture to his class in college. 
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