======Cole's Second Letter to the St. James======


1877-01-27



	To the Kind and Genteel Folk of the St. James,
	
	
	Greetings,  all. Training has started and things are going pretty well, I’d say. There was a small incident in the first few days, but nothing too serious. Suffice it to say, it was friendly fire and I am healing well. The doctor tells me I should be able to put weight on my leg again in just a few days and then it should be only a matter of weeks on crutches. It is unlikely that I’ll suffer from a noticeable limp for more than a few months, a year or two at the outside.  I am thinking of this as just another adventure; as way to prove my capacity for resilience.


	Did I get you? I wish I could see your faces. I know I got at least one of you. I sure hope Miss Lizzy didn’t get to blubbering or anything. Truly, things here are going quite well. The training is hard, but that was expected. I am glad of the preparation provided by Mr. Black, Mr. French, and dear old Abner. Shawn seems to be a natural at soldiering and is excelling. While I have barely let him out of my sight since the day of our enlistment, I am glad to say I think he’d be doing just fine without me. He is really doing better on all fronts. He has quit the drink and while it’s clear to me that he still grieves for Erin, as we all do, it seems the physical exertion of training has given him a means to occupy his mind.


	While I think of you all every day, I found myself missing the ladies of the St. James in particular just two nights ago as I had particular need of their counsel.  A few of us were asked to attend to a local school house to assist with some manual labor. It seems lightning struck the schoolhouse in a storm befitting the ire of Poseidon and the locals needed some strapping lads to help set things to rights again. Well, we weren’t long at work when the young school mistress, Polly Franklin, arrived to thank us and provide us with water and lemonade and such. Miss Franklin was such a picture that I could hardly breathe. It was as if her beauty filled up my insides so that there was no room left for air. Quite honestly, I stood dumb when she spoke her thanks to me directly and then managed to pour lemonade down the front of my shirt and trousers when she handed me the glass. Miss Franklin, of course, was all grace and just smiled the sweetest, kindliest smile and offered me her handkerchief to dry myself off.  If only Celeste or Ella or Jeanne or Minnie had been there, they may have guided me to make a more impressive first impression. Still, I have not given up hope. We’ll have a few hours off in the afternoon of next Saturday and I plan to make my way into town to make her acquaintance better. I am not sure yet how I will break the ice between us, but I was considering perhaps a practical joke. 


	Yours always,




	Cole


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