I
got letters from Johnson & Austin. Johnson has graduated at Albany Law
School, [1] & George Dodge is _____ slow in my
school. No new scholars.
January
25, 1867
Been
teaching small school. Dr. Hartt wants me to study medicine. Lent me work on
anatomy. He spoke to Judge Eastman & so did Syberg to get him to hire me as
assistant teacher in his school. Said he would think about it. Dr. Hartt, I
think, is my friend. I don't get enough to pay rent & half the time not half
enough to eat. It is hard. The Bishop (Lay) is down on me for something, I do
not know what for. I helped Syberg make a plan for a public school. He is to
make a plan for the city council & I suppose they will get imported teachers
& there will be no chance for me. I am deserted by everybody. I am nothing
but I will keep a stiff upper lip & live so they cannot find any fault with
me. [Ed] Sauter is a drunkard but a master & he will get along. They say if
he will keep sober, they will give him a place in the college, but as for me
they would not give me enough to butter my bread. It is strange that
Episcopalians will beat me so since one of their own ministers (the Rev. Mr.
Kerr) is a notorious drunkard, & I have drank with him & on Sundays too.
I shall tell the Bishop so some day too.
In
school. Cold. Nothing new. Called on Dr. Hartt. Reading The Amenities of
Literature by [Benjamin] Disraeli. Very good. Some not worth the trouble of
reading. Tom came back from the country today.
January
29, 1867
In
school. Whipped Fred Syberg. Emily went off today & I got nothing to eat all
day till eight o’clock at night. It is hard to be poor. I never suffered so
much as I have since I recommenced my school. Not half enough to eat &
scarcely any clothing on my back. I think somebody will be charged with the
uncharitableness which they exercise toward me, but I hope & pray God that I
may see better times. Oh! God grant that my affairs may get better, that I may
be more prosperous than I am at present. Prosper me in my school. O Lord, grant
that I may be able to do my duty well and faithfully & that I may forgive
sincerely all my enemies.
[1] The Albany Law School has no record of any
student named Johnson graduating from their Law School in 1867. Furthermore, no
student named Johnson graduating in years immediately preceding or following
1867 seem to match the description of Goodrich's friend.
