Vassar College.
Dec. 26. 1894.

My dear sister, -

How I wished you were here yesterday afternoon when your box came. I would have hugged the breath out of you. I was sitting alone in my room when the expressman knocked at my door and handed in the box. You ought to have seen me cut the string in a dozen places, though the girls have always declared that if I ever had a box, I would sit down and untie every knot. Everything in the box was in beautiful order, and perfectly lovely. That good peanut candy that I have wished for so often - all that is bought always has the skins on the peanuts- and those popcorn balls that I used to help make, and oranges to eat when I am tired of sweet things.

Mamma's picture frame is pretty enough, I am sure. How she did fool me about returning the other photograph! I thought she was making fine distinctions. I am so glad to have her picture in a suitable frame.

The tea-cloth is handsome. I am very proud of it. The only trouble is that I am afraid it is too nice to use, but I shall try to take good care of it. The rest of the girls will take pride in it, too, for it will be a great addition to our parlor. I am going to put it on the tea-table just before the girls get back- I ^have tried it on already and it looks scrumptious. That little cup and saucer is a beauty, it is the best one we have now.

I was so pleased that Mrs. Benbow remembered me- I was just wondering the day before, what I should do when when Jan. 1 came, and my little calendar would be [...] of no use any more. My new one is prettier than my old one, and I like the verses on it.

I think perhaps Alice Page's gift surprised me the most, for I had no idea she could paint or print like that. I think it is a beautiful little souvenir, and such an original idea- I think ever so much of it.

The shoe bag is just what I wanted- only more spacious than I had thought of, so it will hold soiled handkerchiefs, or something like that, besides all my shoes. Denim is just the thing for that, isn't it? It will not show dirt and is easily brushed clean. I always think it is rather suggestive to get writing paper for Christmas- From the way Bess speaks about my writing to her, I should suspect that it was she who put it in. But of course it is a very nice thing to get, for there will always be use for it.

Clarence's letter and the fountain pen came ^in yesterday morning's mail. It is the best kind of a fountain pen, and with good care ought to last me a long time. I am glad the pen is finer. Of course I will send Lou my old one, and am glad to have her have the use of it. It is a pretty good pen, if the cap is cracked.

Bessie Metlin sent me Ruskin's "Sesame and Lilies," a very pretty edition. Ray, Mary and Belle [crossed out: sent] ^gave me a bunch of violets, had them sent out from the florist's on Christmas morn-ing. Gertrude Smith gave me a little bit of a round bowl, just big enough to hold a few violets or something like that. Ellen Hailey gave me a real pretty bag for fancy work, blue silk outside and white inside, with pockets all around. Everybody has been so good to me. Yesterday I went to the Episcopal church with Ellen Hailey and Gertrude Smith, who are Episcopalians. They had a very long service - it lasted two hours and a half.

We spent the day very quietly - in the evening ice-cream was served in the parlors downstairs- Very few of the Faculty are left now. Mrs. Kendrick has not been here since college closed, and she is not coming back till it opens- Christmas vacation is the only time when she can take a rest. Dr. Taylor has some relatives visiting him, His
son Hunt and a nephew sat with the Seniors at dinner last night- a rare privilege.

I don't know what to do about New York now. We got word that all the rooms at the Margaret Louisa Home are engaged except for just the last part of vacation. So of course we cannot hear the Messiah, for that is given only this week. Ellen and I do not know whether we want to go at the very end of vacation and when we cannot hear the Messiah, more than we may want to go some other time. At least we will not be able to decide till we hear from the Margaret Louisa Home again. I am crocheting a pair of bed-slippers for May Holmes. If I get them done in time I may send them to her for New Year's, otherwise I shall wait till next Christmas. The time is going all too fast, and I am afraid vacation will be over before I know it. The letters from the whole family came this morning and were a great treat. It is seldom indeed that I get letters from all the family in so short a time. But you are all awfully good about writing to me, and we do appreciate letters here.

Tell Lou I got her catalogue but first I had to send two cents to Cleveland for it. It seems that it takes for a catalogue. Papa's letter with the money in it came all right this noon, so I would have had it if I had been going to N.Y. tomorrow. It came the quickest of any letter yet that I know of. Letters written Sunday reach me Tuesday if they are mailed down town early Monday morning, [crossed out: or] but when they are mailed at the station I don't get them till Wednesday noon.

It is not very cold weather now, so that there has been no ice yet, strong enough for skating. I was in hopes that there would be plenty of skating.

I saw Dr. Thwing's book, "The Coliege Woman" in a girl's room the other day, and borrowed it, bat I have read only a little of it. He seems to do a great deal of writing for books and magazines.

Give my love to the neighbors, and the girls. I must write now to Mrs. Benbow and Bessie Mitlin and Alice Page.

Lovingly your sister Adelaide. [Claflin]