Vassar College
Jan. 23, 1871.
My dear Mamma,
Last week X was quite cross and quite determined that I would not
write home lor a long time, because X received no letters Irom any of you*
But yo — letters came on Sat and made me change my minu and II X had
had time X would have written then, but take this time for doing so.
Really I think with three at home to write X might hear eltener Irom
you* and the mails now are so irregular that even H you write once a weak
I do not hear Irom you sometimes lor two. XC you are anxious to hear
often from me, how much more so must X be who am away from all "kin-
dred." You ask of Grandma's health. I have only heard once of her through
Aune Maria, and she wrote ma that she had written Carries so before this
time you must have heard all about her that X have.
We have not needed any of your pleasant weather until yesterday:
for the whole winter has bean mild, almost as warm as the winters at
home. But Sat. night It commenced snowing and did net stop until tho
ground was pretty deeply covered) it is so very cold that ioday we are
excused from all but twenty minutes exercise out of doors* and Dr. Avry
(Avery, says the thermometer stands at two degrees. On Sat. X borrowed a
pair of skates and went down on the lake to try my luck. The skates did not
fit very well and it being my first attempt my ankles ware very weak? but
yet X managed to stand and although X was on tha ice a long time did not
have one fall. Another time I hope to manage to strike out a little and then
Jan* 23, 1871-2
will prevent our skating muck,
slide, but fear we will have snow now for a long time which^ So you did not
have but one caller New Tears? Where are your friends Col. Dewey and
Milton Swisher t? ,? They ought to have come to try some of your "hot
coffee," But perhaps they feared to burn themselves again with it.
There is not one earthly thing to write you of interest, not even
about my interesting self. I think I never was more breft t? , of ideas
than at present. The college Is quiet, not a Joke of any kind going on.
The last senior assay X might mention, for it was very good. Miss
Jewett from Mi g? , (Wisconsin, was the composer, and as she has never
been noted for anything but hair (of which she has a great quantity) it was
a surprise to us all to hear as fine an essay from her pen. The subject
was "Our working classes" and was very practical and interesting, taking
us away for awhile from the college and college duties. Every Sat. night
one or two essays are read by seniors and sometimes are quite fine. It
is the only disagreable thing they have to do, but this is indeed terrible
for they are read before all the scholars, the "faculty," and Pres. also
being present, and same of the faculty are very severe critics. For want
of anything better X send you some receipts, copied from Aunt's choicest
ones. With much love to all your aff. daughter Julie.
tJulia M. Pease, <75,
This is miserable writing, and X fear you cannot decipher it, but my pen Is
very bad. X have plenty of better ones and could get another If I chase to
take the trouble———
I hope your trunk has come.