Vassar,
Nov. 15, 1873.
My dear Mamma,
This has been a miserably gloomy day, snowing, hailing and rain-
ing by turns t nevertheless, we had oar exercise to take Just the same.
Dr. Avery aever sees fit to excuse us unless it is bitter cold or pouring
rain. Sometimes after she has excused us the sua comes eat brightly,
and then, to make up for her mistake, she will net excuse us the next
unpleasant day. We don't know when she is going away, the report was
that she would leave the first of November, bat she Is yet here and there
seems no prospect of her going.
Received a letter from Jennie Ladd a few days since, ear corres-
pondence seems progressing more rspldly than ever before. She wrote
no news. X am owing so many letters that X am always astonished when I
receive one that is not from heme. XT it were not for my two letters each
week I fear X should see very few.
I have just beea interrupted by a call from Carrie Norton. The
poor girl has her Seaior essay to read In Chapel this week sad is naturally
very much disturbed by the thought of so doing. Reading my Junior essay
before the class has beea a not very pleasaat foretaste of what will befall
me next year.
Although X am writing In my own room with the door closed Into the
parlor, the sound of voices Is plainly heard, which is net conducive te good
writing or thinking. There is a wonderful lack of concentration of thought
in my composition for when I hear conversation around me while I am
writing X am very apt to forget my occupation and Join in with the others.
The President gave us a very good sermon today in regard to the
choice of friends. He says that he has preached it bvjfore within three
years, but I have no recollection of ever having heard it before. My mem-
ory does not equal that of last year's valedictorian, neither does it bear
any resemblance to that of my "paternal."
Our Presidents sermons are generally more like lectures, and
are improving with his years.
Hoping that you are all well, your loving daughter.
Julia M. Pease, <75,