Vassar March 17/66
Saturday evening

Dear Mother

I have just finished 
my composition and have come 
to the conclusion that it is worse 
than making cake and almost 
as bad as making pies however 
we console ourselves with the idea 
that we only have four more to write 
It is real cold and windy tonight 
and I do not see but what after
all we have as many changes 
here as in New England some 
days it is so warm that it is 
really uncomfortable and then 
again it so windy and disagreeable 
that we are hardly able to stand 
up when we are out walking
Now Mother do not scold, worry nor 
do anything when I tell you something
because it is unnecessary I tell 
you because I feel it right to do so 
I did not tell you before because I 
knew it would worry you to no
avail but about two weeks ago I 
had a trouble with my heart I can 
not describe it only that it was very 
disagreeable to bear after I had borne 
it about a week I concluded it best 
to see Miss Avery gave me some 
powders and told me to call again 
next day I did and she gave me iron 
to take which I suppose helped me 
for after awhile it passed off she 
asked me a great many questions 
but did not tell me what it was 
until I asked her if it was my heart
or lungs that was faulty well she 
said they were both rather weak which 
was not very comforting but I think 
it was only the change of climate
and now that I have become 
acclimated feel assured that I shall 
feel nothing more of it remember,
it is past and gone so don't worry 
as I am all right now please say 
nothing of this to anyone outside the 
your own selves please do not to please 
me as it is useless and people talk so 
much though they mean no harm 
Not Aunt Sarah nor any one else 
Now as I did not feel quite easy until 
I had mentioned it I leave it charging 
you not to think much about it 
Now I want to say a word about money 
matters it seemed when we came that 
we had a good deal and that in such a 
place we should not be likely to spend 
much but we have not been in 
town once and there has quite a 
sum disappeared I will send the 
list we have a little over twenty 
left and as we already need some 
new shoes, belts and collars and
shall have to have our hats fixed 
a little in the spring I think we 
shall need some more though we 
shall not spend any uselessly
One girl here has ordered seven new 
spring dresses but I imagine that 
I shall be just as happy without 
such an extensive wardrobe as that 
I suppose Miss Avery's bill will 
be something as medical charges 
are high here then but then that 
couldn't be helped and my dislike 
to medicine is sufficient to prevent 
anything unnecessary in that line 
One other thing which rests heavily 
on my mind, that is that thee 
gets no girl do you try perhaps if 
you commence to look out for one now 
you might get a good one by spring 
only think how much more there is 
to do when spring comes it is useless 
to think of thy doing it all thyself
Now I must say good night for a 
whole week with much love
Carrie

[Caroline E. Slade]