Vassar College Feb. 4, 1866
April 11th 1866

My Dear Sister

Your ever welcome letter ar-
rived this morning, I am sorry to say that you 
are mistaken, we leave Vassar College, eleven
weeks from to-day, seventy seven more days ^ 
that sound much shorter than three months. 
Two weeks from Monday being Mr Vassars 
birthday we are to have a holiday, and either a 
grand dinner or supper, the proceedings are to 
be grand and imposing. I will give a fuller 
description after the eventful day has passed. 
It is perfectly lovely to-day, I have not been 
out yet but it seems very warm indeed. 
One of our parlor-mates Fannie Brown is 
going to have a Croquet set, her Father was 
in Poughkeepsie a few weeks ago, and ordered 
one made, so we shall have the pleasure of play-
ing quite frequently as she says it is to be ours 
as much as hers, she is very generous, and kind 
hearted, I like her so much, we were fortunate
in getting such nice parlor-mates. And by the 
way how is our Croquet ground progressing has
father selected a place yet, please ask him, to get as 
shady a one as possible, that will be one great 
difficulty here, no shade. Has the Set been sent 
to be painted, it needs it badly. Ask father to 
please not forget in his arrangements to leave a 
place large enough, the more room the better. 
That is one of our chief amusements In Sum-
mer. I am glad to hear that our Sabbath School 
is undergoing a change for the better, that it is 
being reformed. I think It a very nice idea to have 
bell. I thought of you last Sabbath morning. 
We did not go out to Meeting at all, as it was 
so stormy, and we do not have the privilege of 
staying away very often. I never realized the 
pleasures of visiting of before, we did have such 
a nice time, we three slept in one bed, the well 
knows what a treat and pleasure that is. 
Of what sex are those Contrabands to be 
I am most eager to know. Is Will Hooper 
home for a Spring vacation, very kind of him to 
enquire after us I appreciate it. Have you seen 
or read Snow-bound, Witthier's new poem, it is said
to be to our American Literature, what Deserted Vil-
lage is to the English. I think it is splendid it 
sounds so home like and natural. Do read it if 
you can get it. Don't you like Peculiar ever so 
much. Has Aunt Sarah any girl yet. how is she 
I have not had a letter from there this ever so long 
How Is Uncle Abner and Aunt Sarah give particular 
love to them. I will finish this the last of the week
thought I would begin it while I felt like It. I 
received a letter from Abbie Chace last week.
(Abigail L. Slade)