Vassar College N.Y.
May 6th. 1866.

My Dear Mother,
It is a most glorious 
Sabbath morning. I imagine you all preparing 
for Sabbath School, and should be most 
happy to be with you, Carrie and I can go in 
Town any time we want with a Teacher, 
but it is most to warm to walk, we are not 
going in to-day. There is a mouse in our 
room, and I have just been down to the 
House keepers room for a trap and we hope 
to soon be rid of such a disagreeable torment. 
A new Gymnastic Teacher has arrived, and 
although the Building for that purpose is not 
done, we have commenced practising, making 
use of one of the transverse Corridors. Miss 
Lyman was not willing to excuse or in other
words said she wouldn't, and if did not have 
any dresses, we could got them in Town, and
have them made here, she seems to think we 
are made of money, some of the girls have lovely 
dresses, a Miss Talbot from California has 
an elegant one which cost 30.00 dollars, I 
thought it would be extravagant to get a dress 
for seven weeks, so we took my black alpacca
dress, and made a suit, just a Garibaldi 
waist, short skirt and pants, it will do very 
nicely, and as we exercise different periods one 
dress answers for both of us. My dress was 
very rusty, a good deal worn and was tight for me.
When does Greenwich Quarterly Meeting come 
are you going, I remember last year. We went 
in Town last Monday morning, we had to get 
some gloves, it was a Holiday, we had a grand 
time here in the evening, some of the students 
were dressed elegantly, at one Dress makers 
in Town, forty six dressers were made for that 
evening, Swiss Muslins, and light silks were 
the order of the evening, nearly every one wore gloves
either white or light Kids, we got not very light
they will do for our nice Summer gloves, so in 
that way all our money has vanished, I dis-
like asking for more, but every cost so here, and it 
goes so like a flash. It seems as though I
never had so little to wear before but it doesn't 
make much difference what we have on here, we 
have not put on light clothing much yet.

Miss Avery thought it would do to leave off 
our flannels, and so I have done so and do not 
feel the lust of it at all, Carrie has not yet. 
I nearly melted, I was just in a perfect state 
of perspiration all the time. I will not trouble 
you with an account of our "Gala day" as 
you have probably received our paper, and we 
will send a programme. The Supper was 
very nice especially the Ice cream and Cake, 
and now my dear Mother I am going to
take a bath and dress for Dinner, I hope 
this will find you all well and happy as 
we are, your ever dutiful daughter

Abbie
Addition by Caroline E. Slade:

The subject of prayer is a very large 
one and it is hard to select 
texts there are so many I think 
it would been much better if they 
had taken it under different 
heads as thee proposed thee can 
select those thee likes best
from these Romans 12.12. Luke 181 
Acts 12.5. Ephesians 6.18.
Colossians 4 2 & 3 1 Thess. 5.17 
James 5.15 & 16

In Abbie's hand:
Do not think you are getting a young 
variety store of paper, but thess came handiest.
(Caroline E. and Abigail L. Slade)