Vassar College N.Y.
May 20th 1866

My Own precious Sister,

I have seated myself to 
write you in the cool of the morning, as it promises 
to be a very warm day. Three weeks from to day 
I suppose you will all be in Newport, you
must enjoy yourselves for as as well as for
yourselves. I wish Mother would get me a
pair of Corsets when she is in Newport, at Cousin 
William Shermans, they fit me better than those 
I get any where else I wear number 19.

The great event of last week was a call from 
Charles E. Gilford of Fall River, it seemed very 
pleasant and natural to see him, he brought 
us a package of Bonbons from Maillards in New 
York I suppose he arrives home this morning.
It does not hurt us to exercise, I am trying 
to get over being so round shouldered if such a 
thing is possible. I only exercise from eight to nine
in the evening every other night. Our dresses came 
in very good order, the Cookles were very nice and en-
tirely acceptable. We are not tired of that kind.

I think Lillle Slocum might have waited 
till we were home, but never mind maybe she
will down again by that time. What has 
Father gone to Maine for why couldn't he come 
home by the way of Poughkeepsie and Vassar 
College. Many many thanks for sending the 
picture we were right glad to get. it was next 
to seeing him. It will be very pleasant to
have uncle Asia folks so near us, I hope they 
will find it pleasant give my love to them to 
all Last Sunday we wore our thin dresses and 
to-day we are going to wear our whites it is so 
warm. You will probably receive the Catalogue
we sent this week, we would send them to more
of our friends but the cost twenty-five cents apiece 
we sent one to uncle William California. Are 
they not got up in nice style, what do you think of the
engraving is it not fine, and now my dear 
sister good bye I must close ever remaining
yours lovingly
Gaily.

My Dear Mother

Another pleasant 
warm Sabbath morning has come bringing 
with it the pleasant duty of writing home 
This week has passed much the same 
as usual as the term draws near the 
close we have more and more to occupy 
our time so that each hour has its duty 
but that is very easy when we think that 
It lacks only five weeks more and then our 
school days will be over but I hope to keep 
on learning though I may not go to school again 
You knew of course that Charlie came to see 
us it was too bad that you had so much 
trouble writing that permission for by 
coming with Elizabeth Haviland he did 
not need it (Miss Lyman came in and 
talked with her about mission schools 
bible societies and the like Elisabeth 
Haviland seems very much taken up with 
meetings at present they had a revival 
in Poughkeepsie and Friends seem to
have caught the spirit since Quarterly 
meeting they have had several meetings 
and a great many of the young people
have taken part they are progressive here 
I think. Joseph Collins said that Eli 
Jessup said he did not put so much stress 
on little things that they would soon 
get over that first the flowers and then the fruit 
I wish our meetings home were getting 
larger instead of smaller there are so few 
young friends that the interest does not seem 
as great. What was father's business in
Maine you did not mention he was 
going has the other contraband arrived 
and how do they succeed I hope I have 
not lost all my skill in the art of
cooking. What kind of a bonnet is thee 
going to have this summer Do not
over work this warm weather does Aunt 
Lois seem to like the idea of moving over 
it seems as if her lot in life was rather hard 
but still she has many blessings to be thankful 
for With much love to thyself and father
Carrie
[In Abbie's hand:]
Very much love to Pa and Ma keep a goodly portion for yourself five weeks from Wednesday Hurrah, love to the neighbors and enquiring friends.