Vassar, Feb. 28, 1874.

Dear Mother,
Yours came 
yesterday. I have written 
Mary tolling her that it 
will not be possible for me
to come vacation, however
much I should like it, because 
of the expense of it and because 
after refusing Ella's invitation 
I could not possibly accept 
another to Providence without 
hurting her feelings. I am 
sure I do not know what
to say about clothes. Somehow 
there is that same bother 
every summer. And then 
another thing, I think it 
quite possible that I may
have another imitation 
to Waterbury, not from 
Law, but perhaps from
Kate Maltby. I don't know, and 
it is rather absurd to say 
anything about it when I 
am not certain, but I 
know Kate would like me 
to come and I rather think 
she means to ask me. So I 
want to take that into
account, if I should go there 
what clothes would be 
best. Vacation comes in 
four or five weeks. If I 
should go there, I'd rather 
have something good to 
wear there if not so much 
in the summer. What do 
you think, about a dress 
I mean and a hat for 
spring? I thought I'd tell 
you now so you could 
be thinking. Perhaps the
waist of a dress could be 
made here better than 
in Providence. I think this 
woman's prices are not very
high. She charged $ 1.75 
for making my black waist. 
I don't know whether Ella 
really expects me to go home 
with her or not. She speaks 
of it as if I were going, but 
I have told her several 
times that I did not think 
it would be possible for 
me to come. I have begun 
a little crocheted sack
for Anna's baby. I don't 
know when I shall get 
it done. There is so little 
spare time here. Jennie 
Titus says she is coming to 
Vassar. It is so funny, for 
two weeks or more I have 
had very few letters, until
last Saturday; but I will 
then have had twelve. 
So queer! All the people
that I only write to once in 
an age seemed to come 
together in one week.
Lou Kellogg's mother has 
not grown strong at all, 
and now they are planning 
to take her to Aiken S.C. 
to spend the winter. Mr. K.
and two or three of the 
children are going. Lou 
was planning to go there, 
so far, in the spring vacation, 
but now she means to 
go home next week to stay 
over Sunday. Wish I had 
the extra cash that she 
has. I did indulge a little 
in flowers the other day. 
Kate had been away and
I wanted her room to 
look bright and pleasant 
when she came back, so
I went to the hothouse for 
some flowers. Such a 
funny old man as keeps it! 
He has not nearly as much 
custom as the others in 
P. so perhaps that was why 
he was so generous. I told 
him 30 cents worth. I thought
that would only buy a 
few little sprays, but he
gave me scarlet geranium,
violets, fuchsias, calla lilies, 
and lots of flowers that I don't 
know the names of. 
Such a quantity! There 
were three or four vases 
full when I had arranged 
them. I believe this is the 
second time in my life 
that I ever bought flowers.
Dr. Storrs of Brooklyn 
lectured and preached 
here this week. He was 
simply wonderful. He used 
no notes, but his work 
was as finished and 
polished as if every word 
had been written. His 
delivery was very fine, 
finer than I ever heard 
before. Bishop Huntington 
of Central New York 
lectures here tonight and 
will preach tomorrow. 
They say he is very fine.
Dr. Webster is very 
popular. She is so different 
from Dr. Avery. I have 
quite a hard cold, the first 
I've had this winter, and
yesterday I asked her to 
excuse me from walking. 
She did so without a word. 
You can't appreciate 
it as we here do who 
have known Dr. Avery's 
way. Dr. Avery would 
never excuse anyone from
walking on account of a 
cold, no matter what the 
weather was, and yesterday 
was very pleasant.
I think a [heraani] would 
be pretty with the waist 
made like a shirt waist 
only without plaits and 
sticking out under the 
belt in points or something. 
Either that way or a basque 
would be pretty. Joe sent
the check and I paid the 
bill. I will enclose the 
receipt. What is coming
for spring hats? Don't 
you think my last 
spring's sacque, if trimmed
with lace would be pretty 
for this spring? Seems 
to me it would do very well. 
I have a horrid cold, but 
I have been taking aconite 
and hot baths to an 
unlimited extent, and 
I guess it will be better 
soon. It is about dinner
time. Write soon.
Eva M. Tappan

I had a long letter from 
Mrs. Harris the other day. 
I will send it in this and 
put the receipt in the next 
one. Send It back when 
you have read it.