Vassar College,
Poughkeepsie N.Y. March 12th |1866,
My dear dear Mother;
When I received your very welcome letter more than a week ago, I intended to answer it once; but we were so excited the first part of the time, that I could not write, and since then I have been very busy. Miss Gilbert was sick all last week, and I heard her classes. Her Homer class I had to study the lessons for as much as any of them, I presume, and so my time was pretty fully occupied. I am going to hear her two other classes today, though she takes the Homer. I love Greek so well, that I really enjoyed it. I wish that I knew whether Prof. Knapp was going to remain, or not. I suppose that the Executive Committee took some action Saturday. We have not heard the result of their deliberations yet, but have some hope that he is to stay. He is here today. It is raining hard today, a regular March rain. We had quite a harvest in the way of letters this morning. Mattie had a paper and a and a letter from Lottie, letter from Bessie. I had a letter from Charlie, and some pamphlets from him. Carrie did not tell much news, she is disgusted with Ida Morse for acting so. We had a very pleasant time Friday evening. Our Chapter of the Literary Society invited Pres. Raymond to read Shakespear for us in the Chapel, and we invited in the other Chapters, and the Profs, fc their families, and the teachers. He reads very finely indeed, better than Vandenhoff Minnie thinks. The only annoying part of the performance,for me, was that they Insisted upon my mounting the rostrum, introducing Pres. Raymond as the orator, or reader rather, of the evening, and remaining seated there during the performance. When I am
president of a Society again I think I shall know the reason why. Our
Society is at last named. Its name is Philalethean, meaning lovers of
Truth. How do you like it? I suppose that Father has returned home, by this
time. Mattie and I have kept up quite a correspondence with him while hfe
has been gone. If Fannie Hammond is at our house please tell her that she has three cousins here, and that one of them Nellie Baker is one of the best girls I ever knew. I know those Beveridge girls very slightly, and do not care to know them more. They are not at all agreeable. How glad you
must be to have Father at home once more. Don't we all long for the last of June? The girls are all counting the weeks until then. You know that we have no vacation in the spring. The moss is becoming quite green, and I have made some very pretty little moss crosses. The grounds about here are going to be delight, when summer comes, I expect. How short a time it seems before Sara is to be married. I so much wish that we were going to be there. Is Sara to be married in full dress or in travelling? She has not said. How busy she must be. I wish I could help her. Poor Cousin Bell.' What a hard time she is having. I do hope that she is not as badly off as the Dr. fears. Does she suffer much? We have not heard from Cousin Emma since she arrived at home. She wrote twice from Vergeunes. I am very glad she is going to give it up teaching. She is not fit for her health is so poor. How much pains Mrs. Stuart takes to seem not to know who you are. I hope she has not as much difficulty in determining the identity of other people. How is Willie? I am so sorry for him, that he should be laid up with a sprained ankle. I hope it will not trouble him very long. There is to be quite a fine concert here next Friday evening. Not being in the musical department I have not heard much of it beyond the mention of the fact* Please give much love to all. Mattie says she is going to write soon to Helen. I suppose you are all very busy as spriag is coming on. Write to me how when you have time and strength to. You don't know much I want to see you my dear Mother. If I only could spend this evening with you. But
summer is coming. Good night,
Your ever loving
Hattie.