April 9, 1875


My dear Mother,


I feel very much ashamed to have delayed writing until you may leave Patterson before this reaches you, but I haven't had a spare minute until now, although yesterday I did manage to write a few lines in lead/ink.  My shopping was a success and very pleasant all through.  I hope you will like Lizzie dress.  I haven't much hope that she will for it does look gingham though very fashionable and the only thing in the market for 40 cents.


My hat is very pretty and to please you I got some pale pink silk to mix with the black silk scarf, the crimson one was only 5-9 cents
hat was from Rothchilds there was not a black hat to be found.  I met Lizzie Taylor, and her mother in the Dairy and as I had plenty of time went with them back to 6th Ave to get gloves which I couldn't get to suit me at home.  They looked at some beautiful lace a time from ten to thirteen dollars a window but we were not going to buy yet.


My trunk came yesterday, preserve and pickle juice unbroken though the latter had slipped from it's wrappings, and was at the very bottom.  The cake too travelled to the opposite end of the trunk and presented rather a flattened appearance, but it tastes just as good and delightful.  The girls who pitched right in.  Miss Grace Luna Louie of Phila. is here to give three lecture the first
was last night on "Frost crystals" the other two relate to zoology and Prof. Alston will call on one of us for an abstract on Monday.  Her lecture last night was anything but interesting for in addition to a mean voice and a monotone tone, she had a bad cold.


I wish you could stay until Friday you go away so seldom.


Give love to Uncle and the girls and to Cousin [?]


I don't think it would pay to go to New York though I should love to see them again and wish them "bon voyage" (is that right?)


Tell Mame I expect her to be my foreign correspondent.


Your loving daughter, 
May E. Gaston