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Date
Oct. 22, 1865
Abstract
VC Spec 1865-1866
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vassar:24605,,Box 64,VCL_Letters_Arnzen_Laura-Earl_1865-1866_002
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: VCLLettersArnzenLauraEarl18651866002001
Vassar
Oct. 22nd 1865.
My Dear Carrie and Abbie,
I received your long-expected and welcome letter only yesterday and hasten to answer it hoping you will not be long in writing next time for I think you ought to be good to pay me for my writing to you so often last winter - so be good in future my dear children and your reward shall be great. But honestly girls I want you to think about it and decide to come back. Write me after Christmas. I know you would like the school and I am sure If you Intend to go away to school you ought to go this winter, just think of waiting a whole year longer and then going away for a year. Just
Oct. 22nd 1865.
My Dear Carrie and Abbie,
I received your long-expected and welcome letter only yesterday and hasten to answer it hoping you will not be long in writing next time for I think you ought to be good to pay me for my writing to you so often last winter - so be good in future my dear children and your reward shall be great. But honestly girls I want you to think about it and decide to come back. Write me after Christmas. I know you would like the school and I am sure If you Intend to go away to school you ought to go this winter, just think of waiting a whole year longer and then going away for a year. Just
: VCLLettersArnzenLauraEarl18651866002002
think you won't get out of school In time to take any comfort at all. I feel now so old to be coming to school and as though I should be too old to do anything but knit stockings on account of the falling eyesight that comes on with age. I do so wish you would decide to come back with me. I think you would enjoy it although of course It Is very quiet but all the girls, or at least the greater part are very pleasant indeed and I have made so many pleasant acquaintances. The only time I really wish I was at home is rainy Sundays and I get letters telling of some grand time just passed or else in process of preparing. I don't doubt you had a nice time over to Dartmouth. I should like to have been with you much. I having been once or twice on similar festivities can judge something what kind of a time you had but how could you be so harsh as to tell me that Fred
: VCLLettersArnzenLauraEarl18651866002003
Gentleman Fred was lost to me at least forever, and that without one word of preparation. It was cruel and I have barely rallied from the shock and there is but little left of me. (by the way I was weighed a day or two ago and weighed 123£ lbs. which Is six and a half pounds more than I ever weighed before in my life.) how you could have been so inconsiderate I can't Imagine. I never would have been so harsh if it had been your case. Just imagine my disappointment. Oh well - let as be patient these severe afflictions sometimes prove to be our greatest blessing and it may be so in this case. Bat I can readily account for the fact that you behaved better on your Smiths Mills Expedition because I was not there which must have produced a good effect. Long life to sofa - and a long and oh a sad farewell to the same. Weddings still continue to be
: VCLLettersArnzenLauraEarl18651866002004
the rage in F.R. it seems. How I pity those poor girls who not succeeding in catching a beau were obliged to go away to school in order to conceal their despair. I can sympathize deeply with them. Did you know by the way that Will Hooper won't go to Mary Hathaway's wedding. Libbie was one of the bridesmaids and I should think that they might have had H. for her attendant. Perhaps they did but I did not hear so. And so Mr. Bateman and his gray horse have again appeared upon the stage of activities. What blissful emotions you must have experienced when you saw him in the dim distance gradually drawing nearer and nearer - and a friend, too. I don't believe you properly appreciate the honor conferred upon you. My studies now are fairly under way. I have taken French, German, Algebra and am for the present reviewing Arithmetic.
: VCLLettersArnzenLauraEarl18651866002005
and not a day passes without there being more or less visitors. Then too a good many young gentlemen come to walk over the grounds, young ones, and we flirt horridly with them. Although today has been the Sabbath there has been a busy time in that time and I've sat by the window, bowed, waved my handkerchief &c till I was positively tired and retired from the window more than satisfied by my day's work. I have not been down into Poughkeepsie since I have been here because we can't go without a teacher and as I have had a chance to send down for anything I wanted and could only go by having a teacher trot around with me I did not feel very particular about it - I mean to try it however in a week or two and see if I can't get lost from the teacher some of the girls are so [unfortunate] sometimes and well when they get lost of course they try to enjoy themselves as much as possible under the circumstances. They are not to blame for that of course. How do you like the idea of Hubby coming - how I see you all hiding your diminished heads. I don't see how you came to consent to it. I had no idea she would teach Mary again - I hope you will both bear up under the trouble bravely and I must say that I fully coincide with the conclusion expressed in your final sentence. I don't care if she does have more attention from some people I don't think it is worth the minding. Don't I wish I was over the river with you. I should not be surprised if we could manage to enjoy ourselves passably well and also think it possible that we might find something
: VCLLettersArnzenLauraEarl18651866002006
to talk about for the space of five minutes at least. By the way in my last letter did I describe my room and the College also to you if not I will in my next letter for I want you to have some idea of how I am situated but I was not sure whether I had done so or not and I thought It would be rather uninteresting for you if I should describe it for your benefit twice over. As for my letters you need not fear their reading them, they don't have time nor an opportunity to do it for we get the mail as soon as it comes In direct from the Office. We go off on long walks, nutting and after apples. We can go to such places without having a teacher trotting around with us, and then we play Croquet a good deal but not with nice partners as I have played with no gentry and for some reason or other it was not so much fun. Strange wasn't it. Can you imagine any reason for the fact. I hope you will write me very soon again and I hope you will excuse this uninteresting letter but we have scarce any news out of the College and that isn't interesting for you but do tell me all the news.
I shall be grateful even if I cannot repay it. With much love to you both
and to your Mother Mary also.
I remain your affectionate friend
Laura Arnzen
[continued from page 4, "reviewing Arithmetic…"]
I was not obliged by my examination to take up the latter study but I did not want to leave school without a mere thorough knowledge of some parts than I possess but my teacher does not wish me to continue It She says it is a mere waste of time and thinks I had better take another study in its place. Whether I shall or not I have not yet quite decided. The lessons in all the studies are generally very long and there is some complaint but not much. And the girls like all the teachers very much. There are over thirty teachers and Professors. We can scarcely move without running into one - but among all the Professors there is not a marriageable man, every one is married. They have put us out of the way of temptation quite thoroughly but as the college is a new one there is a great deal of curiosity felt about it among people
[Laura Earl Arnzen. spec. '65-66,
To Caroline E. and Abigail L. Slade, both spec. '65-66.]
I shall be grateful even if I cannot repay it. With much love to you both
and to your Mother Mary also.
I remain your affectionate friend
Laura Arnzen
[continued from page 4, "reviewing Arithmetic…"]
I was not obliged by my examination to take up the latter study but I did not want to leave school without a mere thorough knowledge of some parts than I possess but my teacher does not wish me to continue It She says it is a mere waste of time and thinks I had better take another study in its place. Whether I shall or not I have not yet quite decided. The lessons in all the studies are generally very long and there is some complaint but not much. And the girls like all the teachers very much. There are over thirty teachers and Professors. We can scarcely move without running into one - but among all the Professors there is not a marriageable man, every one is married. They have put us out of the way of temptation quite thoroughly but as the college is a new one there is a great deal of curiosity felt about it among people
[Laura Earl Arnzen. spec. '65-66,
To Caroline E. and Abigail L. Slade, both spec. '65-66.]
