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Date
February 23, 1869
Abstract
VC 1870
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vassar:25324,,Box 23,VCL_Letters_Woodworth_Mary_1870_036
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1 item
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: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870036001
Vassar College,
February 23. 1869.
My dear Father
I was very glad indeed to get your long letter yesterday. I was not well and you know how much more gratifying letters are then than at any other time. Today I am excused from my lessons, but am really better than I was yesterday afternoon and last night. Just before going to bed I took quite a dose of Copp's bitters and of course I do not feel very strong today. My supper distressed me, but I do not know as they (the bitters) relieved me much. Several times this year I have taken them, but don't
February 23. 1869.
My dear Father
I was very glad indeed to get your long letter yesterday. I was not well and you know how much more gratifying letters are then than at any other time. Today I am excused from my lessons, but am really better than I was yesterday afternoon and last night. Just before going to bed I took quite a dose of Copp's bitters and of course I do not feel very strong today. My supper distressed me, but I do not know as they (the bitters) relieved me much. Several times this year I have taken them, but don't
: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870036002
think they have done me much good. I don't have so much faith in their efficacy as in Pierce's. Last night Pres. Raymond read Hamlet to the students, faculty and teachers. I always enjoy his Shakespearian readings very much and anticipated a great deal, but was not able to go. I did not give up the idea till half an hour before time to go, but knowing that it would be better for me to stay in my room I finally decided to do so. It was very entertaining I am told.
We should hardly have known that it was an American holiday if we had not sung America at the morning chapel service. The grand old hymn never sounded better to me in
We should hardly have known that it was an American holiday if we had not sung America at the morning chapel service. The grand old hymn never sounded better to me in
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the world although our regular organist was gone and one had a poor substitute.
For dinner we had nothing at all extra except chocolate and a little nicer flavor to the lemon pie. I was invited to the German table, but as it was to celebrate the birthday of an American we thought it would be inappropriate to speak German.
There were a good many guests at dinner and two or three at tea, all being friends of the young ladies.
Wednesday Eve.
No lessons tomorrow and I am happy as a queen tonight.
I have had a splendid practice today and grow more and more interested in my music every day. I hope you will think I have made some progress next summer, though you must take
For dinner we had nothing at all extra except chocolate and a little nicer flavor to the lemon pie. I was invited to the German table, but as it was to celebrate the birthday of an American we thought it would be inappropriate to speak German.
There were a good many guests at dinner and two or three at tea, all being friends of the young ladies.
Wednesday Eve.
No lessons tomorrow and I am happy as a queen tonight.
I have had a splendid practice today and grow more and more interested in my music every day. I hope you will think I have made some progress next summer, though you must take
: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870036004
into consideration the fact that three quarters of an hour is the most that I can give to practice.
Saturdays and other days when I can possibly spare the time I go. Since writing the above I have practiced two hours and some what more. When Hattie got ready to go I thought I would go with her and am very glad that I did.
How much I wish that Sarah Woodworth could have made me a visit as she went West. I know that it would have been very inconvenient for her to come down from Albany and it is a long tedious journey at the most.
You will miss her very much I know. Nell was lamenting over the prospect of her going in her last letter to me.
Saturdays and other days when I can possibly spare the time I go. Since writing the above I have practiced two hours and some what more. When Hattie got ready to go I thought I would go with her and am very glad that I did.
How much I wish that Sarah Woodworth could have made me a visit as she went West. I know that it would have been very inconvenient for her to come down from Albany and it is a long tedious journey at the most.
You will miss her very much I know. Nell was lamenting over the prospect of her going in her last letter to me.
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You can't imagine how surprised I was to hear that Mr. Fairbanks is going to marry Mrs. Colby. Was Mr. Harris sure that it would be so? How should any one know it? If it is really so I am just as glad as I can be, for it will a splendid thing for the children. In Jennie's last letter to me she spoke of enjoying me the privilege I had for so fine an education and said two years of school would do her so much good now, but as she could not have it she must try to learn as much in teaching as possible. Perhaps, as you suggest, she will come here next year. I could not express my joy if she should.
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Mr. Ide wrote me that Ida Morrill had gone to the Abbott Seminary at Andover so I think that Mr. Harrington must have been mistaken in thinking her at Mt. Holyoke.
I would give so much to have her here. Mr. Ide had met her a short time before he wrote me last and said she spoke of me in a way that would have pleased me could I have heard her I certainly could return in full measure any thing she might say in my favor.
Yesterday I received a letter from Em written at Waterbury in which she said that Mrs. Shipman had just recd a letter from grandma Brooks and she was worrying for fear that you would spend next winter in Florida. I should be sorry
I would give so much to have her here. Mr. Ide had met her a short time before he wrote me last and said she spoke of me in a way that would have pleased me could I have heard her I certainly could return in full measure any thing she might say in my favor.
Yesterday I received a letter from Em written at Waterbury in which she said that Mrs. Shipman had just recd a letter from grandma Brooks and she was worrying for fear that you would spend next winter in Florida. I should be sorry
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to have you go on her account, but on every other I sincerely hope you will do so. I read a description of an excursion up the St. John's river the first of this month written by the father of one of my last year's friends.
She is in Jacksonville Fla. with her father on acct. of his health and she writes that he is improving fast. I know it must be very delightful there. She says she goes into orange groves and eats just as many as she can as often as she wants any.
Charlie Cross wrote me a few days ago about your extreme kindness to him, said there seemed to be no limit to it and he felt that he owed much of his first success to you. Of course I was very glad to hear that.
She is in Jacksonville Fla. with her father on acct. of his health and she writes that he is improving fast. I know it must be very delightful there. She says she goes into orange groves and eats just as many as she can as often as she wants any.
Charlie Cross wrote me a few days ago about your extreme kindness to him, said there seemed to be no limit to it and he felt that he owed much of his first success to you. Of course I was very glad to hear that.
: VCLLettersWoodworthMary1870036008
I hope Nell will be back before very long and stay several weeks.
It seems like nothing the time that is left of this year, only sixteen weeks. I was delighted to hear of the progress of the children. If either of them should ever show any taste for the higher branches they both ought to have a solid foundation on which to rest their information that will come by reading and travel as they grow older. I know of nothing so necessary to a strong and active mind as mathematical discipline and a good knowledge of geography
If I did not know how much Harry will regret sometime that he has not a thorough education I should not care half so much but when any one goes much into society a lack of it causes the greatest mortification.
Mary (Parker) Woodworth, '70
It seems like nothing the time that is left of this year, only sixteen weeks. I was delighted to hear of the progress of the children. If either of them should ever show any taste for the higher branches they both ought to have a solid foundation on which to rest their information that will come by reading and travel as they grow older. I know of nothing so necessary to a strong and active mind as mathematical discipline and a good knowledge of geography
If I did not know how much Harry will regret sometime that he has not a thorough education I should not care half so much but when any one goes much into society a lack of it causes the greatest mortification.
Mary (Parker) Woodworth, '70
