Vassar College Digital Library

Williams, Ellen | to parents, Dec. 1865:

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Date
December 6, 1865
Abstract
VC Spec 1865-1866
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:25271,,Box 22,VCL_Letters_Williams_Ellen_1865-1866_018
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
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: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866018001
Vassar College
Po'keepsle Dec. 6th 1865
My Dear Parents,
Again I am obliged to begin my letter by saying that I have got so much to tell you I dont know where to commence It seems a shame that when the time is so near when I may talk to you and tell you all the many things I long so to say, that I have to sit down here and spend an hour or more in trying to give you an idea and that a slight one of all those things. But I am forgetting myself and must "proceed to business." You are probably aware that tomorrow will be Thanksgiving, We are at least. Only think of it Mary Emily k myself are invited down to Mr Bartlett's to spend the day. Is it not very kind of them. Mary Cornell is also invited but she leaves tomorrow morning with one of

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866018002
the other girls for Rhynbeck to visit Mrs Kelley and they will not return until Monday so she cannot go. But the rest of us of course we can go. I was so surprised for I supposed every body in Po 'keepsie would be having a good time with their own relations and never so much as think of us. I think there are going to be more at Bartletts than us but I am not certain. To say the least I think it very kind and especially to invite all of us. I believe I wrote you Mr Bartlett was up here Sat. lc I heard him preach Sunday. Yesterday Mollie Ik Mr Bartlett's sister Carrie came up here in the after-noon and made us quite a call and said that Mrs Bartlett wished them to ask us and to say that they would see that we got back here all right. We asked the President and he was perfectly willing to let us go. We went to Miss Lyman afterwards and she has given us permission to go down to church and go right to Mr Bartletts from there and stay as late as we please. It is quite wonderful

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866018003
that she is willing that we should go down to church without a teacher, but she asked us "to look at her" and then said she thought she could trust
us, quite a compliment don't you think so. I expect to go to the Congrlga-
tional church again as there is to be a union of the other churches with
that and Mr. Bartlett is to preach. Mary and Em. are going to the Episcopal. We shall miss quite a good deal here but I am willing. I must give you the programme as Miss Lyman read it to us this morning. Breakfast at half past eight (only think of that when we usually have it at seven) Service in the Chapel at ten or eleven, dinner at half past four and, I must tell you the courses as I have heard them from good authority. First oyster soup, then turkey & various vegetables, celery, & cranberry sauce, after that plum-pudding, and confectioneries. Is'ent that grand. After that there is to be a grand reception, the President's and public parlors being thrown open for the purpose. At seven o'clock there are to be tableaux in the Chapel There is a woman here from Po'keepsle who is getting

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866018004
them up. Her name is Mme. Cassteon (I think) and I believe it is her business to go around and get up Tableaux. But I will describe all this more at length when I get home for that time will soon come now I trust. But about my dress. I like that sample you sent me very much and 1 do not think It will look to old for me. I think it will do me the most good of anything 1 could get. I do not like alapaca for they were wornjE so much here in the fall and are rather common and a little old style I think. I like your Idea of engaging Miss Perry and for my cloak too for X want that fixed just as quick as I get home. I have ever so much I want to tell you about a literary society they have started here. I think it is going to be a very fine thing. The first girls are in it. I have joined but can have my name taken off I think if you write you do not wish me to be in it. It is not fully organized yet, but the president is taking great interest in it and will make the first kind of a society and for our literary improvement. The admission fee will be two dollars and the yearly fee one dollar. We have chosen4fce»Dr. Raymond as Pres. of the whole society and some of the other girls and the smartest, as other officers. The society will be devided into chapters which will be entirly independent of each other except as under the controll of the same higher Officers. I could say a great deal more but the first retiring bell has rung and I must close this for I suppose I will have no time tomorrow. Much love to all friends Write soon. I will try and find time soon to tell you of my visit. In great haste Your aff. daughter
Ellen

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866018005
It has boon snowing awfully That is to say not so deep but it has spoiled all our plan. We hardly know what to do. I think we will go down in the omnibus. It is too bad It has snowed for now we shall have to come back early in the omnibus for of course we shall not want to put them to the trouble of coming out here with us. But I must seal this and send it. You will hear of our adventure soon. Yours in great trouble.
Ellen