Vassar College Digital Library

Williams, Ellen | to mother, May 1866:

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Date
May 6, 1866
Abstract
VC Spec 1865-1866
Note

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Identifier
vassar:25282,,Box 22,VCL_Letters_Williams_Ellen_1865-1866_044
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1 item
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: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866044001
Vassar College Po'keepsie
May 6th 1866
My Dear Mother,
Here it is five o'clock and I have just returned from church and am ready to commence my letter to you. You will perhaps wonder why I am so much later in the day than usual in commencing it. It is because I wrote to Father this morning thinking he will be in Binghamton this week. It was
communion in the Presbyterian church this afternoon so Julia and I have been down. We have just returned and I find that the other girls are still in Chapel. I think President Raymond must have given them quite a lengthy discourse. However, they are singing

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866044002
now so I suppose they will soon be down. It is very pleasant today & quite warm. We saw Mollie for a few moments as we came out of church and I also had a short conversation with Lucy Arnold. I was so sorry to hear by your letter than Mrs Treman is sick again. I do so hope she Mi is better now for I do not know how we would do without her in our neighborhood. I am glad to hear that Lizzie has been spending so much of her time with you. I owe her a vote of thanks and promise to do all in my power to repay her when I come home. I always associate her with Lizzie Goddard, I hardly like the thought of your sleeping in the house yet Mother, is there not danger in going into it so soon? I suppose

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866044003
you are anxious to hear about Cal's visit so I will tell you about it. He arrived here as perhaps you know Thursday after-noon but I did not see him then as he took Julia immediatly down to Po'keepsie and they were there until about seven o'clock in the evening and then Mary Gosnell Mary Rhoades Emily & I spent the evening in the parlor with him, that is to say until half past eight o'clock when he went down to the city. Mary Rh---& myself had not trouble in being admitted to the parlor but Miss Lyman hesitated quite a while about letting Mary G- go in as her Mother did not give Cally a letter telling him she guessed he would not need one as she was Julia's room-mate. Of course that would not make any difference

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866044004
with Miss Lyman and I wonder that Mrs Gosnell should have thought so. Emily came still less near not seeing him than Mary. But "by making up a long story about their parents being acquainted and her grand mother living in the place etc. Miss Lyman allowed her to come in the parlor also. The next morning - Friday - he came up & brought Mollie and they got here in time for Chapel service so Miss Lyman allowed them to come in--- After Chapel as I did not have any recitation until nearly eleven o'clock I went in the parlor again and also went with them all over the building. I received your letter just before I went into the parlor so I had a good chance to have Cally tell me the news only he did not seem to have much to tell. I enjoyed his visit very much indeed. He left about noon. Mary received her box from home Thursday and I of course received my things I am delighted with my white waist & the velvet is just what I wanted. I have my hat all trimmed & wore it to-day. Mary's Mother sent her some splendid cake & cookies. Some of the loaf cake was flavored with bitter almonds and it did taste so good to me. She also sent some delightful sponge cake. Mary has been so

 


: VCLLettersWilliamsEllen18651866044005
generous that we all owe Mrs R- a vote of thanks. We have commenced practising in gymnastics & I should like it quite well I think if it did not tire me so. The class that I am in practises every other night from 9 to ten o'clock in the evening. Emily Julia & Mary are in the same one. It is almost time for supper and as I feel quite tired I hope you will excuse me if I do not write more. How is Auntie. I have not heard from her lately. Emily sends her love also accept a a large amount from Your loving Daughter
Ellen (Boardman) Williams
spec. '65-'66