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My Dear Parents.
I received your letter Friday morning and can fully appreciate under what difficulties it must have been written -with the house torn up so I am doubly obliged for it. I think you would have felt repaid for writing it if you could have seen me when I read it - I was so interested in every-thing you wrote-— It Is so lovely here this morning —warm—pleasant & springlike The sun is shining in our window so brightly and the little birds are singing my canary so sweetly that I have just told the girls it reminds me of Dicky and then I wondered what would become of the little fellow while the house is so torne up. Emily
all the funny incidents we could think of in our previous life-- Don't
you think it must have been pleasant? Then after supper Chapel etc. We studied until eight o'clock and then Julia came down with her work and we worked and read aloud. We commenced, "The Mill on the Floss" and each one read a chapter in turn until after the warning bell rung. Now don't you think that was a well spent Sat—?—— But I believe in my last letter I mentioned the Concert we were expecting to have so I must not forget to tell you
the bell rung and all who took part in the performance took their seats
in the gallery— At ten minutes past seven the bell rang again and the rest of the girls took their places in the front part of the Chapel with the exception of those who expected company and they repaired to the library which
keep it I think. But I must begin to think of drawing my letter to a close
as Emily & I have a walk in contemplation and as we must be back by twelve it is time we were starting if we wish to walk long. I did think some of writing about some things I want you to send and about my clothes but I suppose there is no hurry so I think I will put it off for another time. Julia is expecting a box next week and another in April. I wish I could be home with you to day if you are going to have as good a dinner as you had last Sunday for I suppose we will have a miserable one Sunday & I heard Mr. Smith had said he is not going to give us any more good Sunday dinners—- I am sure I don't know what they will be for they have always been the worst we have had---The living gets worse & worse I think every day. Almost every one is complaining of it & even the teachers own it though they do not like us to speak of it. They have pork or ham so much & hardly any of us will touch it for fear it has that disease & the vegitables are sure to have worms and the homming or rice which we are sure to have two or three times at least a week you can imagine what we find in that from our experience with cracked-wheat, so do you wonder I long to be home and have
Ever your loving
Ellen
Emily sends love.