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Title: Page 172
Description: Included in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
Songs - VC Trig Ceremonies
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1893 - November 27, 1901

Title: "Concert programs - VC School of Music, ""Fifth Soirée Musicale,"" April 24 1880"
Description: Included in Wyman, Anne (Southworth). Scrapbook, 1878-1882
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1878 - June 10, 1932

Title: Page 28
Description: Included in Wyman, Anne (Southworth). Scrapbook, 1878-1882
"Programs - VC Commencement, June 22 1881 -- Concert programs - VC School of Music, ""Third Soirée Musicale,"" March 25 1881 -- Concert programs - VC School of Music, ""Fourth Soirée Musicale,"" May 27 1881 -- Concert programs - VC School of Music, ""Fifth Soirée Musicale,"" June 20 1881"
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1878 - June 10, 1932

Title: Page 140
Description: Included in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
"Printed materials - ""The Misses Shipley's School, Preparatory to Bryn Mawr College"" -- Notes - Transcription of a poster outside the Math room, February 22 [1897] -- Notes - from Mollie E. Leverett [Mary E. Leverett, VC 1897] -- Examinations - ""History F"" with Professor Lucy [Maynard] Salmon, January 1897"
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1893 - November 27, 1901

Title: "Concert programs - VC Choir, 'The Christmas Music,' December 12 1920"
Description: Included in Janish, Jeanne (Russell) and Lucile (Cross) Russell. Scrapbook, 1887-1938
Date: From scrapbook dated June 3, 1887 - March 1, 1938

Title: Anthony, Susan B. -- to Miss Booth, Jan 22, 1888
Creator: Anthony, Susan B. (Susan Brownell), 1820-1906
Date: 1888-01-22
Text: Fortieth Anniversary of the Woman Suffrage Movement. International Council of Women Assembled by the NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION of the United States, To be held at Washington, D.D., March 25 to April 1, 1888, inclusive. COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS: ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, Pres., Tenafly, N. J. SUSAN B. ANTHONY, Rochester, N. Y., MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE, Fayettville, N. Y., Vice Pres. at Large. MAY WRIGHT SEWALL, Chair. Ex. Com., 405 North Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, Ind. ELLEN H....
Show moreFortieth Anniversary of the Woman Suffrage Movement. International Council of Women Assembled by the NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION of the United States, To be held at Washington, D.D., March 25 to April 1, 1888, inclusive. COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS: ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, Pres., Tenafly, N. J. SUSAN B. ANTHONY, Rochester, N. Y., MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE, Fayettville, N. Y., Vice Pres. at Large. MAY WRIGHT SEWALL, Chair. Ex. Com., 405 North Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, Ind. ELLEN H. SHELDON, Recording Secretary, Q. M. Gen'l's Office, Washington, D. C. RACHEL G. FOSTER, Corresponding Secretary, 1909 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. JANE H. SPOFFORD, Treasurer, Riggs House, Washington, D. C. Riggs House, Washington, D.C. Jan 22, 1888 My Dear Miss Booth Yours of the 16th made feel both very happy & very sad- - Glad because you expressed so much sympathy with our great undertaking- and very sorry because you cannot give us the paper on Journalism- We have not yet found any one who will- but am hope some one will feel moved to say yes very soon- I hope you & Mrs Wright will both be able to steal away the week of the Council- - At any rate to be with us on Monday April 2d when we hope to see organized a promising International Council- - Well officered- & well started for good & useful work- And to accomplish this- we shall you & the like of you You will- I am sure give a mention of the Council in the Bazaar- Perhaps we ought to put an advertisement in both the Bazaar & Weekly!! Do you think so?- or will both contribute good items- for our good works sake. Very Sincerely yours & Mrs. Wright Susan B. Anthony Copy Alma Lutz Collection Fortieth Anniversary of the Woman Suffrage Movement. International Council of Women Assembled by the NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION of the United States, To be held at Washington, D. C., March 25 to April 1, 1888 Riggs House, Washington, D.C. Jan 22, 1888 My Dear Miss Booth Yours of the 16th made feel both very happy & very sad- - Glad because you expressed so much sympathy with our great undertaking- and very sorry because you cannot give us the paper on Journalism- We have not yet found any one who will- but am hope some one will feel moved to say yes very soon- I hope you & Mrs Wright will both be able to steal away the week of the Council- - At any rate to be with us on Monday April 2d when we hope to see organized a promising International Council- - Well officered- & well started for good & useful work- And to accomplish this- we shall you & the like of you You will- I am sure give a mention of the Council in the Bazaar- Perhaps we ought to put an advertisement in both the Bazaar & Weekly!! Do you think so?- or will both contribute good items- for our good works sake. Very Sincerely yours & Mrs. Wright Susan B. Anthony
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Title: Vance, Gertrude (Pratt) — to mother, n.d.
Creator: Vance, Gertrude (Pratt)
Date: n.d.
Text: 3. Dear Mama I got your dear letter this A.M. Who is the Mr. Gregory who was killed by auto. You are a perfect dear to send the cake I told Margie about it & she said it would be fine. In thought of the [nabisco’s?] myself we could mix them with the cake. I have one package that I [bought?] from home & we might get another. We are going to have a punch bowl & cups from the place we [got?] the ice cream when you were here & then we will make the punch with lemons ourselves &...
Show more3. Dear Mama I got your dear letter this A.M. Who is the Mr. Gregory who was killed by auto. You are a perfect dear to send the cake I told Margie about it & she said it would be fine. In thought of the [nabisco’s?] myself we could mix them with the cake. I have one package that I [bought?] from home & we might get another. We are going to have a punch bowl & cups from the place we [got?] the ice cream when you were here & then we will make the punch with lemons ourselves & get a bottle of marachino[sp:maraschino] cherries to put in it. then we will have a supper dance & serve & after that just let people help themselves to punch like a reg. dance. We had snow up here yesterday & today is very cold & snow still on the ground. Do tell me what you want for Xmas. I dont want you to get any big things for my room like a lamp as we must have one at home before I have one & my light here is excellent. We might [buy?] ^ some of yours & my Xmas present s together & then we would get what we wanted although the things you get for me are always perfect. One thing I would like is a watch ribbon with a little silver “slide” & clasp. I have just thought you may be in N.Y. if I should phone so I guess I wont any way dont stay home for it as I can decide about the pictures & I will get them as cheap as I can but if you think they are really good we might as well get at least 3 expensive ones as it would be a shame to loose them. Love from your little Goo.
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Title: Aaron, Fannie -- to Mother, n.d. [postmarked April 16, 1920]
Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1920-04-16]
Text: Dear Mother, You told me sure I could call up whenever I want to, so I shall do so next Sunday before temple, between 9 + 10. Do not be worried. I feel so perfectly rotten, and goodness knows, I am obeying the doctor's instructions. I want to speak to you to get some advice, so that you can ask the doctor if he has any suggestions about what I should do. I thought it was the railroad trip, but it is already Friday morning + there is no improvement. Per-haps I ought to get treatment from...
Show moreDear Mother, You told me sure I could call up whenever I want to, so I shall do so next Sunday before temple, between 9 + 10. Do not be worried. I feel so perfectly rotten, and goodness knows, I am obeying the doctor's instructions. I want to speak to you to get some advice, so that you can ask the doctor if he has any suggestions about what I should do. I thought it was the railroad trip, but it is already Friday morning + there is no improvement. Per-haps I ought to get treatment from that Poughkeepsie doctor. I ought not to go on like this, I am afraid the whole darn thing is coming back again. Don't be angry - I want to know what you have to say about it. If I had gone to the [Herfelz consent], I would have spent the $2.88. Fannie
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Title: Shipp, Margaret M. -- to Sister, 18 March 1902
Creator: Shipp, Margaret M.
Description: VC 1905
Date: 18 March 1902

Title: Elizabeth French Babbott 1910-1912

Title: Page 47
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1910-1912
Valentines - from "Anthony" [Rogers] -- Valentines - "It is ages since we've met. Do you care a little yet?
Date: From scrapbook dated August 12, 1910 - June 22, 1912

Title: Letters - from Julia [Cooley, VC 1914]
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1910-1912
Date: From scrapbook dated August 12, 1910 - June 22, 1912

Title: Letters - to family
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1911-1912
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1911 - August 12, 1912

Title: Page 61
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1911-1912
Objects - Dried flowers with tag reading "Happy" [nickname for Elizabeth B. French, VC 1914] -- Newspaper clippings - "Justice Hughes' Son to Wed Miss Stuart; A College Romance" [Marjory B. Stuart, VC 1914] -- Visiting cards - "Charles Evans Hughes, junior" [brother of Helen Hughes, VC 1914] -- Envelopes
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1911 - August 12, 1912

Title: Pease, Julia M. -- to "Dearest Dear" [unknown], Dec. 1874:
Creator: Pease, Julia M
Description: VC 1875
Date: December 2, 1874
Text: Vassar. Dec. 2. 1874 - Dearest Dear, Having no new lesson to learn in Churc- this morning, and not feeling like studying review, I take this period which is usually devoted to perusing stupid notes for scribbling off a letter to you Carrie - Yours of the 26th was just this moment handed me, and gave me great joy, although it was such a bit of a letter - I can rejoice with you all at the return of the treasure Julia, for you know my antipathy to housework at any time, and my longsiege of bed...
Show moreVassar. Dec. 2. 1874 - Dearest Dear, Having no new lesson to learn in Churc- this morning, and not feeling like studying review, I take this period which is usually devoted to perusing stupid notes for scribbling off a letter to you Carrie - Yours of the 26th was just this moment handed me, and gave me great joy, although it was such a bit of a letter - I can rejoice with you all at the return of the treasure Julia, for you know my antipathy to housework at any time, and my longsiege of bed-making and other work makes me long, when through here, to have nothing to do but sit with folded hands - Of course you had a pleasant Thanksgiving, and so did I - But yet I could but think of my place at the home table, vacant for the last year I hope - Two or three eights ago the Prez, announced in Chapel that the Christmas vacation Instead of beginning as the Catalogue states en the Tuesday preceding Christmas will begin on the Friday! For a few momentsafter the announcement joy reigned supreme, then we could not help a tremeadous hand-clapping. I think we never were before quite so anxious for vacation- Every body seems tired but and needing rest - I am one of the "pine-knots," and never sick, but yet as Miss Terry said to me the other day, "Miss Pease, you can feel tired", and I rejoice with all my heart that we have five more days of rest - Clifford Loverin, and I walked from the Chapel with the avowed intention of going home So unless strict orders to the contrarycome, you need not be surprised some bright day to see us briskly walking into our respective houses - Indeed I don't know what I shall do this vacation - Aunt M. has sent a most cordial Invitation for me to visit her, and if I go away at all, shall probably go to Binghamton. Then Lillle Lewis has no invitation for me in Burlington, but of course Aunt's has the prior right - Our vacation is three weeks long -Did I ever write you that some time ago came a letter of introduction from Miss Moffett, who is at school at Cook's in Po'keepsie - Of course I immediately answered saying I would call soon, but my soon did not come until last Monday - I find her very pleasant, though younger than I had anticipated. She tried for Vassar but did not enters now expects to come next year as Freshman; also expects Minnie D. will enter with her as Preparatory - It made me right homesick, talking aboutAustin people with her - Philathean Day comes on Friday, when I suppose we will have another festive time - Think I shall send complimentary Invitations to "your beau" Lewis and charming Charlie Wheeleck - Wasn't it a joke for Judge H. to think me "sweet sixteen". No one else in Austin does, though - Our class pins have come and are quite pretty - It really made me feel old and sad to see them, for It shows how must "shakeoff this mortal coat" and allow others to walk Into our shoes - It is not a pleasant thought that others will step into our places so soon, without one regret for our departure - You will think this an awfully doleful letter, so rather than inflict any more of such nonsense upon you, I will close - with the hope that with you "all goes merry as a wedding bell," but that those bells are yet afar from you, dear -
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Title: Raymond, John H., 1814-1878 -- Memorial Minute:
Creator: [unknown]
Description
Date: [After 1878]
Text: JOHN H . rmvmowo 181a - 1878 At the first meeting of the Faculty of Vassar College after the death of our late honored President, John H. Raymond, we record a brief statement of his work in this College, and an expression, altogether inadequate, of the love we have for his memorye We appreciate, as others cannot, the unceasing toil, the perplexity, the solicitude, the many discouragements which attended his heroic and successful endeavor to secure for this College its present eminence among...
Show moreJOHN H . rmvmowo 181a - 1878 At the first meeting of the Faculty of Vassar College after the death of our late honored President, John H. Raymond, we record a brief statement of his work in this College, and an expression, altogether inadequate, of the love we have for his memorye We appreciate, as others cannot, the unceasing toil, the perplexity, the solicitude, the many discouragements which attended his heroic and successful endeavor to secure for this College its present eminence among educational institu- tions. We appreciate, as others cannot, the complica- tions of the problem given to him for solution at the time of his election to his office. At the outset, there was a Board of Trustees having the heartiest interest in this work, but pre- senting many shades of opinion on educational questions. And the Faculty, organized under peculiar limitations needed time and trial to give it experience and strength. And the demand made by the public upon this College in its earlier years, insisting that students sent hither should be trained to the accomplishments of the fashionable world rather than to the earnestness of the scholar, was a demand that he resisted with an unfaltering, a religious con- stancy, and defeated utterly, so that under his leadership a victory, complete, enduring, has been gained for the higher education of women. Beset by the ill-advised and persistent appeal of the parents of our students, with no pioneers to guide him, President Raymond cautiously and safely led this College through the wilderness of its first years. We know what his thoughtfulness has accomplished in the improvement of all the appointments and properties of the College, in securing for it the respect of educated people, in winning for it the loyalty of students, and in organizing a happy domestic regime. But these achievements made by devotion to the duties of his office, though they have commanded expressions of public JOHN H. RAYMOND (Continued) admiration, still seem to us to fade in comparison with the result he attained in promoting the steady growth of our educational work. Comparing the Scheme of Instruction" published in our first catalogue, with the clear and well adjusted cur- riculum now followed by our students we see the traces of his most difficult work, and his brightest success. While others point to his temperament, or to his scholarship, or to his literary and oratorical skill as the secret of his power in this College, we, recognizing all these qualities in him, point to his rare gift for organization as his prime endowment - a gift blending with comprehensiveness of plan a conscientious zeal for the performance of smallest details. This endowment made it possible for him to watch every interest related to his office, and insured the uninterrupted progress of Vassar College under his administration. We remind ourselves that our late President himself grew to loftier ideas under the discipline of his work. Each new success inspired him with grander hopes, to more intense endeavor. He led the way to broader freedom in the discipline of the College; and in presiding over our legislative deliberations, he had come to be the most advanced among us in demanding an unfaltering respect for the womanliness of our students. Always considerate of the weariness of his fellow- workers, he gave himself no rest. In recalling what he has done for Vassar College, we pay our reverent re- spect to his industry, to his fidelity, to his sacrifice of self, to his wisdom, which have laid our foundations so secure that no adversity, not even his death, can overturn them. He was modest, he was honest, he was cautious, he was patient, he was just, he was devout, he was faithful in all things. He was eminent, and he was eminently good, He is dead, but his work survives, I - 391-393
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Title: Aaron, Fannie -- to Mother, Father, and Pete, Oct. 9
Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: Oct. 9
Text: [Oct 9] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Marse's letter certainly was interesting, Pete. I am sorry that one of the passages that i could not make out was the reference to me. Mother, I cannot tell you yet whether I want to go to Boston or not immediately. I would like to do that, if I don't come home. I sort of thought that I would like to come home and let Dr. Sanes look me over. It will depend of course on how I am feeling. Can't you possibly come East a week later. Sophomore...
Show more[Oct 9] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Marse's letter certainly was interesting, Pete. I am sorry that one of the passages that i could not make out was the reference to me. Mother, I cannot tell you yet whether I want to go to Boston or not immediately. I would like to do that, if I don't come home. I sort of thought that I would like to come home and let Dr. Sanes look me over. It will depend of course on how I am feeling. Can't you possibly come East a week later. Sophomore Party is the night of Saturday, October 30. I don't see how I could possibly decently miss it, besides which, I don't want to miss it. Or could you come a week sooner? If it were not that we want to get the coat, I would suggest that you come up here. You would enjoy the party very much, I am sure, inasmuch as all the acting and everything is going to be done by my class. The Freshmen come in masquerade, you know. R.S.V.P. I aksed some time if you remembered what happened to my thermometer? Do you remember? It is a good thing to have around. I slept quite late this morning, then I dusted my room(!) and did some Spanish. I had intended to do more studying but Harriet Haynes came up with some more typing for Sophomore Party and she was in a hurry for it, so I just did it for her. I certainly am doing my share of the work for that affair. The only thing I don't like about it is that I probably won't get into the performance itself. Of course, my services in this capacity are probably a lot more useful than they would be in any form of acting, but nevertheless I would like to be on the stage with most of the others in the class. Yesterday afternoon I had my hair washed at Jane Wilson's, got my blankets and bath-robe and brought them home, then walked to town with Elizabeth Dinkey, or Braddock, Pa. We rode home. The street-car is all right, now. Last night I went to hear the violincellist, Maurice Marechal. I enjoyed the concert very much, (please don't laugh) and tried desperately to educate myself along a most needed line. I then paid my bi-weekly call on Dr. Baldwin. After that I got into my little trundle-bed. I hope to read about three quarters of Kim" this afternoon. Wishing you the same. I did not have Eva Vogel in Sunday School. I got a "thank you for your good wishes" calling card from A. Kaufman.
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Title: MacCoy, Marjorie Newell -- to Family, 3 October 1909
Creator: MacCoy, Marjorie Newell
Description: VC 1911
Date: 3 October 1909

Title: Signs - "There will be a meeting of the class of 1914" by Elizabeth [B.] French [VC 1914], October 25
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1910-1912
Date: From scrapbook dated August 12, 1910 - June 22, 1912

Title: Page 42
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1910-1912
Concert programs - VC Department of Music, "German Folk Songs," February 15 1911
Date: From scrapbook dated August 12, 1910 - June 22, 1912

Title: babbott02-876

Title: babbott02-1161

Title: Letters - from "May" [Mary Tier Sutphen]
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1911-1912
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1911 - August 12, 1912

Title: "Programs - VC Class Day, June 9 1896"
Description: Included in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1893 - November 27, 1901

Title: "Printed materials - VC Mohonk Trip, ""Mohonk Lake Mountain House,"" October 31 1896"
Description: Included in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1893 - November 27, 1901

Title: "Programs - Class Supper, June 9 1897"
Description: Included in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1893 - November 27, 1901

Title: Page 4
Description: Included in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
"Visiting cards - ""Miss L. Marion Lockhart"" [Lizzie Marion Lockhart, VC 1896] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Angie M. Myers"" [Angie Martin Myers, VC 1894] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Jennie Agnes Estes"" [VC 1895] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Fanny Cohen"" [Frances Cohen, VC 1895] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Warner"" [Maude Loraine Warner, VC 1896] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Abby A. Vaillant"" [Abby Augusta Vaillant, VC 1894] -- Visiti...
Show moreIncluded in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
"Visiting cards - ""Miss L. Marion Lockhart"" [Lizzie Marion Lockhart, VC 1896] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Angie M. Myers"" [Angie Martin Myers, VC 1894] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Jennie Agnes Estes"" [VC 1895] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Fanny Cohen"" [Frances Cohen, VC 1895] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Warner"" [Maude Loraine Warner, VC 1896] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Abby A. Vaillant"" [Abby Augusta Vaillant, VC 1894] -- Visiting cards - ""Miss Latimer"" [Ada Lombard Latimer, VC 1894]"
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Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1893 - November 27, 1901

Title: Page 99
Description: Included in Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin). Scrapbook, 1893-1897
"Photographs - ""Prexy's [Vassar President James M. Taylor] arrival from Europe -- he and we"" -- Songs - ""Honeymoon March"" -- Notes - from ""Bertha"" [most likely Bertha Kedzie Young, VC 1896] -- Advertisements - Advertisement for ""Literary Production"" service for students from Colchester, Roberts & Co., February 20 1896"
Date: From scrapbook dated c. September 1893 - November 27, 1901

Title: Aaron, Fannie -- to Father, December 14,1920
Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-12-14
Text: December 14. Dear Father, I [had] a letter from Aunt Bessie saying that Uncle Ike would meet me, if possible. If not, I was to take a taxi to the Pa. Station. etc. + [some] directly out to [Woodmere]. She sent a time-table ([Long] Island) She also said Uncle [Ike] had theater tickets - she did not say for what - and that they would see me to the train. You might [communicate] with them inasmuch as I would like the pleasure of your company. I had no idea you could stay over. I plan to take the...
Show moreDecember 14. Dear Father, I [had] a letter from Aunt Bessie saying that Uncle Ike would meet me, if possible. If not, I was to take a taxi to the Pa. Station. etc. + [some] directly out to [Woodmere]. She sent a time-table ([Long] Island) She also said Uncle [Ike] had theater tickets - she did not say for what - and that they would see me to the train. You might [communicate] with them inasmuch as I would like the pleasure of your company. I had no idea you could stay over. I plan to take the 12 M. special Friday. Possibly the 11:38, but I think the special will get in sooner + it won't be such a rush. The debate [was oreal]. We lost 2-1. I am dead. FannieMr. Marcus Aaron, C/O Hotel Astor, New York, N.Y.
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Title: Aaron, Fannie -- to Mother and Father, January 14,1920:
Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Description
Date: 1920-01-14
Text: Jan. 14, 1920. Dear Mother + Father: I am extremely busy today. I am going to lab for an extra two hours, as I don't want to have so much the last minute before exams. I still have a good deal to do on this week's history topic. Had a Spanish confer-ence this morning. Am sending my laundry today. Had a letter from Aunt Hattie today, in which she [adoised] me to take all the [snap] courses + no hard ones henceforth! I wonder what she thinks you come to college for. Your new picture...
Show moreJan. 14, 1920. Dear Mother + Father: I am extremely busy today. I am going to lab for an extra two hours, as I don't want to have so much the last minute before exams. I still have a good deal to do on this week's history topic. Had a Spanish confer-ence this morning. Am sending my laundry today. Had a letter from Aunt Hattie today, in which she [adoised] me to take all the [snap] courses + no hard ones henceforth! I wonder what she thinks you come to college for. Your new picture reposes on my desk, Father. It is growing on me - in fact I think it is quite good, now that I have gotten used to the fact that my Paps isn't as beautiful as I once imagined. Love. FannieMr. + Mrs. Marcus Aaron 402 S. Winebiddle St., Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Title: Invitations - "Juniors bring the Freshmen down"
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1910-1912
Date: From scrapbook dated August 12, 1910 - June 22, 1912

Title: Bromley, Frances M. Diary, 1870-1877
Creator: Bromley, Frances M.
Transcriber(s): Hausam, Josephine
Descriptor(s): Ditkoff, Andrea
Description: Frances Bromley (VC Ex 1879) was a prolific diarist, contributing seven diaries to Vassar College that chronicle her life from 1872 to 1877. Bromley's diaries all contain reflections on her daily activities, observations about other people, and literary and biblical quotes. Bromley also writes extensively about illness throughout her diaries. This volume focuses on her religious thought, reflections on death, feelings of alienation from herself and the world around her, and general disjointed...
Show moreFrances Bromley (VC Ex 1879) was a prolific diarist, contributing seven diaries to Vassar College that chronicle her life from 1872 to 1877. Bromley's diaries all contain reflections on her daily activities, observations about other people, and literary and biblical quotes. Bromley also writes extensively about illness throughout her diaries. This volume focuses on her religious thought, reflections on death, feelings of alienation from herself and the world around her, and general disjointed observations. Initially, she describes teaching and studying at a Normal School. Although she is accepted to Michigan University, she cannot attend because of financial troubles. She chafes at gender norms (e.g. she is promoted to the head of her school and then the board decides to give the position to a man instead: see August 25, 1874). She starts at Vassar in 1876, struggles with her health, and experiences periods of great optimism and others of crushing sadness.
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Date: 1870-1877
Text: PLEASE NOTE: Blank pages are omitted, and pages with text are presented in the order in which they were Written (in the original, the diarist left every other page blank from the beginning, and upon reaching the end of the book, began working her way back, Writing upside down on pages that had been left blank). From "The Checkered Scene"-- Dansville, N.Y. 1878 "Mr. Little has been telling me how he went home last night, after our little talk up in Paradise Gate, and had a dream...
Show morePLEASE NOTE: Blank pages are omitted, and pages with text are presented in the order in which they were Written (in the original, the diarist left every other page blank from the beginning, and upon reaching the end of the book, began working her way back, Writing upside down on pages that had been left blank). From "The Checkered Scene"-- Dansville, N.Y. 1878 "Mr. Little has been telling me how he went home last night, after our little talk up in Paradise Gate, and had a dream about me. He did not dream that I got well, he said, but that I became helpless. That I was placed where scarcely anything about me was as I would like it to be - in a hard place - where nothing fitted - and the people about me were uncomfortable people - and little to my taste - but that amidst it all I was sucha happiness to others; which was so much better than getting well." "A little talk with Mrs. Evans tonight. I leave her feeling that there is a blessedness greater than any sadness in knowing that the Master is even now at the gate." "Dr. McLean said to me: 'My wife and I have remarked ever so many times that we would give anything if we could always look as bright as you do.' Blessed be the help that comes to do it! The Master remembers.""Pet's letter came today; and her "why nots" are so full of the unselfishness and heroism that I love so in her that I feel an uplifting. But, O, how it makes my heart ache!" "In due order breakfast. We might pass this over were it not that it gains in importance unspeakably the nearer one comes to not having any!"Sabbath evening- Oct. 9" 1870- A log-book! and mine! I said I'd have a log-book - said it long ago - said it every time I had a peep into Sue's upper, unstratified, bureau drawer, where hers lay nestled - comfortable and un-searchable. I'd like to be born such a night as this if I could be born to live and not grope. day times these mountains make us toil - climb - drag on! "To the heights" is what they say. Tonight they let us look at them and rest. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people." Does that mean Hewouldn't miss us if we died? Not even a sparrow falleth to the ground without your Father__Christ said that. He came down from the singing and the glory to tell us that. He cried for us, too. Oct. 16"- Blue and black_all wool! Pretty thing to run in one's head when the minister's text is "consider the lilies". I know the prayers and the metre_Long and common! Doctor told the Lord that "yesterday the icy streams dissolved." I did not know it. Then came the intense heat of summer, and the growing crops, and now the fading leaf reminds us of ourfrailty. It doesn't me! When I see the royalty of everything I remember that I'm born a queen, and longing for my kingdom possesses me, and never a thought that 'tis frail to be royal, or sorrowful for " the king to come to his own." Oct. 23" 1870 "And while he was yet a great way off the Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him." As long as those words read just so i shall never be afraid to die. i shall dream of the Father's house, .. as I dare dream of nothing else. I get so tired of myself. I want to run away from myself and be pleased andhappy just a little while. Nov. 4" 1870 - God can make a beautiful life even out of mine. I pray for it as I pray for nothing else. Twenty two years blossoming in frost flowers - only frost flowers - no pansies, no myrtle, no goldenrod. Nov.13" -- I want to see Paul - I want to know him. It is one of the dear dreams that are to be worked out in Heaven-and Heaven is a great many years long. I could sing tonight. I could talk to Christ. I can't always. Will there be any great blanks up there-can there be? Will I ever say when I have gone to Him and seen Him, "My vacant days go on-go on"?Dec.11"_ My thoughts tonight are organic & inorganic! The way of life is plain.._but tell me-Is there anything else that is plain? When do I pray & not feel the first heart throb those old words-"Friend of sinners! we are in the dark, and bewildered and sick at heart"? I've done a heap of thinking since Wednesday, or dreaming which is only prismatic thinking... A great deal of it is Castleton, but the space between and the way thither is full of shrinking and dread. It seems so hard to stop here - break off the little plans and comforts, and live through shrinking and desolation again! How I amlearning to love "being led" thoughts. Rain day-Jan. 15"_ Doleful! I kept away from myself all day. Blank verse - blank verse - will it ever be anything but blank verse? Aug 8- There's good natured little breeze frisking around here like curly-headed children in a hay mow._________ We touch lives at all angles that seem so satisfied, and I renounce such as I do the world, the flesh, and the devil. I grasp eagerly at any thought that makes the infinite distance between my life here and my life after some great change, called death, grow less and not so terrible. My child! my chicken! More help! more love! more light! .... Senior Editor has fled. The editorials, compositions, printing presses, type, ink, proof sheets, galvanic batteries, reviews, exchances, masculine tone, spurts, printing office, Willow St. & all the chicanery is left on my hands - two poor, bony hands! Life is span- I'm in a stew- Now will you help? Write an editorial-..I'll thank you someday. Prayer meetings may make some people think of tabernacles & Mt. Tabors and whatever's the pural of "good to be here" - but from some of them I couldrun and not be weary. That's the most orthodox way I can find to tell it. Blessed are they that ask for bread and do not receive a stone. The feeling of a great need is grateful to me for it is the precursor of a great pity and great fullness not far away. Castleton -- I feel to strange and lost for anything - I'm afraid to look in the glass for fear it isn't me.... I'm pretty well but tired. It doesn't pay to be tired but what's a man to do? Normal School - Mar-ch-ch-ch-sh-sh! +++ We have more prayers than provender. We have solemn roasts, solemn potatoes, serious pie, & a realizing sense of concocted rice. What will becomeof me in such a frame as this? Laughs are my vital breath.... Soon the bell will ring for supper - not to be eaten but served. Our conversatoin will be heaven, our bread emblematical, our digestion ritualistic. .... My doctor tell me..I must rest or die. Which is the biggest? I don't know which to take. .... These are days of heaven upon Earth, and I rejoice through & through. I'd blossom in purple & red if I knew how. Do you? - Mar. 14" 1871 - Patmos without the vision! Sunday, Mar. 19" 1871 - Mr. ___ is an exminister. I'vespanned him with Montgomery's measuring line wherewith he sounded the ocean's depths and pierced to either pole & his height is seventy six inches. His brain is the seat of sensation. ++++ He prays in minor scale-very minor-and is a very Jeremiah.++++ Mrs.___ you've read about. don't say you haven't for I know better. She abounds in S.S. books and religious memoirs. I never saw a live one before. ++++ I haven't made up my mind whether to be very much afraid of her or make a gasp or two toward "appreciating her worth"! The "Normals" here are awfully old. One of them has taught 37terms! but I find her docile+++ Imagine me before the old, the married, the big - to teach without a book! To be infallible, judicial, celestial, didactic four times a day! Sunday, April 16, 1871 -- I've written the date - anybody could do that. I wonder why we have to live such days. There is discipline in "so as by fire"- discipline even in vacancy - but to have no heart in anything and be simply stupid - where is the help in this? I don't believe I ever felt so utterly cut off from human help beforeAnything that makes me talk to Mr.___ is a terror to me - all his way are. But I believe God is going to help me through. +++ If I never why I was sent to Castleton God has known it all the time. If I could be necessary! - to you - to just a few as i would love to be - as I long to be just once and for always - it would not seem so often, "My vacant days go on - go on". +++I cannot be just a little to any one. I must be a great deal or nothing. "The heart to be all to" will not come to my life. It is one of thebeautiful things that is left out. Love calls to most. It called to me years ago and I Passed it by. It will not call again. ++++ Goodbye. I am very, very tired and only Fanny at that. "half of heaven is the not parting". Why the thought is half heaven! What won't it be to be there and say to each other "Always-always!" And Susie will let you come into her garden and mine where the glorified sumachs [sumacs] and firs are to be. There have been reasons for things, hours for things, andthings and things without hours for them. I used to wonder nights when I went for the milk, and used to [do] up much of my thinking, how it would seem to be twenty three. Now I wonder how it would seems to be a little girl and go for the milk. +++++++++ More than anything I am longing for the woods and hills. Does anyone love a wide stretch of sky and meadow more than I? +++ I thank God for anything that roots and grounds my faith in others. Living & working in thisworld is such a tearing down, pulling away process. My window opens on the grass-plot, which to be truthful must be further limited by the statement that some of it is brick plot! I am thankful for the little bit of green & the little bit of sky bending over it. All around is a high board fence +++ how much of my life lies before me in the pent up struggling grass. How it does fight! "Walled in", I say to myself, remembering how much of me is walled in. "All about ++ everything"! How very modest! Where shall Ibegin? When shall I stop? Would you have any objection to my taking a little bit of the time up in Heaven to finish? I'm afraid I shall hardly be able to get it all in this side. My experience has been that I never seem to get any father than Mr. W. in this world. Castleton--Jan. 18-1872. Something sent Miss H.__ up after school to kiss me & say somehow they all liked me very much. After she had gone one tho't was in my heart. It came rolling up from where the tears are, & the springs of life: "I don't believe I shall every be cross to my girls again."Sunday-Jan. 21--- Something must be done. I am all adrift. For days & days & days I have just gone on; and I must stop a little while & rest & think Tues. 23"- Spoiled another day for my girls, & wish-O yes-yes-yes- that there was help for it! Monday-29".--One thing I lay down for Frances-she must listen to me. "Don't let me hear one cross word this week! Love your girls too well-please do! My life opens into such large wide ways-&&the work makes me so happy && it is like giving the little ones the kingdom. Feb. 24"-- Our friend, philosopher & guide R.G.W. surprised everybody by rising to remark that he had nothing to say on the subject of grammar, butwould introduce to the association Miss Bromley. Nothing less than me - I might say "me less than nothing"! I remember one distinct thrill - from the rest I shall never rally. Monday, Feb. 26"-- What is macaroni? Who first harrowed mankind with it? Why must it be set before me & not desert [dessert] but gingersnaps? A gingersnap is a desert [dessert] but macaroni is dead men's bones. Tues. 27"-- The best thing we have set before our hungriness is rice pudding. How it came to be so good doth not appear but it possesses many saintly qualities. We always have it with beefsteak. Those days do not smile on butter. Thurs. 29-- Again the big noise in our house was me. 'Twasn't bringinga trunk down nor taking a trunk up, but talking Mr. Williams down & bringing life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness up. ++ You mustn't scold a man unless you want to ease your mind, or see what you can do, or show him you are not afraid, or give him an idea of his meanness - but to carry a point-never! Take a silken shuttle & silken thread & spin a man into anything you want - but don't scold him. Tues. March 5"-- Mr. Williams is on a perfect rampage. Stands primed & ready to go off any minute, usually: lately, he runs round to find things to go off about. hawk-like in his nature he looks for achicken & finds one. ++ I've heard of four-footed beasts, & creeping things, & fowls of the air: don't remember to have seen them combined before. +++ Do I get cross any? Not much. There is untold sunshine at the heart of things & it touches me. Thurs. 7"-- Annie A. looks like an untimely frost--bluely dreadful! Sat.9"-- The right proportion, said Miss G., is an ounce of serpent to a pound of love. She was in my room writing a cross letter - both of us cross everywhere but inside. Miss ___ wants to know. Do I tabulate food & clothing? Do I diagram what I don't tabulate? ++++ Mr. Williams prays with his eyes open & [L.] wonders if it isn'ttime his ... was multiplied! March 12"-- Another something that stopped: & I only stop once in a long times to think about it. "Time driveth onward fast, & in a little while our lips are dumb". +++ O for the quiet-calmed-down-toned-down, if need be! only let it reach me. "Friend of sinners! I am in the dark & bewildered & sick at heart!" March 15". O, if the breaths of spring would come faster, would do anything to make the leaves come out. We are cheered by prospects of snow! +++ All the poly things possible to e condensed within four walls take this howling wilderness as their business center. Sat. Mar.15"-- I have learned to fill my soul with a horror of Saturdays. I am in terror over the long dark hall, the sweeping around, above, below me, the orders from below, the inspection of drawers, the bells, the dinners, the harryings by R.G.W. But then I am not a ghoul. If I only had a nice sense of propriety all this would be vital breath - native air. March 27"-- In which I find time to pity myself.== The pivot on which the state turns appeared to us at the first class. We all came in in the afternoon without feathers - we had been picked clean!== The rest of it ishard++but I can bear it. "To distil the one elixir patience" - Must there be another crucible- & another- & another? Will I learn? March 30"-- spring is waiting be wooed-& so is somebody else. Well! March. 31"-- March dies in just such a storm as father died in. Such storms bring it back even over ten years. April 8"-- I am going to adopt Milton's style of address next time I talk to Mr. Williams, Like this: "Sole partner & sole part of all these joys, Earth's hallowed mould, O prince of men, off-spring of Heaven & Earth & all Earth's Lord, O sacred, wise & wisdom-giving Plant, my author & Disposer, what thou bidst unargued I obey"-- And he will answer (probably) "Fair Consort, my latest friend, associate sole"! April 13--Memorable for the contemplated talk with Mr. Williams. Are you sorry to hear that Milton's style was not ours? I know now - how things look different to us as we learn - I can that it is better for me to keep the assistant's place; even tho' conscious that upon me falls the principal's work & more than the principal's care. April 16"-- Winter has very fairly set in! "Come gentle spring! Etherial [Ethereal] mildness come." April 18-- I wish etherial [ethereal] mildness would come to me! I don't possess much. +++ Tt is such a relief to me to be busy setting myself right instead of other people. I know better where to begin! April 27"-- Mr. Williams asks t dinner would we have hot scotch or solid meat? We live to regret the hot scotch & long for solid meat. May2-- It is a sad & sorry thing when one is made to stand before one's self as I have today. +++ I have seen the good, the glory of living, & have fallen in the very presence of it. ++ I stand such a sorry wreck before myself. I have made shipwreck of a whole year. O how the words hurt! May 6"-- We ride down to see them go, & come back to put something in the vacant places so they won't look at us so. We can't see "flame & azure [b]indingeach other - we only see the moving & the places left. May 26" One of the kind of Sundays that I dread when I lie still all day. Thinking is so close to doing that it is hard to have to think when one cannot do. May 29"-- Annie is all in a maelstrom. She makes it a duty to be happy as little as possible, & stay so short a time as possible. +++++++ I will not worry. A pain to bear now that came near enough to be a pain would make me so miserable. I can lay "no plan for next year - not one. I can't see the way. May 30 Would I decorate? I saidnot. She was mistaken. Miss G. & I went ahead with a flag & an umbrella & a flower or two. +++ We came home for the loaves & fishes & found loaves but no fishes. may 31-- A. comes up & I do not spit out much of the hardness that is in my heart lately - the bitterness that comes over one when they have wrought much, loved much, & lost much. June 3-- And the mill goes round & round - & I - if not a hopper what am I? On to the day - the good time out doors - the gala time up in the trees - the rest up in the blue - the whirl in the mill - & the heartsick of it! And what did I do to drive awaythe heartsick for somebody else? Anything? How can I tell? ++ I come up stairs so whizzy & perplexed! June 4--Miss G. asks for tea at dinner. Mrs. Williams arises in presence of us all, unlocks emerald treasuries, wafting odors of Yaddo & Changcha fu chun passes to mysterious precincts eastward. Is gone a long time. We eat on. Reappears - gets a cup. Disappears. Is gone a long time. The door opens. Mrs. W. & the Tea! Someway I'll not ask for tea at dinner. June 6-- "the Lord knoweth them that are his"-- I'm glad for we have a hard time finding it out! The butter is abominable. Never mind - its intentions are all right -it meantto be good. June 7"-- I wish we could browse indiscriminately. We don't. We take "meals regularly". June 22-- My trials consist in getting hammer & nails. Mr. Williams deals out nails as he deals our matches - companionless. +++ We behold with our own eyes a bouncing shortcake in the kitchen window, but not for us. We go down to bread & butter & platitudes.. June 25-- I have had my talk with Dr. F. He made me see things & feel good & now I am coming back next year. June 26-- Pretty hard day, Frances - pretty hard day! June 29-- I do love a wide stretch of sky & meadow: it gives me sucha feeling of perfect freedom - especially when days stretch before me as wide & free as sky & meadow, as full of places for the sunshine to fall & soil for daisies to blossom. +++ How jolly it seems to be company-warranted to rest. July 19" Albany. Today has touched me where I ache & long-on my book side. It was gala-time to me up there in the State Library. I come back elevated seven pegs & a pole! Aug. 10"-- ++ O how glad I am that no one but me knows how I am longing for Broadfields! If only a little piece of it could come into this vacation! At home things are real & hard. We know not anything save "getting a school" & "earning money" & "paying it back".Aug. 17"-- The nicest thing in all day was sitting down by the window with Grandma to knit after the tea-dishes were washed & put away. i wish my life - the whole of it - could be washed & put away for a long time. Aug. 20"-- I cook a great while but not much! Aug. 22"-- It's "no not yet" day! Sept. 5--Castleton-- Things look better. Mother brings deliverance in her very eyes & we set to work cheerily. I never went to my first day with such a heartache & with so little to expect. ++ But I can challenge the promise of this word. I met Miss Bissell first & she throws her arms around my neck & bursts out crying.Sept. 15"-- The silent side - mine - is growing more & more silent as there is daily less to tell & more to bear. Sept. 21-- I wish these days would stay. Why need I when it isn't weather that keeps me fit to live but grace? Sometimes grace takes the form of weather! +++ Folks come & I see them: & they go & I'm properly thankful.... Sept. 29 - Sunday - ++ If religion consists in being pleasant to have about I might as well ask the dear Lord please can't I begin again! Oct. 7"-- When the base & rate are given how do find the percentage? that's what we talk about up at school. Can we afford a new oil-cloth for the dining-room? that's what we talk about at home. How can I come close 7 know - that's what I talk about all to myself. Oct. 18"-- Folks can live & still not have things as they want them. They can still live & not do as they have a mind to. These significant facts are chapter from my personal experience! Oct. 19-- The weather is like last hours with friends before they go. Oct. 28"--What makes me get so tired - so right down tired? I almost wish what I never wished before - that there not five days in a week - that there not forty weeks in a school year.Oct. 29"-- ++ I get up cross - so cross - so cross as never was. Nov. 1"-- ++ I go to school. Sometimes I teach school - other times I only go! Nov. 21"-- ++ I go upstairs to the hall to be alone. Things go so wretchedly I cannot teach. ++ A. comes up softly & puts her arms around me & says, "What do you want me to do about that?" I look about about as pleasant as the piano box & don't want anything. Poor A. goes down. I call myself a narrow neck of land, chiefly stone! Jan. 1" 1873-- Into Isaiah! What does that make you think of Fannie? Play that I asked the question a good ways from todaywhen I have grown up & out of & beyond! Today I only remember the words that have comforted me so & given me out of my storm a great calm - "For the mountains shall depart & the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from there, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed." O years! still let the promise hold me. Jan.6"/73 - Into a prayer meeting. +++I never did want God so much before. ++ The coming home part of the meeting was nice to me: it was like coming up thro' the pines into the world again.Jan 8"/73 - Into red bows & vanities. Did I wear a red bow? When my existence for a long time has been a protest against them. ++ Yes. I deliberately marched to the store, picked out a red bow, came home & tied it & donned the same. If I were the only one who advances on the lifeless bodies of her convictions! By & by I'll begin to resurrect! Jan. 11" - Into grinding processes. Jan. 13" - Into a Cumulo-stratus. I don't seek such places: but sometimes I wake & find myself there; sometimes I'm pushed thro' like a pneumatic railway! sometimes Mr. Williams holds one up for me to jump thro'.Jan. 29"/73 - Into the Promised Land. For what is it but a land of promise to me? ++ I've held it to my soul thro' thankless tasks and heavy happenings++ in days when he was more than usual Williams & I less than ever Frances. That she was there was all & everything to me. In that real land of promise when I glide thro' the open door into the first glow of the warmth & light will my first feeling be one of pain as I feel. My whole life for this? Feb. 3" - Into her eyes - & down deep. " 15" - Into the Spanish Inquisition. ++ One chairman to face & four gold-headed canes - I had never sighed for such bliss! Mr. Williams lookedlike the strongest fortress the Moors ever held in Spain. I only it is ended & Mother's room is the refuge whereunto I flee. Feb. 21"/73-- Into seas of it! Floods of it! ++++ But oh, how cosy [cozy] it looked at home when I came into a nice tea, & a big fire, & a Friday night spasm of content! Feb. 24"-- Into bliss for which I did not sigh. Mother say, "Never mind, it's your last term." The bliss is object lessons & Mr. Williams' face as he looks on "to see if I have the idea"! Feb. 26"-- Into a blue that is the most blue! and I got into it. No alternative is left me, not even that of the man who found hiseyes were out. +++ Poor Mother! how pale & sick she has looked all day. Mar. 2",/73 - Into losing the name of disciple. +++ Could I not have borne for Jesus' sake? I must impose on me sterner discipline, & heart pleadings for strength. Mar. 19" - Into a little more powder now, my boys! Mar. 28" - Into a long pull & a pull a good while. A day of gaspings in Arithmetic, of giant strides in grammar, of much ado about nothing in Eng. Lit., of clutching at & panting in Botany, of crawling Orthography, of leaping for joy in Natural history, of feeling along in other history& going at Algebra in gunboats! What does anything mean for me but school? Mar. 29"-'73-- Into Terra catena - in libera poena-desidero te - English cannot express it. I go reverently to Latin! How much drudgery can be squeezed into one day, & that a leaky, Scrooge-like A.M. - M. P.M. in March I shall know hereafter more definitely than hitherto. April 25"-- Into bein' & doin' & sufferin'. " 17"-- Into matronly perplexities. I do not entertain guests after the primitive style! To turn a cake or bake a kid is very different from nineteenth century breakfast getting. I am sadly inexpert in slicingham, or cutting cold pudding, or finding where Mother keeps things, & I forget to salt! But I do at last muddle a breakfast together. ++++ April 28"/73-- Into knowing how sublime it is to suffer 7 be snapped! I do not bear snaps with dignity. Gentleness & forbearance seems to have been left out of Mr. W.'s religion this morning. My religion was not expecting to be snapped-And so-! April 29"-- ++++ Then I went over to help Ella with her Latin saying sadly to myself, "O Fanny, you have a queer way of laying your life down". April 30"-- Into being a benefactor to Miss Bissell by giving advice which she does not follow!May 1"/73-- Into a night more dreaded than the day. There's no telling what a Board will do. I've always said that. So I was not surprised today when lofty honors were confered [conferred] upon me in the form of a call from Dr. Webber & Gen. G. to learn that it was the wish of everybody & everybody's friend that I should remain here another year & teach with Mr. Williams. I've just sat & held the dreaded thing in my heart until it seems too hard for me - & then the night came for me to toss in & wake every few minutes to think how near heaven was - & now how far. May 2"-- +++ I've worked two ways today. Outwardly - mechanically atthis & that: inwardly at the question "Shall I lay down myself next year that mother & Danny may still enjoy our home here, & the girls come back? or shall I go away?" There is no answer & the rain falls heavily - drearily. May 4"-'73-- Into holding out. ++++ I finish "Middlemarch" & lay it down saying over & over to myself its closing words: "That things are not so ill with you & me is half owing to those who lived faithfully a hidden life & sleep in unvisited graves".keep on asking in my blind discontented way, "What shall be done with me next year? Where can I go?" There's not an answer anywhere. May 9"/73 - Into a next- ++++++ "The one elixir, patience!" How often do I think of that when it seems as if all of me was being thus distilled. There will come a day when there will be a next - so I work hard & find a "forgetting" even in the life of a first assistant. +++ And grandma knits & knits-- May 11"-- Into wishing to be less miserable! May 13"-- Into the more I think I will the more I won't. +++ I know all the words in the Englishlanguage but rest. I rejoice to see the last skeleton of an examination paper dissected, compiled, & filed away. No wonder I never see sunsets any more! May 16"-73-- Into finding people to please & nothing to please them with - such experiences fall abundantly to my lot - they prove disciplinary. May 19"+++ I fish away with imaginary lines in imaginary water & fish up what might have been. ++++ May 22"-- Into feeling heart-bare, heart-hungry, very poor. I am glad to come & find rest in Jesus. Glad of anything that takes me near to Him. May 28"-- +++ Today in my half-decided, sadly tortured state comes a letter from Edward Conant. "Will I go to Randolph next year? "O, yest," I say in my gladness at the thought that anybody want me - that's there's any place for me but this. "O no," I say by & by as I think of Mother & the pretty new house. +++++ June 4"/73.-- Into the new home. We enter it joyfully. Who can know how very good it seems to us? not in ++ its comforts alone but in the happier thought that, if God will, it shall be ours some day. We want mother to have a home all her own again; & we have brave hearts to work for it for her. ++++++++++O Father, reveal to me my duty! direct my feet for I do acknowledge thee! +++ June 5"/73-- Into a deep hard question that I cannot answer. And it grows deeper & harder & makes a burden of my thought to weary me. I am helpless before my life-problem. An answer now & here - its result for all time. I can't stay here next year - how can I! It seems almost wicked when I feel as I do. I can't go away next year - it seems too selfish in me to think of it. O is the right choice always the one that involves the greater self-denial? ++++++ June 7"-- Into taking comfort in the new house with Mother. ++++++++June 9"/73. +++ A new plan possesses me, thought up in a twinkle, but taking may twinkles to work it out. That's one reason why I don't like this world! ++++ June 24"-- +++ All feeling has left me but passivity to accept the best that comes - to let Dr. F. decide. He say stay. +++ July 6 - Albany... There is an ache - a dread in my heart - I have no strength to face next year with Mr. Williams. July 10"-- That Mr. & Mrs. W. will not go to Troy is evident. Won't I live to see the earth open somewhere & gulp him down? Why doesn't somebody want him?July 23/73-- My Latin moves slowly. It is hard for me but I creep on. My hopes rise & fall as a distant college looms before me-- And what will Mother do? is the only pause. Aug. 12"-- ++ I have not knowingly touched terra firma today. I have moved in one most joyous dream of Michigan University, until the year I have so much dreaded seems only as door. Aug. 30"-- I feel restless & stirred up. Nothing rests me or brings free visions of that all enfolding peace; & so I chafe on. +++ It seems so easy to let the Normal School & its troubles swallow me up body & soul: & I lend myself so ready to be swallowed.Castleton Aug. 31"/73-- Into standing before myself. +++ I need greatly these days the strength that comes from the Cross - the look from the Master that humbles. ++ Night comes - & I walk the streets & toss & toss! O Jesus! other refuge have I none! sept. 8"-- Into finding the stuff that R.G.W. is made of! Sept 10"-- A man has been raised up to teach me Greek! Like everyone else raised up for me he wasn't made to order - but I'll make him do. Oct. 12"-- Into the return of blessing. The day had so many things that were restful Oct. 19"-- Into beds of dying leaves.How lovely the trees begin to look. ++ And I, in among the rustling leaves & the lovely places can only think how near I am to being 25. The desolate places would not look to bare to me if Mother, too, was not growing old. Oct. 20"/73-- A letter- +for me. It treats of a fall of 45 ft & no bones broken; of a boy who will study good next term; of money to pay for a slate; of a lamp chimney & four window-lights broken! Oct. 21"-- What I feel like tonight is better conceived by the members of my profession than developed & recorded. Oct 23"-- Dreams of Michiganare like cold water to parched lips, like rest to heavy lids. Oct. 24"-- Into "This is the way the mill goes round"! Oct. 30"--Into patching up today to make it do! Oct. 31"-- Into the Greek Testament. Nov. 1"-- At home this evening is long & cheery: but I want Mother. That isn't all i want. i chafe so under this year's cross - it grows hard to carry & spring looks like a far-off speck. Nov. 4"-- It is what goes out from us from a gathered richness within, more than what comes to us from without that makes us know we live. A bright day - Nov. 5"/73-- Into a little more Greek, at once, my boys! That's all there seems to be of anything except school. A little Greek to read - a little Greek to study - a little rule or two - jump up in my faced every tired minute. But I don't die. I am quite alive. I shall sit up there & feel my way thro' 150 more days, just as tired as this, & then come home to 150 more Greek lessons increasingly hard. Where shall I find something good? In my new garters? Possibly! In Mr. ___? Who can tell? In the original Greek of St John? Always! Nov. 15"-- I've set everythingto rights but me, & I'm all to wrongs! Nov. 20"/73-- Our boy at home. We think he has improved. If God would only give some of us wisdom, strength, influence to hold him back from the pit that is digged - from the snares that lie in wait! Nov. 23"-- Into feeling unfeignedly comfortable.! Nov. 27"-- Home is so full of cheer today - there is so much in it that I want to keep. Nov. 28"-- A boy set down in our family seems to have been an unprepared for event. It is almost sufficient to furnish matter for the Tragic Muse. My hopes lookforward - But, oh "Thou Friend of Sinners! I am bewildered, & in the dark, & sick at heart." Nov. 29"-- Into a cheery Saturday night. I revel in the cosy [cozy] evenings by the fire with Mother. Nov. 30"-- I felt so good this morning so well, so strong. +++ Mother & I walk & talk, & plan for our boy - & next year looks at us wistfully. Dec. 3"-- Mother sat up till three o'clock sewing for Dan. That worried me wide awake: & i thought, & thought & thought if I could give up Michigan next year & let Danny stay in school. Dec. 6"-- Into "[Bils] of Work" by F. B.! Don't look at me, or talk to me. I don't dare look at myself.Dec. 7"-73-- Into a rest spot. Days at home, lately, are so nice all of them! Dec. 11"-- Into whatever is the opposite of "outing": I suppose Patience Strong would call it inting! +++ I go into winter quarters in Greek! Sunday, Dec. 14"-- A day that came like a hope of heaven in a field of graves. Dec. 20"-- Into little done or thought, or dreamed. That last is much missed out of a day of mine. +++ I keep thinking of that pitiful little note from my boy - the sick. Dec. 22"-- I was mercifully spared from a dragging-on existence.Dec. 17"-- Mother has been gone three days. The fires have gone out only three times around. We have eaten starch for soda in our cakes only twice! Dec. 29"-- Into finding things to be glad about. Jan. 10 1874-- I live too fast - so much is certain. +++ i write Greek exercises, & get girls ready for examination & answer the door bell - & after my hands at last drop, & the light is out I want to think of our absent boy & pray & pray & pray for him - but I am too tired to lift my heart. This not the way I was made to live, & my release seems far-off.Jan. 11"-"74-- ++ I am glad of the Sunday - glad to be more & more ashamed "to speak of burdens to a Man on a Cross". O god! give me the life Thou didst give Thy Son! And home - all of it -makes me sorry. Jan. 15-- ++ A vacant day: not music, no dreams - no incense - only vague reality - a living on. +++ Jan. 19". +++ Dr French appears, armed & invincible. he says, "Don't stay here." My heart say "No - I won't." But I must wait. He only, of all others, says "Go to college." Every one else says no. Feb. 3"-- We have ups & downs since Dan's letter came. What he means isincomprehensible. We are left to worry about it - which we do in a manner never before attained. It was a mistake sending a boy down in our family. But we are learning so fast that the next generation may all be boys & we'll be ready for 'em. One can live & worry, too. the latter doesn't kill one - at least not me - any more than teaching with R,G.W.! Feb. 7"-'74-- A good word comes from the boy & our hearts take rest. It is a blessed giving from the King in answer to my feeble asking. He cannot fall away & be our disappointment - not as long as I bear him up to the everlasting Arms. Work makesme feel good today. It is so nice to work at home. Feb. 12" '74-- The bell rang a year ago this morning &, Fanny, do you remember that I promised never to make you walk up to answer its call another first day Feb. morning? This seems like one of the problems where the slate & pencil were taken away from me. The girls bring good cheer. There's a spirit of good times in Normal Hall. ++ I go home from it into a cloud that settles black & grim & sends tears to my eyes. Feb. 13"-- What can she do! I suppose this is one phase of the woman question! +++ The answer seems tobe to start a school, to be its first, its motive power, & its waste material. Feb. 19-'74 ++ I feel so unsatisfied & forlorn today. I can't find higher level & no pastures are green. +++ Feb. 20"-- What the final decision is. I don't know what the [number] of this final decison is. There have been so many since the first one I've lost track. Today proclaims we move. It makes me tired & sorry. +++ There have been cheery things today, & I have been in smoothe waters without much of any head wind. March 1"-- I take long looks at mother & the cosy [cozy] sitting room & envy & enjoy till I am dizzy withthe blessedness. Home never seemed as nice as it does this winter. Mar. 3"-'74-- +++ How proud I should be to have my boy turn out well! Now my heart calls for this as from the Father who had a son in this world & gave him power to overcome mar. 11"-- There are some of my girls that will never let life look very dark to me - some that are as priceless as these priceless days that are taking them from me. Mar. 12"-- I know one thing thro' the day-school. I know one thing thro' the night - Greek. +++ i can't erase mistakes & i am longing to right all things - to make myselffelt forever. ++ if I only could! I love my girls so! March 17"-'74-- I am in my martyr mood today: that is I go about kind o' pitiful & work with my teeth set & my hands holding on hard; but not a word do I utter! This well for those who learn of me. Mar. 19"-- I feel a good deal forlorn. I drag Fanny around. I make her teach & write & translate - & the child doesn't want to. Even Michigan is a terror to her. Mar. 20"-- I change my habits & become a guest. ++ E. has a pretty home. I envy girls with a father. ++ There is a plant here they call heartsease & I love it. Mar. 23"-'74-- ++ I'm tired of buying coats for a contrary naughty boy who will do what we don't want him to. Don't let me worry about it. ++ Let me grow patient & keep busy with living. Let me lay day - & lay down -& lay down - that I may take again. Deny - deny -deny- thyself. Mar. 24"-- In which I cannot face a frowning world. +++ Danny is head-strong & unreasonable, school stormy & discouraging, & my head fairly swims for want of rest - & all of these things move me. "Jesus - A Saviour" - I need nothing tonight so much as to be saved. Mar. 25"- There is a happiness in the bright morning when soul & body wake together strong for whatever comes.++ O if I can only keep tender, loving feelings & be patient nothing else shall worry me! Mar. 26"'74-- In which I am "pleasant to have about". The rarity of this accounts for its being recorded! The whole day has been like a hope of heaven. I love these new fresh days! Mar. 28"-- it seems so strange to feel the shackles of my work so unceasingly. I reproach myself for taking one moment to play. But rest is coming. April 1"-- In which i lift up mine eyes unto the hills & help cometh. There's spring enough to smell the sweet breath of pines, & see the water running, & watch the sunset glory on bare hill-tops. ++ I thought of Sue. She must bethe poetry of my life for there is no beautiful thing that does not bring me thoughts of her. All before this lay a day of hard work with a headache & thoughts roll & roll. April 7"-'74-- ++ School is such a treat to me when I feel like work - & I do today every inch of me. April 9"-- I go to prayermeeting & hear about living above the world. I know less about that than I once did. The work of this world - the hope of success draw me & chain me. ++ "Bringing every tho't into captivity to the obedience of Christ!" Ah, I have work to do-- There's mud & sow & spring is an ancient myth. April 10"-- ++ It's so nice with Mother today. What I shall do when I can'twork by her & talk to her next year I can't bring myself to think. April 14"-'74-- In which a wave of trouble rolls across my peaceful breast. It takes the form of a coal bill. I have been so in hopes those old bills could wait a little. I feel bound hand & foot this spring with Michigan before me. School partakes of the coal bill - so does the sitting-room & the coal stove! Not much "Broadfields" about me today! April 18"-- +++ Well - there's one thing - my salary is a comfort to other people! April 19"-- Heaven has sent us a reminder of itself in the day: a suggestion of what may be somewhere. I felt like resting my heart in thetenderness that is in the Almightiness. I asked for bread & he gave me a creed! never mind. The beauty of God & the glory are all about me. ++++ Mother & i have a nice visit. We talk of the time when Danny will be thro' school, & be a joy & comfort to us - when the old debts shall all be paid, & our new house shall be builded! April 23", '74-- +++ These are pleasant days to me after all; full of the work I live & the light of young faces & loving hearts. April 25"-- We are in another [woful] snow storm ++++ I suppose all we can do is to shovel paths & hope. +++ A letter from Cousin Mary lays hold of me: "You cannot do too much for your mother. If you could see things as Isee them now would love, trust & indulge her more than all the world." April 26"-'74-- The ninth regular snow-storm in the series was delivered today! ++ but there's cheer inside. I am very tender to Mother all day. Can anything ever take her from me? How weak I feel to keeps her! - & yet how strong! April 28"-- In which I don't know what to do with Fanny ++ If she had said anything today it would have been cross. ++ How thankful I am for the little sources of discipline. I wish I had enough more to make me behave. ++ O for power - for power to become a son of God! April 29"-- ++ I'm so cross I can'tstand it! +++ The mignonette, in the dear little bouquet that came yesterday, has helped. It holds me fast like soft hands touching mine in the dark. May3"-'74-- In which I consent to live. It begins to smile out of doors, & the desert places are going to blossom. +++ Mother & I chatter, chatter thro' the day. ++ I write to the boy, too: & I lie awake & think & pray that God will give his angels charge concerning him. He must ot break my Mother's heart. I think over & over what Mary wrote - "Trust her, love her, indulge her more than all the world." May 4"-- In which "heavy, heavy hangs over me." I go up the Monday steps slowly & not steadily. I ponder overin my heart the things R.G. said to me & I take fire. ++ I guess I shall stand it! I've had an extended course of standing it. +++ Comfort comes in the girls' prayermeeting. May 8"-'74-- ++ I think & think what we will all do & how we can get along: but nothing comes of it. In the meantime I write to Michigan & ask big questions. And so the days go. May 15"-- In which there is something new to be glad about - my copy of De Quincey. +++ There's an end to every trouble under the sun. Even examination papers will fade away. But there's no end to a joy. My books are durable riches. May 17"-- In which serene is thelight in the soft May weather." My heart rests & sings. ++ "O moment gone too soon & morning left behind!" The pale gray night comes down, & in the stillness I am left with God +++ He is nigh even at my doors. May 18"-'74-- In which one girl gets tired - too tired to think or be good. But as old Mr. ___ says: "It's a good deal to ask any body to be good all the time"! May 19"-- In which the things that make me tired are not less. "A lodge in some vast wilderness" has had a pleasant sound of late. +++ I am a living martyr to the present ideas of education: & I scold to myself about it which martyrs never do. May 24"-'74-- In which rest remaineth. ++ It has been a hard week. +++ My thoughts of heaven are alloyed with thoughts of work, & dreams that do not centre near the Throne. I never needed more a tidal wave to sweep over in my life & carry me out of myself. Will not God send it? Or must I always live this way? May 26"-- In which I am again in the crucible. === I go to bed but cannot sleep. Life touches me at so many points: & who is sufficient for these things? May 27"-- +++ My head fails me. Every little nerve sends up its feeble protest. But there is no help. I must workFanny still: & if she runs over & lets out cross things how shall we punish her? Ah, the punishment is swift & sure! There are nights of pain - unknown. June 2"-'74-- In which I find plenty to do. You may have heard something of this kind before! ++ This is Sir Launfal weather; & the nights are those in which Maud came into the garden. ++ Life is full of grammar & arithmetic & essays: but the blue is somewhere! June 6"-- In which my desires lie in the direction of a ride & not in the direction of Botany questions. But I do not take the ride & I do take the Botany. I can't set myself to work. I have to drag the child to it & pin her witha star. She has things on her mind & she is restless. June 9"-'74-- ++ School is pleasant. It's one of the days when I resolve to teach always. June 12"-- ++ I'm glad I'm just as I am - mostly. I'm so up when I am up & so down when I am down. But it's good to enjoy with all your might even tho' you suffer in the same way. June 29"-- In which our mode of life is primitive. ++ I wash windows & sweep, & contemplate my work as the gods eat ambrosia - in a fit of divine abstraction. ++ My greatest housewifely accomplishment consists in being able to be here washing windows, & being off somewhere else at the same time - in fingering & thinking at opposite ends. July 1"-'74-- In which chaos is no more. One only needs to move to be reminded of the creation. Cohoes-July 13"-- I am full of the summer pleasantness, & a quiet, restful content. I have a feeling as if I had just been converted: & what is that like but opening tired eyes & seeing the "place prepared" for the first time. July 17"-- In which I am in the middle of the pasture, & do not even put my head over the fence. July 21"-- In which courage predominates. She kind that works & will not stop - that dodges pain - &will not worry. Aug. 1"-'74-- In which August drips in. Greek & I are getting on very good terms now. +++ I don't jump around at my work & sing: I creep when I'm up & sit down pretty often. +++ The moment D. leaves me nights I worry & I worry until he comes in. It makes me feel better, little book, to tell you about it. If I could only look on & see him safe-! Aug. 5"-- In which my boy is good to me & shows me his best in our quiet talk. Almost every summer has had in it some intense longing which has been put into words only for God's ear. This time it is all for my boy - the pain & longing. God is God -"To doubt is still disloyalty". My neuralgia is assuming painful proportions. I am found pitying myself. Aug. 9"-'74-- In which it might have been glad & heartsome. That is hasn't been makes me toss & toss. buy why do I chronicle my tossings as if they were good things to keep? As if in God's world the aches & sorries did not perish & the bright things only live on? God tells us so much about blotting out. I sat up stairs a good while & the quiet made me over. Aug. 10"-- Everything at home has taken on the most uncomforting aspect. I do so want Mother to be at least a little happy: & I think &think & plan & plan - but the night takes it all up away from me. Aug. 15"-'74-- In which its time Sunday came. I love the Sundays - look, long, wait for them - most of all when I am with Mother. I keep in my heart most lovingly the memory of our Castleton Sundays. They'll be dearer than ever when the little mother is gone. What made me think of this? It must be because she is so pale & tired today. Aug. 17"-- In which I make great efforts to be a hero. My most desperate attempts have been in two directions - to study some, & to sit up straight & still & bear the toothache. I've a great desire to see someone who achieved heroism by this method. I'd like also to knowif two of their teeth ached. +++ The little Mother is better. Her face brightens & she is her own dear little self again - our everyday hero. Aug. 19"-'74-- After a wilderness I come upon a goodly heritage. I am requested to be in Castleton at one & "take charge of the Normal School". +++ I hasten to order me a hat, & walk as the head of a Normal School would be expected to walk: & I dream as girls dream. Forgive my weakness! Mother comes home springing. Castleton - Aug. 22"-- In which I am fully instructed as to the kind of charge I am to take of the Normal School. My reception at Castleton partakes of warmth: I am waited uponby the dignitaries of the town, & compose myself to a placid benignity in the hotel parlor. Developments are not slow: i soon see that taking charge does not mean taking charge at all. What I think of it will not now be recorded. In the meantime observe my benign placidity. Aug. 23"'74-- In which He strengthens my heart. I have so dreaded this Sunday without the little Mother. God has not let me miss Him, too. +++ I am ready to take the place I did not choose - to be subordinated & humiliated if it be His appointing. Aug. 24"-- I go to the task of filling up the Normal School with a vanishingcourage. Lilly C. comes & takes me to ride - carries me off to reverie & dreams. I do not come back as I went. I am so like a child about going into the deeps of a joy; & so not like a child in my efforts to rise above the heights a a sorrow. Aug. 25"-'74-- In which they sent Mr. Sherman to talk to me. It is the old story that is told to girls & women as they learn with every struggle that they contend with men. A college boy, because he is a boy, is preferred, without experience or years: & the woman is passed by. Ah! don't I know how it feels. A man, they tell me, "will give the school more of a name." Andso the letter is already on its way that recommends Mr. Hyde to the principalship of the Normal School; & I, who have loved it so, & worked for it so long am out of sight. The whole of me says, as I toss 7 toss, "I will not stay." Aug. 26"-74-- In which I look for God's answer in a calm that is strange & welcome. The drawing away of the profs in Castleton means, does it not? that I shall realized my dearly-loved purpose & see Michigan. Aug. 28"-- In which there is a high tide & low tide. ++ I find myself the joyful recipient of a letter or two stating the certain coming of a student or two;& in the same mail I find myself the woe-begone recipient of other letters stating the certain staying away of a student or two.! ++++ R.G. Williams is vanished from my horizon! I have lived to see this day! Aug. 30"-'74-- A day of peace in country places. +++ Tonight I could pray for my boy & it has seemed sure, so sure, that he should be preserved from evil, for my faith grows stronger & stronger. Sept. 1"-- In which the tendencies are domestic. I sit on the upper piazza & aspire to make good sheets! +++ The day is full of the thoughts that almost always come with stitches. Someof them are restless; but those that stay are calm & full of courage. I feel so sure that the best shall be for me & mine. Sept. 4"-74-- In which I am at the height of all dreariness. ++ Which means that the Normal School is not filling by tens & dozens. ++ How am I to get up any spirit? I must find a way out of this. Come-arouse! The generations are calling & you are not a hero! sept. 6"-- In which there comes a growing comfort & a Sabbath peace. I wish I could make myself feel something away down deep - as deep as I ever feel. What is going to come upon me to bring me out of this valley?Sept. 10"-'74-- +++ The Board has met & it is done. E.J. Hyde is principal. God is plainly calling me to do a hard thing - To stay here & take the lower place - to stand here in the dark & suffer! Sept. 13"-- In which I am quiet a few minutes. How well for me it is! Anybody like me ought to be quiet a great many minutes: but my life spins on ++ while all the time I am wishing so still to myself that I had a little home & my work could lie inside of it. +++ I take all my steps in a maze - for where do they lead? Sept. 21"-- +++ I come back from the dear little home-visit with the firm purpose of making all the peoplepossible glad that I am to live among them! Sept. 24"-'74-- In which my hands are unequal to their burdens. Oct. 3"-- In which the King comes to his own. ++ It seemed God's message when the doctor came & took us up to the lake & among the woods & hills. ++ Was I ever known to forget my rides -- they form epochs! Oct. 5"-- ++ This girl is a mystery unto herself. She might be always kind, tender-hearted, forgiving - but she is far from it. O-God help her! Oct. 7" +++ Work is a delightful solace tho' I can't talk & explain. I sit in a grim silence which means only sorrow.Oct. 9"-74-- In which the evening is long & quiet to myself alone - one of my lovely times when I can bear to look out upon things as they are & not lose heart Oct 11"-- In which the day is delighted in ++++ It is easy to be homesick but I won't let me. ++ Everything cosy [cozy], even a cosy [cozy] thought, is a comfort - & I find a few. Oct. 12"-- ++ My courage is slowly coming back, as the old work is taken up & the put-away things are taken out. How funny all my dreams see - I who was to have been at Michigan! Oct. 13"-- ++ A metamorphosis going on. A cross girl is to be fixed over into a sunny girl. Come & see!Oct. 14"-74 ++++ The girl wakes & clings - oh, how she clings! - to the hand held out to her - lest a cross word come - a heartless word - God help her! I think the struggle going on down here in the dark is part of the battle for Christ. I can feel Him so much nearer since the conflict began. Nov. 2"-- In which the leaves go & the comforts begin to take their place. Nov. 3"-- In which the girl wonders how so many happy things could come at once. Nov. 4"-- In which mine is the deep joy, the unspoken fervor the sacred fury of the fight! This is one of the days when the girl likes to talk to herself - & to God. What she says in those still moments,let us hope will make her what she finds it so hard to be. Nov. 11"-'74 +++ I am clasped in the cold arms of Duty! This is why I am not at Michigan. You find me a favorite phantom chased & not graceful Sophomore. I am learning - how slowly! - not to expect all things to move for one girl. Nov. 17" ++++ I've not watched this girl today & I feel - as if it would never be helped. Do I not know the sunless depths that come after such a day? Am I never to be helped? Or must I be shown & shown & shown that without Him I can do nothing? Nov. 24"-74-- +++ There's a girl here that's wanting to go home. Some days she never hears the cars : today every car-ring goes thro' her. +++ I don't believe she is sorry down in her heart for this hard day. The pain is so sweet - the help so precious. +++ The home letter teases the child to come. Danny, bless the loving boy-heart! - sends dear words to me. Nov. 25"-- In which this looks pretty hard. ++ The joy that I can do it makes my face bright as I kiss the girls off & watch the trains go. How good life is even such times! Dec. 2"-- In which I make the world a little brighter for some people. +++ I take some time tobewail that I have downs as well as ups. This is also a source of regret to those who have to do with me! I stand the girl up straight & say, "Are you comfortable to have about? Then I'll know how much of a Christian you are." +++ I tell you what you may believe it or not but I'm good today. I've embraced Miss W. 1 I try to radiate geography & make the highways of grammar & arithmetic glorious. Hard job! Dec. 5"-74-- in which it's about so! Dec. 16"-- in which I come to a standstill. Dec. 19"-- in which I embrace my Mother & enter into rest. +Dec. 27"-- In which I come to a great calm.Jan. 8-/75-- Gives me the idea! I comprehend at once about what I've got to come to. I can get a good deal in a taste! All the joy there is in holding a girl down tight & making her stay is mine to the full. How thankful I ought to be for blessings like these! Jan 26"-- Shows me prospects of continued discipline. I fight at the very thought. I raise up an armed insurrection in my heart : but there's nothing to do but quell it & meet my fate. Jan. 29"-- Has to go chasing about for endurance. It is a pitiable sight. One can't gaze upon martyrs every day. Jan. 30"-/75-- Gets where the Dark is. These are cheering pages. What an addition they would be to the literature of the desponding! Such chroniclings of love rising triumphant over frowning worlds - of a brave will conquering & defying fate - of a patience that is not afraid to walk alone! Let the heroic record stand for "some forlorn & shipwrecked brother," +++ I go sorrowing these days for appreciation. Isn't this high moral courage? Feb. 2"-- Brights & darks alternate. Anything like a bright even with a dark tied to it comes as hopeful as the sounding tread of a victorious army to the waiting prisoners in the city!Feb. 3"-75-- Floats me about - My catch words do not of late convey any idea of fixedness. I am a spar floating, or a spindle whirling, or a speck wherving, or a piece of endurance chasing about. Feb. 12"-- Pushes into worries. The way there is so plain that I never lose the path. Feb. 16-- The girl thinks that she will do a great deal but she doesn't - she worries. She sees herself in the midst of things she ought to help: & some of them she does help - & the rest torture her. Feb. 19-- Do take a chair! That's the way people talk to you when your back aches. People whose backs never ache lay out the straight & narrow path.Mar. 4-/75-- I was glad to creep under the shadow of a trouble greater than mine. Glad to think of the eternal peace into which another soul has drifted. Mar. 21"-- Sunday - strengthens my heart. I am always so glad to see the Sundays come: & the Sundays here this year have been particularly dear & holy to me. Mar. 28-- Sunday - makes me fitter to live. ++ At church the flowers told us of resurrection & the sunshine made us glad. Mr. __ had caught none of the Easter joy. He threw his sermon at us, fiercely. April 2"-- All the melancholy verses of the forlorn poetswould apply. Minor strains wail through the rain. I grow & increase in ability to worry. What becomes of my religion such days as these? Cohoes - April 3"-75-- Is ready for a hallelujah or two! Delectable mountains have risen between yesterday's rain & today's clear blue, as I rush towards home & the little mother waiting on the hill. April 4"-- Being allowed to wake up in a christian manner is an ecstasy I had almost forgotten. I have been rung up so long! I never felt so tired before.Castleton - April 26"-/75 It looks as if there were a demand just now for a heart for any fate! I'm not on a quest for the immortal glory part of anything. To see me mount heights (stairs especially) would give you the most painful sensations. +++ I crawl on - & doze & doze when I can - & call it getting along. "Lift up your eyes & see!" April 30" - So glad not to have a headache. So glad to go into the schoolroom & find so much work waiting for me. I had thought for a little while that I could never go into the schoolroom again.May 13"-75. Something lovely & new is being done out of doors every day. It rests me so - I can teach 7 teach & not get tired a bit. It makes me just as happy in my work as I can be. The poetry of the May weather steals in & makes rhyme even out being rung up, rung down, rung out, rung in. June 21"-- Dreams of a better world. Anybody could with a lap full of essays. I know of nothing more likely to awaken thought of a heaven for you & a heaven for me! "How do you do it?" says Ignorance. "Why, re-write them, stupid!"June 24"-/75-- You'd better be careful, Fannie. There's always somebody near enough to get a part of your shadows. June 29" - Cohoes - The home door swings wide for me. God keeps me still a mother to be glad I came! July 1"-- Many of the interesting details which have hitherto been all-absorbing to this journalist will appear no more. There will be no more mention of bells or of anything that may, can, must, might, could, would or should be done. There will be only resting & dreaming with no money in it anywhere! I want it under-stood that I want my dreams aerial, etherial [sic] - that kind. July 3-/75-- I delight to record a visit with my mother & her mother in the open door. This is a good world as long as the mothers stay in it. July 5"-- Mother's short cake roused all our slumbering patriotism. We sat & loved the country where such berries could grow. July 17"- Crawford - ++ I've left the hard part for this last little corner. A little place is big enough to fret in. I've come to a standstill. But the Lord knows what to do with me. I am trusting a little.July 18"-/75--Knows how His love went before me each day. It came with all its beauty giving no sign. Night ended in day while yet tired eyelids lay upon tired eyes. July 23"-- My early ride was perfection itself. Such an air as I have not breathed since I left heaven, long ago. July 25"--Sunday - Lives in sunlight. Aug. 3"-- Lives in a What shall I do? +++ Everyday it seems harder to go anywhere & leave Mother. Weak-hearted girl! But she does love Mother so! [O years]! speak tonight. Open just a little way & tell me things.Aug. 4"/75-- Things look better to me today - brighter. As if I could do things - sometime. As if mother should have a quiet, happy old age. Aug. 9"-- Brings so much. ++ I was so happy I woke up in the night to think about it. I felt so good all day. Nothing could mar it. Aug. 19"-- Cohoes - Horrifies me! This page is for the desponding. It starts out as if it might be so bracing. +++ Yes, it comes over me - the darkness & hopelessness of things. Looking forward makes my heart sink, & I seem not to touch the solid earth. Why I never can go & feel like this. I never felt so before.Aug. 22"-/75-- Has a hope in it - that the head will be better tomorrow. +++ Talks at home have been more cheerful. It looks a little as if it would not seem quite so dreadful to go away. Taking up a new life in a new place, among indifferent faces sets me to hunting up all my courage, just to think of it. Aug. 29"-- [Woos] me away from life's tangles & perversities. It seems easy for such things to heap up, & where the biggest heap is you'll see me standing round most generally!Aug. 30"-/75-- I got up with the spirit of the morning in me, & everything that came near me touched some happy spring. Sept. 7"--the part of me that tosses & dreads things finds this a shut-up summer. Sometimes it will not rest on the promises that lie like solid rock under my life. It wonders if the time for sacrifice is come - if the taking what I so wish & yet dread to take is God's will for me - It wonders if anybody at home must give up one little hope or joy to give me this. Sept. 8"-- Keeps me pondering. These are bright days. Whowould think that in such days anyone would flounder in the dark asking questions. But I know who does. Sept. 11"-- Waxes not valiant. ++ It took me way out of myself to watch the hills tonight. I realized then that there was a shadow to lift. Such a dreary miserable sickness these days. Next week I must be better. It can't last always. There's been good cheer at home today. Sept. 16"-- Looks forward too much - & back plenty enough. What I fail in is "lending a hand". I look enough to supply all the demands. +++ Why-how can I make you know how dreadful going away looks to me! Sept. 23"-- Fixes clouds in the sky. It seems as if they were fixed to stay - as if it would never be bright & glad in my world again. ++ I can't say, "Not as I will." I hold up defiant hands at fate. I can be a weak little girl & cry & cry & cry. I keep thinking "I will be well - I must go." Have I not asked God all summer to tell me what is best?Sept. 24"-75--Lets the sun shine in. I kept looking to the hills all day & thinking how lovely it was. ++ Today my heart doesn't say "I will go" - it just waits. sept. 25"-- Stands in the dark & suffers. +++ The doctor has been seen - we know now. The day was so bright it almost seemed as if I couldn't ask anything but what I should have. Not so. It gives not & it takes. It falls upon me. Be He knows - that God for that. Sept. 26" - Sunday - All alone with the day & the pain. Sept. 29"-- Has a little help in it. In any trouble howI dread the first waking thoughts - those that come before we are wholly ourselves to face things & get courage together. Oct. 3"-/75. I noticed how bright everything was this morning because I wanted it so. +++ A long ride up the hill & drearier thoughts than I shall ever tell you or any one. I go off to bed alone with them. Oct. 4"-- Anybody would think I might revolve a little even on a creaking axis : but there wasn't any such thing done. I decide to think today & achieve tomorrow. Oct. 9"-- Has a ring of triumph in it. ++ God's great sunrisehasn't found me out but one of the best little earthly ones has. Oct. 13"-/75-- I pray so to get better - to be well. I will be so careful of the child if she will only get so she can walk once more. It is so hard to sit still these days & wait. But His grace is near. Oct. 14"-- Looks out for courage. Do you think it failed to come. It did not - it is there - ready - sure. +++ I am really getting better - O am I not? Isn't something the least little bit better? I get so sure of it - I feel way up. Oct. 17"-/75. +++ It makes me wish for the work - some work - any work. O God! anything but this! Nov. 14"-- Tosses - as it did one day before. +++ There's nothing down-hearted in the talk & I keep where Mother & the children are a great deal. When I do go off by myself the white chrysanthemums make me cry. The little thoughts that come of mother are so dear & close. In my thought of what I am to do or be I find myself in a perfect struggle. I can feel my heart beat as I try to decide which way is best - as I try to know just what God means for me. I try to see His way -but, oh, I so want His way & mine to be the same. Mother doesn't say much - O if I only knew what to do! Oct. 15"-/74-- ++ I go down to River St for Agnes - my one sister. I feel kind of sorry for this child as she trudges along, choking back the tears, as she thinks how hard it is to plan to go to Smith College - & how much she wants to do for Mother & the children. Well - well - we won't feel sorry. We'll just work all we can & trust God for the rest. Nov. 16"-- It's a pull & haul day. +++ I hate to have Mother get tired. I would so love to have a home for herfree from all this - just as some mothers have it. Nov. 22"-/75-- I go down to the doctor's & come back on wings. He says I am better - that I may get well. What could I hear that would be like this to me? Nov. 25"-- Thanksgiving - "Rejoice in hope." The girl that was down yesterday, down at the bottom of the hill where it is lonely, lonely, is way up today. I was so glad all day just be at home. Nov. 27"-- Mr. Johnson's words to Gertie about Vassar for me seem like an answer straight from God. I have so prayed that if there was any other way He wouldmake it known. Nov. 28"-/75-- ++ I think of Vassar & think, & think, & wonder if it is for me. Wonder what God's answer will be. Dec. 2"-- Brings the answer! I believe it is from God -- I believe I shall go. I get all my Latin books out & begin to climb the mountain is before me. Dec. 3-- Associates itself with dark closets. This is where I get some days & peep out on life thro' chinks. Dec. 10"-- A little better - a little brighter - but so tired! How could she study with the pain & the restlessness? +++ I can't bear lately to think how much I love mymother. Oh how close they lie - the tenderness & the pain! Dec. 11"-75-- "Let me hide myself in Thee!" Dec. 12"-- Gives me rest - not because I am worthy, but because He is good. Dec. 18"-- Insists on being an anniversary! +++ I feel stronger today & very hopeful. 1876 Jan. 6"-- A day when the steps turn away from home & toward a new unknown. One of the solemn days when we touch reverently all the little things that we must leave. +++ The last rolling away - the space between & the beginning of the great loneliness that already threatens to swallow meup. The ride up the hill to Vassar - the first look at its walls in the moonlight! Jan. 8-'76-- Will I go & be Lady Principal of Waynesburg College? says my letter. We will see. Jan. 10"-- A day when things don't begin. It takes an interminable length of time to get planted here. One has to be laid above ground sever days. +++ Jan. 14"-- ++ When I think of where I am & how I came here & what I have the chance to do my heart grows so warm, so glad that I know I can bear anything. +++Jan. 19"/76-Vassar-- A day when I lived tho' it! ++++ I feel a little fresh & good with the first of things: but on into the day I get to wondering what is to become of me. Jan. 20"-- A day when I stand like one bewildered. As given below: I want that position on Waynesburg. I just do. I want the course here - I just do. I don't know what to do - I just don't. ++ Jane. 22"-- ++ For me, the hermit, there was plough boy's work without the plough-boy's whistle. ++ Five pages of Cicero's first Oration, interrupted with flashes of Waynesburg. A solitary walk with a storm threatening, & my perplexities also threatening. Never mind. When I am oppressed Hewill undertake for me. +++ Jan. 26"-/76-Vassar-- A day when my career continues to be spectre-like. To stop & think about it, which we never get time to do here, it is easy to appreciate the feelings of a phantom, gliding thro' these halls & sailing around these woods! Never to be thought about, or missed, or noticed! ++++ Jan 27"-- A day when I will be glad anyway! +++ Jan. 28"-- To remove my spectre habiliments & find somebody that wants to talk to me because they do & not because I am alone, or a stranger, or woe-begone, is now the desire of my heart! +++Feb. 1"-/76-V/C.-- A day when there's a great flutter of things. Things here means heart. Put in the plural because I have a great many of them & all fluttering. +++ Feb. 22"-- A day when I sould keep his memory green! +++ God help me to fulfill in my life the best, the noblest wishes of the dead father, & care always for the one boy he fain would have taken with him! ++++ Feb. 25"-- +++ Worst siege yet encountered in V.C. Miserable floundering in Greek, & another squelch in Horace. I do get up stairs at last. Cry it out! +++ A day without a smile from any human being: & a long stretch of hard work without a letter. Vassar - Mch 5-76 +++ had my everyday siege of homesickness - the awful sort. No dear little Mother to come in. ++ Why can't I have her a few minutes? +++ Mch 24"-- Not a day to be blue in. Everything above & around laughed & shouted or was just going to. +++ Greek & dinner - neither in any demand by yours truly. A feeble attempt to walk. Abandoned! No more attempts to chronicle except the scramble to live tho' the President's prayer. April 4"-- ++ A great many bodies are packing. Found Laura Skinner at it & ventured to say "What does this mean?" "It means 'Exit Skinner'", quoth she. ++++April 13" '76 - Cohoes-- Here's a girl no good to anybody, wriggling this way 7 that under excess of aches & ills +++ looking forward to day after day just like this, pitiless & grim. What a queer standstill I've come to! Let's talk about the lilies in the window How they grow; & the pin, how fast it is opening to the light-- & the baby at the neighbor's window-- & Grandma so safely past the din & the struggle-- & of a sure safe time past all this weariness. No - it isn't for nothing that we hope & dream. April 17"-- ++ How comfortable that big rocking chair is with the huge pillows. This is the bestlife & the world can do for me now. The best I can do for me now. The best I can do for myself is to wait in patience for the sunshine to come back. April 19",/76 - Cohoes-- A day when the story reads not a bit as I had written the plot! There's just about as much of the awfulness of living on as there was when I came home - & I ought to be in V.C. this very day. +++ The doctor leaves some miserable little concoctions, vile & ineffectual, & says I'm pretty bad off. No, I aint neither! There's fifty years in me yet - good solid ones too! Cohoes - April 20"-76-- A day when I have "hurries to go". There are all beginning down there, & I'm up here fenced in. +++++ Sunday-April 2[5]"-- +++ It seems a myth to me that I ever got up Sunday morning & walked down to church - ever got up at all in fact. Little snatches of minutes between the pain - these take the place of all larger ambitions. ++++ April 24"-- It's surprising how little I can get her to caring. Dying or coming back to life - it seems all one to me +++ April 25"-- ++ The nights are very long. The great thoughts - the thoughts that have carried methro' so many unfilled hours - will not come to help me. But God's promises come & lift my heart up into the blessed places. +++ April 26",/76-- +++ How could I love my home more than I do? If God will only let me be well again - well enough to work! But I lie here waiting. I may be taken & these left. ++ "O God our help in ages past - Our hope for years to come!" April 27"-- +++ I get more & more glad of little things: a little brightness - a little ease from pain - a scrap from out of doors - all these have it in them to bless me. As my horizon narrows - as Isee this denied on one hand, and that taken away on the other, I stop resisting, & cease to demand. ++ Just as if at first we should want all outdoors & should say at last, "If I can only have this one green plant in my window!" Vassar-May 17"-'76-- Given a problem to work upon: To want to do a great deal - wonderful things - to be set in a place where everybody is driving ahead & turning out wonders - & then be forbidden to exert yourself under penalty of forfeiting forever all you want to do & be - & then be patient & unworn & light-hearted! ++++Vassar - June 1"-76-- Light & beauty enough out doors to fill us, satisfy us - if we would be good & rest in it. ++ I feel stronger to do & bear, today. O, if I could only walk! June 5"-- Dug a little at Greek with Laura. The Greek words took it upon themselves to be clothed in unsearchable forms & Laura says, "Lets hang ourselves!" ++++ June 10"-- Sprang to my feet with a delicious sense of joy in the early morning - of being glad I'm here - of an assurrance [sic] in my heart that my steps are ordered by the Lord & a determination that I won't be troubled. ++++Cranford-July 8"'76-- ++ I just love Susie, & it makes me happy as I need to be. Her home is beautiful to me - & someway i seem to breathe only when she is looking at me. ++ Aug. 30" ++ I am in the delicious dream of a may-be college. Dare I try it? I am asking God. His plan for me is larger, nobler than mine. Vassar-Sept. 29'-- +++ I know what one week of Trig. is. Fifteen more come up from the statistical corner of me - don't say grimly! You can't afford to be grim - 15 weeks. It is Friday - a breathing-space let down. It's like prairie-land between Fri. 11:50, & Mon. 8:15 - a smoothgreen stretch all level! Huldah keeps up an intermittent dig - that is her measure of prairie-land & hill-regions. Polly's digs lie in the last five minutes before she goes to something. Sept. 30"-76-- ++ Don't know who is steeped in homesickness! Oct. 10"-- +++ I got up this morning wishing I didn't have to. More cold, more strain, more something to make me an exact misery. ++ Laura lets me lie still & says nonsense rhymes to me whereat I rejoice. Laura's new word is "whaeck"! Oct. 11"-- More to get up for - so it sort of somehow seemed. This suggests Prof. Hinkel's[Greek letters]- & also especially those! We have actually left Chap. I in Herodotus. There is every indication of our making a continuing city of Chap. II. "Come up & gaze upon the felicities of cot-beds". I go. "This was the out-cropping of our brains", explained Laura. Oct. 13"-/76-- I come to it aching - I got tired - the big kind - over my rally in cosines. ++ The little Greek man says, "I will explain & then we will go on". So we sit & are poured into. It's a way he has. Huldah get a letter & goes around saying, "Poor Aunt Mag! poor Aunt Mag isdead." Somebody's always dead in the letters Huldah gets. Polly's letter makes her shout. It comes pealing forth from the bed-room & I take a new lease of life. Blessed Polly! +++ Oct. 16"/76-- A sort of clear grit morning. It is not brilliancy I astonish people with in Trig. - nor brevity. My demonstration only covers one wing of the college! +++++ Oct. 20"-- I am tired out trying to make my girl attend to things today. I had to make her get up in the first place - tendencies all against me. Then she staid up, in a dreadful poking way,keeping me pushing her up to this & steeling her against that: but now I've comforted her with the assurance that today is a kind of exception & tomorrow she won't ache in so many places. ++ O - one of my low-down days! Nov. 3",/76 - Vassar-- A sort of uplifting all thro'. I pray for days like this - ready for anything - glad in what is. Nov. 4"-- My birthday & how bright it was! ++ I had to be glad - there must be no dark guesses, no restlessness. There was help to see "the real whole best." "God is known in her palaces for a refuge."Nov. 5"/76 - Vassar - Sunday & I have lots of time to think how many days it is before I go home. ++ I believe if there was only a day between me & Mother I should think that day would never end. I am sure I never wanted home so - or tossed so to see it. Nov. 9"-- Could I get up? could I stay up? Rather singular questions from a girl who has Senior Greek & Sophomore Latin on her hands! There was a great mustering of forces: every available one was summoned, & I did squeeze through the day some how. +++ I have seen Dr. Webster. She makes no mention of death's door, but speaks of a time when I shall be well - bless her!Nov. 15"/76 - V.C.-- Huldah says that in the Bates Mitchell's class they are all "revolving around the marks." Heaven help them! Dec. 19" - Cohoes-- A good deal to it that wasn't consoling. I come home to add to Mother's troubles &, as far as I can see, to be of not the slightest use to any body. +++ Miss -- comes in like a fresh morning breeze. I'm so devoutly thankful to be relieved of my thoughts for an hour or so. Dec. 23"-- +++ I wish very much for the use of my feet. Have longings for the pretty shop windows, & the people withbundles & pleasant secrets to keep; want to see the cutters skip along; want to get stirred up. Instead of that I am a city set on a hill. But Aggie brings some of the good cheer home : there's almost always a next best. +++ Dec. 27"/76-Cohoes +++ D. brings up two tickets for the concert. "Can Fanny go?" It has not yet got fully settled here that "Fanny" can't "go" - can't ever go. She say "No - ask Emma." +++ Go! isn't it one of the nights when she would scream if she could go!1877. Jan. 1"--- I've found out how the courage of one is the courage of the souls that live near it: that good cheer is nothing short of an atmosphere: and even of a little patience the world has need! ++++ The worries that we began last year with are most of them here to start out with us again. +++ But I am a little surer that the storms are in the lower strata. We shall get above them by and by. I have reason to be more sure of a few things than I was a year ago. "I tell you that One knocked while it was dark."Jan. 2",'77--- The spell of silence is broken at last. Somebody has sent me a written communication. Huldah is noted for breaking silences. It is her voice, grim and inauspicious, that comes summarily into dark mornings : her alarm is that it is six and something, and I am too far gone to contest the point - usually. ++++ Jan. 3" ++ My letter from __ makes me feel rich - well-to=do in the world. I won't say that there were any bluish tendencies for her to counteract, but still I view her eight pages in the light of a "marcy".Jan. 6:, '77--- D. says, he starts to go, "Oh, I forgot!" and hands me - why, it was one of the loveliest things - L.s letter! What a new face everything wears for me. Jan. 10"--- V.C. and no. 11,d once more enfold me. Polly and the girls come at me. And - well, there's an example in Trig. for tomorrow with two solutions and six answers! Ye fates! I spend silent time with L. - bless her! Jan. 14"-- A severe talk on the married state - Parlor 12 all there. L. comes in for the woful [sic] summing up -- "It's a wuzzly world!" L. thinks there area few happy marriages - not many, perhaps, but a few! H. sets her foot down - "None - whatever!" We feel the projection of the great circle of hopelessness crossing our celestial equator. We turn reverently to the Greek of Matthew. There's no hopelessness there - no dragging down sensations. "Come to me" it says. Well - we are tired children, and He knows. Jan. 15",'77-- Head streaks of disaster in it. But then - why should you sing, "Increase my courage, Lord" if there's never anything going to happen to make courage, and lots of it, the thing to have?You were torn up by the roots when you got out of bed this morning, and you lay around on top all day. +++ It's L. who packs up 82 and brings it down stairs for my present comfort. Jan. 16", '77-- We aren't going to have any mournfulness about this business. You've got it on hand and we see you wriggling it through. Trot right along. You stand up before Prof. B. gladiator-fashion, and impress her with the fact that you embraced a hot water bottle last night and not Trig.-aches, and not cosines. She doesn't act as if you were confessing incendiarism to her, and you sit down,meekly, as is your wont. You persevere through half a chapter of "thought-weighted Thucydides" with L. and then her good angel comes down and enlivens the world by Keeping you up from tea, spreading for you a famous little supper in 82, and making you feel the blessedness there is in love. Jan. 24","77-- To be sure you didn't have your Trig. but as L. says, "That's nothing!" "Same problem for tomorrow," says the sharp-eyed Professor in drab. "You may get it." Another little supper with L. in 82. You peep into "Sights & Insights" while she lays the cloth and brings out the cunninglittle cups. She buzzes about & you call it "being out to tea", and almost forget you are a Sophomore with aspirations. Jan. 15, 1877-- For steady help from outside give me a day of sunshine. It is impossible to feel that you are fighting single-handed as long as there is sunlight that will not forsake you. ++++ There are lots of things left over that you wanted to do. Left over for when? We shall see. Meantime we are glad - glad for life just as it is this minute. Jan. 27".-- Undermining forces are at work again. You've heard about such days before.this week, though it ends with full noon, has had its hard places : but which one would I have had left out if I could? "Until He says 'Come up higher', let us be content at the foot of the board." Feb. 2", 1877-- For one day freedom from that pain has not left you for weeks before, and that has made everything you did so hard. You almost know, for a little breath, what the better day will be. Feb. 4"--"It's a lovely day, Fanny. Wish you could go to walk." Have not yet attained to any such paradise. Yet nights I dream of walking. +++ "Edith isgoing to read some of Hale's Christmas stories - don't you want to come up?" Inclination wanted props. Supplied by the maiden who wanted to know - "a maiden who wanted to know - "a very young Freshman". Feb. 5", 1877.-- A review of Herodotus is about to be entered upon. I like this way of taking it - viz. me on the bed, pillowed. L. in a chair, with dic. "Curtins" and most of it in mind, gives me exact meanings and optatives "with and without ar". I, purely receptive. Then we have crackers, and beff-tea, and Jam up in her room, and I am spared the dining-room. ++ Great uncomfort-ableness today. If I only could feel better! "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me!" Feb. 8",/77-- Trig is over & gone. The examination did not bear as strong a resemblance to "the Assyrian" that "came down" as we had darkly pictured, though there was a slight disproportion between the number of questions and the number of minutes. ++++ How we've laughed today! but tonight we sit very still. To think that this was coming! Sunday, Feb. 11"-- The first thing was the breath of the flowers. Then the dawning sense that this wasthe last day - that the little Greek books lying in the window meant nothing any more. i got up with my trouble and went out where the girls were. Everything has been very sweet all day. My comfort has been thought of and thought of till I am strangely confused at being so cared for. ++ To see the day die over Sunset Hill and know it is the last time for weeks 7 weeks--! Feb. 12"-/77. +++ The sight of the little Greek books in the window, where we left them last Thursday, is more than I can bear. When I am bravest I can't look at that window. +++ It's all over now. I see them waving to mefrom the platform - my train moving slowly away. One of the hard times, Frances - one of the very hard times. "O Lord! only to be made like Thee in Thy great love!" Home - where are those who care also - who care most! Feb. 14", 1877-- Last night I woke in the night and heard Mother praying. It went to my heart and left the sorest kind of an ache there. How can I die when I know she wants me like this! If she were anywhere - anywhere in this wide earth and wanted me I would go. But how can I if it is that River I must cross? Bit it isGod she is talking to. Her cause is safe with Him. Feb. 15", 1877. "Faint yet pursuing" - to have this said of you because you washed a handful of dishes! Think of coming to this! Feb. 16"-- Yes'm. I keep very very still. These are not days for talking. I would not like to write what I am living. It is all too solemn, and I shall remember it all. It is not such days as these that we forget. Feb. 17".-- Saturday night - in the harbor, I. My boat rocks gently as the night comes down. There are cities full of busy people buying & selling; but I seemout of it all - with the feeling of one who is to be forever out of it. "Under His wings thou art come to trust!" Feb. 19", 1877.-- I feel as if I were following somebody over a thorny path between tall hedge-rows - and yet I know that it is not a stranger that I follow. Albany, Feb. 20"-- +++ I watched the little mother's gray shawl and black dress and little bonnet out of sight. I think after that I had the heartache. Tonight it seems as if there could be nothing grander than to have, like the Lord Jesus, power to heal such trouble as mine.
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Title: Frederick L. Ritter: Vassar College music professor, 1867-1891
Creator: Notman, William
Description: Head and shoulders picture of Frederick L. Ritter with mustache and beard. He is wearing a white shirt and dark suit.
Date: 18--

Title: Adams, Ruth -- to family, Jan. 1901:
Creator: Adams, Ruth
Description
Date: January 14, 1901
Text: Vassar Friday Dear people:- How nice it seems not to have any lesson tomorrow. We are going to bed rather early tonight. This morning in English we had rather a nice time, particularly as it only lasted about had an hour. We were taken over into the studio and had pictures thrown onto a sheet for [?]. We had to take notes on them for writing themes and essays about later. First they showed us Mona Lisa and Beatuce Cruice and are to take eitherone for our next essay. There they gave me a...
Show moreVassar Friday Dear people:- How nice it seems not to have any lesson tomorrow. We are going to bed rather early tonight. This morning in English we had rather a nice time, particularly as it only lasted about had an hour. We were taken over into the studio and had pictures thrown onto a sheet for [?]. We had to take notes on them for writing themes and essays about later. First they showed us Mona Lisa and Beatuce Cruice and are to take eitherone for our next essay. There they gave me a portrait of Van Dyck by himself and a peasant of millet to compare them. Then the Madonna of Botticelli you have over the piano and that Madonna among the Rocks by Leonarda di Vinci. Do you remember where that was and who the other woman besides Mary was. We have had the greatest discussions about it. Then we had math and Miss Richardson gave me a lecture on taking exercise and held the English up as an example to me. I wish youcould have heard her. She told us to take walk before lunch and a nap after lunch and go for a walk for at least 2 hours. She said the English woman accomplished twice as much as we did in the same time because they were about to concentrate their minds. An American's girls conscience is only satisfied when she studies all the time while and English girl tries to get her work done in as short a time as possible. I thought I would walk around before lunch, and while I was out I met Miss Richardson. so I told her to see how she had impressed me that I took her advice immediately. And she patted her on the arm (right on my vaccination spot) and said, that was right and I was a little girl who needed a great deal of fresh air. She had noticed. I am quite a favorite apparently. But it is perfectly true, I feel miserably if I don't get out. Thursday it poured all day and I felt dreadfully and didn't sleep that night as well as usual. So Friday I went out notwithstanding it was stillpouring and had frozen during the night, and the roads were covered with ice and very slippery. Helen Graves and I walked into town and out again. They fixes me all up nicely. I had a pair of leather gaiters, that came up to my knees from Dubir; and Edith gave me her maclinetoch which made short enough by taking a tuck in it, and I had on my shortest skirt and was very fine. People were perfectly astounded when they head we had been way into town on such a day, but it didn't so us any harm and I felt much better. What do you think I am going to do. Cara and I have been asked to bin the next hall play, just as figures you know. There are to be a whole lot of us and it's more fun. Dubie and I are to carry a sedan chair & Cora and all the others are in a ruffian crew. The play is "Les Romantic" by Rostand and is capital. Saturday afternoon we went to a rehearsal and had more fun. It is going to be very good I think. Margaret Jackson is to be the hero and she acts beautifully. Saturday morning it snowedand I went out for a walk and did some studying. I someway can't get up my courage to being reviewing anything, but I suppose I must get down to it. All the teachers advise us to very strongly. My sweater foes beautifully. Saturday evening I went to a German play. it was so funny. The name of it was "Das Schwert des Damarkles" and the girls did finely. Our cheeks fairly ached when we came away we had laughed so. This morning we lay in bed until 10-30 as usual. Lucile & Edith brought us some bread and butter and milk.Then we had morning Chapel which bishop Potter bed. He gave us a fine sermon Poor Prexi had to read the lessons, and he had forgotten his glasses so he had to put his nose right down into the bible on the reading desk. Poor thing. I couldn't sympathize. Then at dinner I asked Elizabeth Allen to come to the table, because you see there is an empty place as Miss Hastings is taking her vacation now. After dinner Cora and I went for a walk up on Sunset hill, and she forgot to put her fibber on and so got her feet soaked, so that she had to spend quite a time drying them. And while she did it she read aloud to me, and I lay on her sofa. We have read the first chapter of "Alice of Old [?] Do you know it? Then we had a spell of writing letters and then the sweetest little black kitten came to call on us. That is I heard her crying outside the door so I went and let her in. She was evidently making the best of her way down to the parlors and I thought she ought to be intercepted. She was a very agreeable cat, as Miss Will and used to say. Then we wrote letters some more while the cat enjoyed herself on my bees. And then Lucile came down to get us to go for a walk and we were in our wrappers and very lazy, and couldn't make up our minds whether we wanted to go or not. So we tossed up for it and found we had to go. Then it took a long tim to get dressed (Lucile was very much disgusted). But finally we got up and went up Sunset again and saw the sunset. Which was glorious and then went down into the glen, which was perilous and the path is very steep and it was all icy. Then we sat on the bridge over the little stream and sang hymns while the dark evening mists rose from the water and the darkness and chill fell around us. Then we continued our way home in the dark and just had time to get ready for supper. I think you would be interested to hear what Cora heard while shewas taking her bath this morning. one girl was telling another what they had had for breakfast. First some hot chocolate, then some sardines and crackers next mince pie and peaches. Wasn't that delightful? Do you want me to send Miss Sawns a Vassar Cataloge, and if so will you send her address. You see my pen has arrived. I never was so lad to get anything. How much did you have to Pay. O, My watch keeps coming open. Do you think it would be safe to trust somebody here to fix it? Ruth Prof. George B Adams 57 Edgehill Road New Haven Conn‘ Vii, _ v(,‘_ 11 _‘_ ‘X4, 3 _ Y‘),-‘lf
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Title: Alida C. Avery, 1872 or 1873: Vassar College physician, 1865-1874
Creator: Slee Bros. (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)
Description: Head and shoulders, oval picture of Alida C. Avery as a mature woman wearing a white collar, dark cross and dark, button-down clothing.
Date: 1872 or 1873

Title: to Nathan Bishop, 2 Aug 1867
Creator: Vassar, Matthew, 1792-1868
Description: Regarding portraits of members of the Board of Trustees to be hung in the Art Gallery.
Date: August 2, 1867
Text: August 2d 1867 Doct. Nathan Bishop L.L.D My dear Sir Some time ago I called your attention as Chairman of the Ex. Board of Trustees of " Vassar College " to a suggestion made by me of the propriety of the latter furnishing at their own expense thier respective half lenght potraits for to be hung up in the Art-Gal- lery, and more especialy do I desire this in as much as my Likeness in Oil & soon will be added the Marble Bust, and then perhaps a Bronse Statute,—a lavish ex-...
Show moreAugust 2d 1867 Doct. Nathan Bishop L.L.D My dear Sir Some time ago I called your attention as Chairman of the Ex. Board of Trustees of " Vassar College " to a suggestion made by me of the propriety of the latter furnishing at their own expense thier respective half lenght potraits for to be hung up in the Art-Gal- lery, and more especialy do I desire this in as much as my Likeness in Oil & soon will be added the Marble Bust, and then perhaps a Bronse Statute,—a lavish ex- penditure I think of Vanity, & that without a Single member of eithur Board to indorse or sustain me in it! Will you please to lay this matter before your Ex. Committeeat your next Meeting. I intended to have Spoken to you yesterday on this subject, but other mat- ters engrossed my thoughts I forgot it &c—besides I was rather out of tune in point of health &c Yours truly, &c M. Vassar—
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Title: Warner, Martha S. -- to mother, Nov. 1866:
Creator: Warner, Martha S.
Description: VC 1868
Date: November 25, 1866
Text: Vassar College. Nov. 25, 1866 My dearest Mother, Your letter filled me with delight. It always seems as though you had made such an effort to write to me that your letters are doubly precious. I am very sorry that you should have worked so hard getting Auntie and little Mary ready to leave. Are you quite rested now? Have they gone yet? I had a letter from Miss Gilbert yesterday, in which she said that Katie Penfield was in all probability at my Mother's. How glad you must have been to...
Show moreVassar College. Nov. 25, 1866 My dearest Mother, Your letter filled me with delight. It always seems as though you had made such an effort to write to me that your letters are doubly precious. I am very sorry that you should have worked so hard getting Auntie and little Mary ready to leave. Are you quite rested now? Have they gone yet? I had a letter from Miss Gilbert yesterday, in which she said that Katie Penfield was in all probability at my Mother's. How glad you must have been to see her. I hope she will make you a nice visit, and that no other person will dare to show his or her nose inside of the house while she stays. By-the-way don't youthink that Miss Penfield would feel complimented if she should see the manner in which I spoke of her a few lines higher up. Never mind, she'll never know, and I certainly meant no harm when I wrote it - How is George? I feel very anxious to hear from him. How do the family feel about him. Thanksgiving Day is almost here is it not? I hope you will each eat a double portion of dinner to make up for us - As for us, I don't know what we are to have but we have engaged Clara Glover to carve our turkey, the terrible thought has just crossed my mind that perhaps they won't give us a turkey! horrible! What I would have given if Mr. Curtis had only seen Father. Wouldn't he have been wrathy to meet him marching around his College? I wonder if Aunt Martha still considers Galesburg far superior to Vassar College. I wonder ifMr. what's-his-name, that resident clergyman, will go and tell Mr. Curtis what Father said about him - Wasn't Mrs. Ballard's letter good? likewise her husbands. I am more and more surprised and astonished at their kindness in writing to us. I shall certainly write to them as soon as I have an opportunity. I wish I could hear him preach this afternoon - We are going to have the Episcopal service here this afternoon - I know I shall enjoy it very much. Mr. Scarborough is a very earnest christian and a good speaker. I decidedly agree with you in not caring to change places with Dr. Hogarth's people. I am glad that your visit with those children was so successfully completed. Where is Bloomfield? I never heard of it before. It seems to me that my relatives have a peculiar fancy for Illinois - Horace Halleck is married, as ofcourse you know. One of the girls here is acquainted with his wife, or rather her sister is, and she wrote her a long account of the wedding - I pity the poor woman he has married. Don't you? I combed Helen's hair this morning, and you can't imagine what an improvement is is - I should like to do it every day if it didn't take too long - I must stop now, and get ready for church, or chapel rather - O Mother! how I wish you could hear Prof. Knapp in our Testament class - He is one of the best Christian men I ever saw. Prof. Tenney wants to get that Mastodon for the College, but has few hopes of success - I must stop now, for I am in a great hurry - Yours with much love Mattie S. W. I forgot to send my love to all the people but of course they will take it for granted.
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Title: Williams, Ellen -- to mother, Oct. 1865:
Creator: Williams, Ellen
Description: VC Spec 1865-1866
Date: October 24, 1865
Text: My Dear Mother I received your letter of the 21st yesterday noon and one from Chick today. I have only a few minutes to write this evening as it is almost ten o'clock but I am going to write as much as possible for fear I shall not have time to finish this to morrow evening if I do not. I have been studying all this evening & the other girls have been either studying or writing. You would have laughed if you could have seen Emily and I. Immediatly after our private devotion hour...
Show moreMy Dear Mother I received your letter of the 21st yesterday noon and one from Chick today. I have only a few minutes to write this evening as it is almost ten o'clock but I am going to write as much as possible for fear I shall not have time to finish this to morrow evening if I do not. I have been studying all this evening & the other girls have been either studying or writing. You would have laughed if you could have seen Emily and I. Immediatly after our private devotion hour which is just after supper and lasts until a little after seven, Emily and I took off our clothes and put on our "Glm" dresses and then we each turned a chair over, so that the back slanted down to the floor (you will know how) and then we put pillows on them and our water proofs and shawls and we have been reclining on our make-believe "lounges" all the evening studying I say studying for I, have been studying real hard and have got my lessons pretty good I guess, but Emma gave up in the early part of the evening and has been sleeping as sound as could be in such is sleeping yet down on the floor just behind me though I guess it is about time I bundled her off to bed. Wed. eve. 8-1/4 o'clock. Just as I had got that written last evening Nellie came In from one of the rooms and commenced talking to me and before she had finished the bell rang and 1 had to wake Emily up and we had to undress partly in the dark as the lights have to be put out when the bell rings. I have commenced writing this evening earlier than usual but my lessons are not quite as bard as usual and besides I am going to try and stop writing in time to study a little more. About five o'clock this afternoon it was so pleasant and I had not been out of doors to day and knew I ought to exercise some, so I proposed a walk to sun-set hill which Is not a very great distance from the house. So Nellie, Emily, and myself started. We went once before but It was so windy we could not stay long enough to see the sun set, but to-night it was perfectly quiet though rather cold, though we hardly counted the last as an objection as we were rather late and Nellie and I ran most of the way for fear we would be to late. Em. was with some of the other girls. We got there just la time and a more beautiful sight I never saw. Just below us were the buildings and grounds of Vassar College with groups of girls wandering here and there, the whole lighted up by the last brilliant rays of the sun. In the distance lay Po'keepsie. The river was not visible but even had it beea I do not know that 1 should have looked at it for Just beyond rose the Catskills and I behind their clearly defined summits the sun was just sinking in all its glory. I never saw any thing more glorious. It seemed a ball of fire and every tree on the hill top this side of it was as clearly defined as if printed on canvass. But 1 cannot do it justice. I only wish you could have been here to see it. I was very tired when I arrived here again but X felt repaid for my exertion and I presume I am not as sleepy this evening as I should otherwise have been. We have got quite regularly to studying now and so far I have got along very well. I recite Geology and Zoology alternately every day from 11 till nearly 12. Rheteol♦ French from two until nearly three and Rhetoric from that time until nearly four. The German Class has not been arranged yet and Emily does not think she will take it when it is. A number say they will not take it because they think the teacher is not a good one. I hardly know what to do. What do you say, I want to study it some time. I think I shall like Rhetoric very much for al-though I think Prof. Buckum is going to be pretty strict I like him so far very much. I imagine I have done pretty well so far in the class for I think there has not been a day yet that I have not had something to say and for the first two or three it was all volunteered reciting. To day on the subject of "objections to Rhetoric" he asked for some examples and I asked him about a lawyer taking the part of his client and proving him innocent when he might know he was guilty. Em. laughed at me for giving that example. I like Geology and Zoology very much so far and I hope to find it as interesting all the way. Prof. Tenney prophesies that it will be. We have a very large class, between 50 and 60 I should think. Mollis Bartlett was up here to call day before yesterday to call, we had a very pleasant time. She said Mr Bartlett had been off for several weeks on a journey on horse back but that they expected him home this week I think she said. She also said she thought Mr Wilkinson would be in Po'keepsie again soon as he is to sail the first of Nov. and I think he will be up here if he comes* I was very much pleased with the picture you sent of Mr Torrey You could not have sent one that would have pleased me better* I hardly know what ones to tell you to send. I only want two or three to fill my Album and they are more to show the girls than any thing. I would rather you would pick out any pretty one but if you cannot think of any Mr Van R. and Mary's or Charlie Sherwood (several here know him) or Ed Server etc. I shall look for a paper by to-morrow or next day. I enjoy them so much. Oh I was so delighted at what you wrote me. about Father's getting the nomination as Judge. I know how happy he must be and I thoroughly appreciate his feeling and glad on his account. How very much I wish 1 might be home to be with you Mother when he is away, but let us hope the time will soon come when I may and then I hope X may prove a more profitable companion than I have ever been before. Oh dear, I do want to see you so much already* what will it be before the time comes when I may? There may be some things I have forgotten if so I will add in the morning. I must close now so good-night. Emily sends love. Please write as often and as much as you can for I look for letters so anxiously and feel so disappointed when I do not get anything. Love to all. From your affectionate daughter, EllenI am very glad you spoke of Aunt Emily and I will try and write to her soon. If I knew where to direct I could send it from here. You spoke of seeing "Mame" Phillpps. Didnt you mean Amelia? Give her my love if you see her again. I wish I could have been home to fix Lizzie's pretty little doll you told about. Give her lots of kisses from Cousin Ella if she is with you yet. Excuse mistakes for I have not had time to look this over. With love Ella
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Title: Aaron, Fannie -- to Mother, Father, and Pete, October 11,1920
Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-10-11
Text: October 11, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I don't know when i have accomplished as much as I did yesterday. I did two days' Spanish and English (and that meant an aweful lot of reading), and extra Ec. reading assignment, two days' Ec, English Speech, read the paper, wrote some letters, talked to Lucy for over an hour and then to a lot of other people. I shall be quite busy today. I have lab this afternoon, and then I must get a start on my history topic, and look up...
Show moreOctober 11, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I don't know when i have accomplished as much as I did yesterday. I did two days' Spanish and English (and that meant an aweful lot of reading), and extra Ec. reading assignment, two days' Ec, English Speech, read the paper, wrote some letters, talked to Lucy for over an hour and then to a lot of other people. I shall be quite busy today. I have lab this afternoon, and then I must get a start on my history topic, and look up some dope on the party platforms. I have to write a paper for Ec for next Monday on the economic influences in my own city. We are supposed to show how location and natural products and advantages or disadvantages influence the industries, life, occupations, etc. In case the Chamber of Commerce gets out any dope on the subject could you send it to me, Father, so that I have it by Friday or Saturday at the latest. The reason I thought they might is that Omaha gets out such a pamphlet and I thought we might be as progressive as Omaha. I let somebody use my typewriter the other day and it has been sticking ever since. Love, Fannie
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Title: Williams, Ellen -- to parents, Dec. 1865:
Creator: Williams, Ellen
Description: VC Spec 1865-1866
Date: December 13, 1865
Text: Vassar College Po'keepsle Dec. 13th '65 My Dear Parents. I feel quite tired to-night and, as usual on Wednesday night, I believe, not much like writing but I shall not have the opportunity much longer I suppose, of writing you so I will say a few words to night. I have no doubt that in the first place you are interested to hear when we will be home etc. But I am sorry to be obliged to inform you that I don't know much better than when that blissful time will arrive. I think you...
Show moreVassar College Po'keepsle Dec. 13th '65 My Dear Parents. I feel quite tired to-night and, as usual on Wednesday night, I believe, not much like writing but I shall not have the opportunity much longer I suppose, of writing you so I will say a few words to night. I have no doubt that in the first place you are interested to hear when we will be home etc. But I am sorry to be obliged to inform you that I don't know much better than when that blissful time will arrive. I think you may expect to see me Thurs. morning but if you see Chick tell her to be at the depot Wednesday night if possible and if I don't come then I certainlywill (Providence permitting) Thursday morn. I cannot say yet how it will be about travelling in the day time. We have been talking with Miss Sayles to-day and she prefers going through by daylight but has promised to make investigations about it and whatever she decides is best we of course will have to agree to—In any event however I do not think you need to feel any anxiety as I think we shall get along all right there are so many of us. I have not seen Mr Bartlett I believe since I last wrote you but I do not think there is any probability that he will accompany us. I do not know that I have much In the way of news to write to-night— We think and care about almost nothing but going home now. Prof. Van Ingen the drawing teacher said to some oneI believe that we talked of nothing but going home while in the Studio. Almost all the trunks are down already that we want. Mine has not come yet but I spoke to Mr Wheeler about it and he is going to put a card on before he brings it. He said he could not paint it on so that it would look very nicely so 1 concluded to have the card until I get home at least. I am in such a hurry to get to packing for it will make the time seem so much nearer I think. Em's trunk came down to-day but she has had no time to commence yet. Mrs Tenney was in to call on me this after-noon. She is so kind and pleasant I wish Mother could know her. There was a meeting of the Lit. Society this evening for a short time to arrange some business & there are to be meetings of the ChaptersFriday eve. I am in a very pleasant Chapter I think. I was a little startled when 1 received your last letters but it was all right I will explain when I get home. The Bill of Fare Father sent me made my mouth water as I read it but it was of some importance as it proved quite an exercise in Zoology to study out the different kinds of animals mentioned. I hope Kate Spencer has entirely recovered by this time I shall be much disappointed if she Is not well when I am home. I believe Julie is not to be home for the Holidays. 1 am so sorry I hear her Father has sent her a very handsome set of furs. Did you see them before they were sent? The retiring bell has Just rung so I suppose I must close this. I am afraid you will not find much that is satisfactory but I will be home soon and then I imagine I shall talk We are going to try and go down and call at Bartletts Friday If we can only get permission. I hope to hear from you again soon. Give my love to all enquiring friends & believe me ever Your loving Daughter, Ellen I shall have just about twelve dollars to come home with will that be enough if I stay over night anywhere? Be sure and send anything you wish to so that I shall get it Tues. noon.
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Title: [Untitled] (Green chalkdust on white posterboard, overlayed with large strokes of green chalk)
Creator: 1923-2010
Description: Green chalkdust on white posterboard, overlayed with large strokes of green chalk
Condition assessment (2014): Some corners fraying
Date: n.d.

Title: Slade, Caroline E. -- to parents, Feb. 11, 1866:
Creator: Slade, Caroline E.
Description: VC Spec 1865-1866
Date: February 11, 1866
Text: Vassar Female College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. February 11 1866 My Dear Father & Mother I enjoy writing home very much but I should like it better if I had something interesting to write about so that I might have the satisfaction when they are finished that they ware worth reading but that cant be helped so must endured like writing Compositions we have them for the first time tomorrow I have mine done, the subject English language but it is a very small thing in my opinion some of the girls...
Show moreVassar Female College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. February 11 1866 My Dear Father & Mother I enjoy writing home very much but I should like it better if I had something interesting to write about so that I might have the satisfaction when they are finished that they ware worth reading but that cant be helped so must endured like writing Compositions we have them for the first time tomorrow I have mine done, the subject English language but it is a very small thing in my opinion some of the girls cried all yesterday afternoon but I do not intend to dothat if it is hard work for me to get them done Prof Buckham asked Laura why she objected to writing them and she told him there was a lack of time and ideas. It is really warm to day it seems like a spring It was day It is so warm still there is considerable snow on the ground it snowed all day Thursday it is good sleighing we have been once but going with thirty girls and a teacher is a style I do not fancy and don't care to try It again I think the drives here will be beautiful in summer they are so much more hilly here than at home Last Tuesday evening the President Invited the students to his parlors we did not care much about going as we knew what It would be before we went but as we had never been we concluded to go It was rather stupid no refreshments and no gentlemen but a good deal of dress some of the girls asked Miss Lyman if they should wear gloves she said certainly but we had none to wear so we went without nearly all had themon but I did not care. Miss Lyman wore black velvet, white kids and elegant laces Mr & Mrs Raymond stood in one corner and shook hands with the girls as they came in and went out, the warning bell rang and we dispersed to several rooms feeling tired and rather cross I have just come up from chapel the sermon was on work Dr Raymond has three daughters and several sons but the sons are never seen here his eldest daughter is engaged her gentleman was at Chapel this after- noon he is quite an ordinary looking young man I am surprised one of his daughters should be engaged he is so very exact and particular There are 3SO students here now and there thirty more coming this week I think that the college will be full by that time the dining room is very nearly full now. Mamie asked some time since if our apples froze they did not we have bought a peck and a half since we have been here they cost 40 cts for every half pock but sometimes wewant something so badly that we cannot resist the temptation Perhaps Father will think that he bought us paper enough for us not to have had any more well he did but we just had two or three sheets of this to give you an idea how the college looks also this photograph though I do not think you can gat a very good idea from these. About the verses, Mother you can get tho whole verse or just the name or promise as you choose. We have a Bible Class every evening most, the subject there is to recite texts on the efficacy of prayer. I think that bill of M. Buffinton's was enormous but she did a good deal of work and bought considerable trimmings. Has that bill ever been paid at the Hoop skirt store we took them to try and I forgot to say anything about it. The next time you write please send some of that elastic in One month has gone only five more Elisabeth Haviland has not been out to see us I think it is rather funny I thought when I first came that we should not have exereise enough but I have given up that we have to go up sixty stairs to get to room from walking, besides trudging up and down all day Hoping you are all well I remain your loving daughter Carrie (Careliae E. Slade)
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Title: Taylor, Lea D. -- to father, Dec. 2, 1900:
Creator: Taylor, Lea D.
Description: VC 1904
Date: December 02, 1900
Text: Sunday evening. (Dec. 2, 1900) Dear papa, I wish you could have been here today and heard all the nice things I heard said about you. I went up to dinner with Miss Gail Shepard, a Des Moines girl, who has heard you lecture- and who thinks a good deal of you. She came down to call on me twice and I went up to see her and we missed each other each time, so at last she invited me to dinner. She is a very nice, and very interesting, girl. Then I met the minister, who preached today, Dr. Riggs of...
Show moreSunday evening. (Dec. 2, 1900) Dear papa, I wish you could have been here today and heard all the nice things I heard said about you. I went up to dinner with Miss Gail Shepard, a Des Moines girl, who has heard you lecture- and who thinks a good deal of you. She came down to call on me twice and I went up to see her and we missed each other each time, so at last she invited me to dinner. She is a very nice, and very interesting, girl. Then I met the minister, who preached today, Dr. Riggs of Auburn Theological Seminary and he knew Uncle Will and had heard a good deal about you. He was very nice indeed. Then I also met a Miss Clara Reed, an extremely nice Senior, who said that you stayed at her home in Springfield, Mass. when you were attending some convention there. So you see I felt very proud to be your daughter- Oh, and then I was at a little tea given by the Christian Association, and the Pres- of "Christians" said that if ever you came here she wanted to have you surely speak before the Association. It is only two weeks until Christmas, and I expect the time will fly. A good many of the Chicago girls are going home - and they are going to try and have a car to themselves. It will be hard not to get on and go along with. Perhaps you will see me turning up there some fine morning. Vacation begins Friday noon, Dec. 21 and it will be very convenient because then I can get the one o'clock train to New York - which gets there at about three. Grandma told me I had better have my trunk expressed as it was cheaper. Louise has a small one which she is not going to use, so I guess I will take that, as she is willing. I think it would be nice if mama could invite Louise and Gertrude Keith down to lunch some day during vacation. I know they would love to go. A Mrs. Albert O. Cheney and Miss Cheney from town, called on me the other day when I was not at home. Will you ask mama to write me very soon, who they are. If she knows, as I shall have to return the call before Xmas- and would like to have some Idea as to why they called on me. The examination in history took place last Saturday and I ought to have taken my Greek History then. But I had no idea it had to be made up this year- and thought it would be much better to leave it until summer and take the examination in the Fall as I had about all I could manage now. But I found out that it must be taken this year or never, so X shall have to take it in June. I hate to have it hanging over me. I must stop now as it Is late. Papa, dear, I hope you aren't working too hard. I suppose that this Sunday the first services were held in the new building. How X should have liked to have been there and seen it. I hope that you had as glorious a day as we have had- Remember me to those in the house and give lots of love to Mama, Helen and Katharine- and keep a good big portion for your- self- From Your ever loving- Lea. (Lea D. Taylor, '04)
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Title: Washburn, Lucy M. -- to Alrah, Feb. 1871:
Creator: Washburn, Lucy M.
Description: VC Spec 1870-1871
Date: February 23, 1871
Text: Vassar. Feb. 23- 1871. Daar friend Alvah. Really I think there is danger that I shall never receive another letter from you, unless I answer your last without much more delay. So - Vassar to Ann Arbor, greeting.1 Thanks for all the descriptions, and the photo. I enclose a very poor picture of our college building - the best I could find at the time I bought it. It will save counting all the windows and doors for detailed description. Yesterday our flag was at half mast on account of the death...
Show moreVassar. Feb. 23- 1871. Daar friend Alvah. Really I think there is danger that I shall never receive another letter from you, unless I answer your last without much more delay. So - Vassar to Ann Arbor, greeting.1 Thanks for all the descriptions, and the photo. I enclose a very poor picture of our college building - the best I could find at the time I bought it. It will save counting all the windows and doors for detailed description. Yesterday our flag was at half mast on account of the death of the lady principal. She had been failing for some time, yet her death was a shock to the college. Shedied within an hour or so of tea time. The dining hall that evening was almost oppressive in its quiet - I would not have believed that its usual clatter could be hushed to such stillness. She must have been a gifted woman. Even the girls who disliked her always showed admiration for her ability. They often tell me I do not know how different the college was under her active supervision. Since I came, she only appeared In chapel once, and at the table two or three times. I heard her address the girls perhaps three times, and could easily believe the stories they told of her remarkable gifts. With this exception, we have jogged on quietly through the winter. I wonder what a dozen Ann Arbor boys would do transplanted to ouratmosphere of such propriety and order. Often I would be glad enough to see a little mischief, if only it could be funny enough to be worth having. The tame pranks that are all our most irrepessible girls can execute, are hardly enough to elicit a smile. So you are "twenty two years old - almost a quarter of a century I "cannot Imagine how aged you feel"—— You "believe lain twenty six. Am I not"——— Now isn't that cool? Indeed! Do you suppose I will condescend to a word in reply to such a speech? As for the Ann Arbor ladies, I wish them success, and am inclined to add the wish that I were with them. I want to see them do finely, and so answer the manifold objections that have been made to admitting us to theuniversities. Only this afternoon, a very lovely girl was telling me how she had wished that she could enter there the moment the doors were open. Circumstances, however, kept her here. I am a little surprised at the proposition of ladles in your different departments - Law, one — Medical, twenty - Did I ever tell you that I believe my Mother would be glad to see me a physician? I am sorry myself, occasionally, that I have no taste In that direction - I am pleased to see women taking places in this field - surely an appropriate one - but if I were a man, the medical profession seems to me the last I should choose - certainly being a woman does notmake It more attractive, in the present state of public opinion. Don't misunderstand me - I am a physician's daughter, and am proud of the noble profession - But I have no bent in that direction myself. I am glad you are so well pleased with your studies, and hope you will meet with full success. Thank you for counting me on your fingers, among your friends. Do you indeed remember the talk we had at the gate of my home, so long ago? 1 had supposed of course that was among the forgotten things to you - I remember I was very much in earnest - no more so than I should be now, if I began to speak on the samesubject. Time has not made me feel a firm religious faith a less vital thing. I wonder how or where I shall see you next summer - You speak of returning to Ann Arbor - where I certainly shall not be - Will you not be at home during the vacation? As for myself, my plans are too indefinite to be called plans at all. I presume I shall visit my friends a month or so after commencement, and then go west. As for our old acquaintances, I hear from Miss Wright, of course. She is working quite hard in school, and I fear that her health is by no means perfect - Agnes is well, and writes me long letters - Ada Lake is, I suppose, at Titusville, as she and Orville were on the point of going there some weeks since. Yourbeloved old friend. Prof. Homer P. has given up preaching, and settled down permanently in charge of an academy at St. Johnsbury, Vt. Dont you envy the boys and girls on whom his glasses will beam? Belle Arigill I see every day. She has been very cordial to me, and we have become good friends. I like her for herself, as well as for the kindness she showed me when 1 came here, a stranger. I have just noticed that it is "about the first of March" that you speak of leaving Ann Arbor. So if you are elsewhere, I can only trust to the postmaster's forwarding this letter and, as the Irishman said - "If you don't get this, let me know." I shall be glad to hear from you, whenever youfeel disposed to write. Remember me to Eddie Mark, if you meet him. Did you ever know the Hayman boys, Wayne and Frank, who used to live at Fredonia, and are now both at A.A. sophs I believe? Frank used to be a crony of my brother Charlie's, and I was quite pleased with his appearance last summer. I should like to know how he stands in college. Sincerely your friend Lucy M. Washburn.
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Title: Shipp, Margaret M. -- to Sister, 21 March 1902
Creator: Shipp, Margaret M.
Description: VC 1905
Date: 21 March 1902

Title: Shipp, Margaret M. -- to Sister, 25 January 1902
Creator: Shipp, Margaret M.
Description: VC 1905
Date: 25 January 1902

Title: Schedules - Academic
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1910-1912
Date: From scrapbook dated August 12, 1910 - June 22, 1912

Title: Notes - from Marjory Woods [VC 1914]
Description: Included in Babbott, Elizabeth (French). Scrapbook, 1910-1912
Date: From scrapbook dated August 12, 1910 - June 22, 1912

Title: Baldwin, James Fosdick, 1871-1950 -- Memorial Minute:
Creator: Griffin, Charles, Miller, John, Campbell, Mildred
Description
Date: [After 1950]
Text: JAMES FOSDICK BALDWIN 1871 - 1950 James Fosdick Baldwin was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1871. He died in Poughkeepsie, New York, on Thurs- day, Qctober the fifth, 1950. During forty-four of the seventy-nine intervening years, he was a member of the Vassar College faculty in the department of history. Hence it is to a fellow gildsman of long service that we now pay respect and honor. As Mr. Baldwin, setting about his most recent task of writing a history of the college in its modern era...
Show moreJAMES FOSDICK BALDWIN 1871 - 1950 James Fosdick Baldwin was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1871. He died in Poughkeepsie, New York, on Thurs- day, Qctober the fifth, 1950. During forty-four of the seventy-nine intervening years, he was a member of the Vassar College faculty in the department of history. Hence it is to a fellow gildsman of long service that we now pay respect and honor. As Mr. Baldwin, setting about his most recent task of writing a history of the college in its modern era, sifted with trained eye and hand the boxes and volumes that constitute the college archives, - Presidents' cor- respondence, faculty minutes, committee reports, reports of departmental chairmen, and old files of the Miscellan News that recounted gala skits of Founder's Day, Ee must often have run across his own name and his own handwriting, for he had a zest for life and was ever an active partic- ipant in all that was going on about him. His courses in English history introduced him to large numbers of stu- dents and his circle of friends and acquaintances among alumnae was wide. His interest in every part of the col- lege was marked, - one could mention for instance certain of our library treasures, rare for a college of this size that are here because of his scholarly discernment and his initiative. Engrossing as was the campus to him, however, Mr. Baldwin did not forget that there were pleasures and obligations outside of it, that he was a resident of the town of Poughkeepsie, a citizen of Dutchess County and of his state and nation. He took a lively interest in public affairs to which his approach was that of a humanitarian and a liberal. Better also than some of us, he was able to transfer the field of his specialized interests to the scene at hand. Hence the student of constitutional origins in a distant age and place found ways of making Dutchess County origins exciting to his friends and fel- low townsmen. He held office repeatedly in the Dutchess C t Hi t ri i t ° l f i oun y s o cal Soc e y, and in 9h2 was o fic ally honored with the title, Dutchess Count Historian. Other community activities enlisted His support. His lifelong interest in music, found expression in his work as an organist in one of Poughkeepsie's churches, a post which he filled for years. After his retirement many of these interests were continued. Indeed, there was true gallantry in the way Jmnes Baldwin set about to explore Q 28 JAMES FOSDICK BALDWIN (Continued) the resources within himself in order to make his retirement a period both useful and happy. And it was a source of pleasure to his friends that neither old_ age nor adversity dulled his salty wit nor dimmed the twinkle in his eye. But beyond these memories left with friends and assoc- iates, James Fosdick Baldwin in his early manhood created a more lasting memorial through his contribu- tion to historical scholarship in a highly selective field, that of the Ehglish Medieval Constitution. His book on the Kin 's Council in En land Durin the Middle A es published §n Uxford In I§I§ was Hailed By scholarly journals on both sides of the Atlantic as charting new ground and superseding previous treatments of the sub- ject. It led to his election at once to membership in the Royal Historical Society, and gave him a place among the best scholars in the field in his own country. Even now after almost forty years it still remains a recognized authority. Hence, as Poughkeepsie notes the passing ofia good citizen and neighbor, and Vassar Col- lege a friend and colleague, medieval historians in both Europe and America record the passing of a respected member of their fraternity, the author of The King's Council. Charles Griffin John Miller Mildred Campbell XIII - 1&3
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Title: Aaron, Fannie -- to Mother, Father, and Pete, April 10, 1923 [?]
Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1923-04-10 [?]
Text: [10 Apr 1923?] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The Williams team was picked last night:--Cleveland(Freshman), Aaron, Bishop. Evan asked me if I minded very much giving Bish third speech this time. She said I deserved it by merit, but she thought as long as Bish had improved so, etc. She thought it would be a nice reward. Of course I could say nothing, but be very willing etc. I don't care so very much, except that debating to Vassar I would like to have a chance to shine my brightest!...
Show more[10 Apr 1923?] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The Williams team was picked last night:--Cleveland(Freshman), Aaron, Bishop. Evan asked me if I minded very much giving Bish third speech this time. She said I deserved it by merit, but she thought as long as Bish had improved so, etc. She thought it would be a nice reward. Of course I could say nothing, but be very willing etc. I don't care so very much, except that debating to Vassar I would like to have a chance to shine my brightest! But I think that can be done in second speech as well as third, almost. There was a mixup about shoosing the third speaker which occupied considerable time, but it is final now. Did you ever do anything about the hat, Mother. R. S. V. P. I spent the whole morning on debate--once again. I have a compliment for you, Father and Pete. Bish asked me if my family were coming for this debate. She then told me how very much she liked you both. She says her father will be tremendously amused to hear that she is debating for prohibition. I may go with the others Friday instead of Saturday. I have concluded one is only young once,so "to h---" with topics! I shall stay, together with three others, at the home of Frances Oakford, '26, debate committee and head of the delegation. That does not mean that you should skip writing to me here, however. Love, Fannie
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