Vassar College Digital Library
jhhorn
Edited Text
Vassar April 1st, 1866

My dear dear Mother,
Such a beautiful Easter! I hope that it is equally pleasant at home. Mr. Smith gave us all the eggs we could possibly want. I limited myself to two but feel very much as if it had been half a dozen. Last Friday school duties were suspended until Monday. A great many girls have gone home. I should think a hundred and fifty. Most of them are expected to return Monday in any case the classes proceed as if the full number were here. During these three days Friday, Saturday, Sunday, we have been greatly indulged, not having breakfast until half past seven, not being obliged to walk, being suffered to sit up all night if we pleased on Friday night to watch the eclipse of the moon, altho' the Pres. preferred that all save the astronomy class should retire at eleven. That happy group departed to the observatory at the dark and dreadful hour of eleven, and gazed through the telescope until twelve, when they returned, fully persuaded that such dashing dissipated young ladies never before existed. Of course we sat up till Hattie came safely back. Did you see the eclipse? The night could not have been better not a cloud to be seen, we watched the whole thing from our window - Miss Lyman has gone away! actually left Thursday noon, not to return till Monday - With all due reverence, I do state and declare that that fact alone, was cause enough for a holiday. Minnie and Hattie are going to church this morning, it is our communion Sunday but I am not going for several reasons, principal among them is the fact that I am not willing to go to Mr. Corning church, and I don't want to poke off to another till I know where to go. So Miss Blatchley, Miss Treadwell and I are going to be our own minister, audience and choir. (Three months from today I hope to go to church with you Mother darling! It fairly bewilders me to think of it. Who is preaching for you now? Was Mr. Kent successful in his search and if so what kind of a man is our new pastor? what does he look like? and how do you like him? Have they obtained a minister yet for Mr. Eldrige's church? I do hope that our next pastor will be pleasing to everyone, now that so many malcontents have left. There is a great deal of interest in the Po'keepsie churches. Union prayer meeting are held twice every day. Our girls have been down every day a good deal. I have not as it comes at an inconvenient time - and I have a great dread of Po'keepsie. In all the time that I have been here, I have never been in but once on a week day i.e. that day we met father at the depot and only three times have I been to church. It makes me almost sick to jolt so long in that wretched omnibus. Hattie and Minnie walked in yesterday, did some shopping and went to church, the service was at five o'clock, and they had the fun of waiting for the omnibus till ten minutes of seven - It was so rainy and muddy that with four horses, it took an hour to come out, two miles, and a the load was very heavy, nineteen in all. I waited my tea till they came, and there such a merry time as we had. Mr Smith felt very fine, and gave us some delicious lemon pie. We decided that it was quite worthwhile to be late. Did you know that Senator Foote is dead? Miss Foote was sent for day before yesterday - Does it not seem strange that two such prominent senators of one state should have died, so nearly together. I hope that Father has returned. Has he succeeded? We feel very anxious to hear. I hope his anxiety won't make him sick. How do you do Mother dear? You never say anything about your health, but I infer that it it must be very good, comparatively, or you could not do so much as you have - I recieved Sara's wedding cards a day or two ago, they are a new style are they not? You must tell me all about the wedding I cant realize at all that it is coming so soon - Love to all, tell Nellie that letters are at a premium in No. 20. It is two weeks since either Minnie have heard from home, and one since Hattie has - Congratulate us! We have at last written to Miss Coe. I feel as if a load was lifted from my shoulders. Is every body well? Love to Willie. Minnie recieved a catalogue of the University from Henry C. yesterday - The Memorabilia is very hard. Tell Bridget that they boiled five hundred eggs at once, for breakfast this morning - Good bye. We are all well - Your loving daughter Mattie -