Vassar College Digital Library
jhhorn
Edited Text
Vassar College.
Jan. 21st 1866
My Dear Parents,
I received Mother's letter of the 17th Friday morning I believe. Of course it is unnecessary to say I was delighted. I have been at some stand as to whether it would be necessary for me to write to you to day and if so where to direct my letter to. I suppose you will leave for Binghampton to-morrow but I have decided that I will send my letter to Ithaca and run the risk of your not receiving it in sometime & hoping that whenever you get it the news will not prove stale. It is a lovely day here to-day the first we have had in sometime but much colder. Yesterday Nellie Leland and myself procured permission of Miss Lyman to go down to Po'keepsle and do some shopping and make a call. You must know that Nellie Leland was visiting in Sand Lake during her Holiday vacation and became quite well acquainted with Lucy Arnold whom she also discovered to be a cousin of mine. Lucy was coming here to Po'keepsle to school at Cottage Hill, Dr Rider's so Nellie promised her/ that she would tell me about it and we would both come and call on her. It did not look very pleasant in the morning but Nellie had written to Lucy that we were coming so we concluded to run the risk of bad weather and go We were anxous to go at nine o'clock but the omnibus that usually goes at that time was not to go until ten so as there was an empty carriage about to go down we took that. It was much pleasanter than being crowded into the omnibus with fifteen or twenty which we afterwards heard was about the number that went down at ten. We were disappointed in the day for we had not got more than half through our shopping when it commenced raining and continued nearly all the rest of the day. However I was provided with our umberella, and, by the way that is the first time I have used mine since I have been here. We had time for
quite a long call on Miss Lucy. She is very pleasant I should judge She
said she remembered quite distinctly the time when she came to see me when we were both very young I should think. I do not remember it very well if at all. I suppose you will so If you can think of any incidents which would be likely to recall it to my mind please write. Lucy has promised to come out and see us soon. Cottage Hill looks as though it might be a very pleasant school and Lucy speaks as though she likens it pretty well but was quite surprised to hear that no more than two slept in a room as they have four there She asked us quite a good many questions about the College and we of course learned a good deal about her school. I would not exchange I think, upon any condition. We returned to the College in the omnibus at twelve o 'clock. I have not seen Mr Bartlett or Mollie yet. I think it is rather strange still I suppose the weather being so bad has been some excuse Mollie wrote to Mary Cornell that she would certainly be out here yesterday after-noon but it rained very hard so of course we could not expect her. Two of the girls at our table were down to the Pres. church this morning and said it was given out that the Rev. E. O. Bartlett would preach a sermon to the young men in the Congregational church this eve. so I judge he is still preaching for Mr Corning. Mother asked if I had missed my handkerchiefs and scissors. I had not missed my handkerchiefs but my scissors I did almost the first day I got here and have nearly every day since though I have my little ones which do soma good. If you have any chance do please send them on. Miss Dickinson has been in here to call this eve. just before tea and sends a great deal of love to Jennie McGraw which you will please deliver when you see her. We are to commence compositions this week in our Rhetoric class and I have to hand one in Friday. Just pity me won't you? I know you would if you could see the paper we have to write on. I have made the acquaintance of one of the young ladies here from Delhi who is well accquainted with Mr Torrey fe family and Col. Lewis. By name Miss Gould very pleasant- fe quite fine looking. I hope I shall hear from both of you soon. Remember me to all enquiring friends. Mary fe Emily send love - with
the same from myself Believe me your aff. daughter
Ellen