Jan. 28th. 1866.
My Dear Mother
I receivedyour letter from Binghampton Friday and
was relieved to here at last that you still existed and were as well as
usual (which I almost began to doubt) Did you not write to me last Sunday
for I still think you must have, though you did not say anything about it. There
were several things in my letters which I thought you would speak
about. — I was very much interested in your account of that little dog
I think it must have been very amusing but it was too bad you did not have
pleas ante r accomodations for I am afraid it will disgust you with accompanying
Father, and I should feel sorry to thing you were at home alone. W e have cut out
the little Almanac that perhaps you noticed in the Journal and have it pasted up on
our door and every night we mark off a day- Don't laugh for we do take ever so much
comfort in it. Do please excuse this blot for one of the girls has just got it on by
accident, and I cannot spend the time to commence over again. I am In a peck of
trouble at present and I do wish you could put a few ideas Into my head. I was
appointed last time one of four girls to give a debate at the next meeting of the
chapter of our literary society. You do not know any of the other girls so it is
useless to give their names. We met yesterday and decided to take as the subject
Pride and Ambition are the causes of more evil In the world than Ignorance and
Superiittan. I am on the negative side. Can't you or Father lend me a few ideas for
I am almost at a loss what to do, it is so new for me. We are to write out the
debate and read it a week from next Friday night. Hattie Mason is president of our
chapter of the society. We have had very good sleighing here no but I have not had
occasion to improve it yet. We have had very good skating here ever since my
return. The pond is quite large and they take great pains to keep the snow off which
makes it very nice. I have been several times but it takes so much time I don»t go
very often. There are some very fine skaters. One of the girls especially is the
finest skater I ever saw. She seems perfectly at home on the ice and can do anything
almost she wishes. Have you heard from Auntie laterly. She owes me a letter but I do
not know when to expect It. The last time you wrote you said Auntie and Llazie were
both quite sick. Nellie has had such a nice easy chair sent her from home. One of
these that folds up very much like that one of Mrs Stow ells if you remember but If
ell's has a cushion on the back and seat. Jennie and Mary each have a rocking chair
so we have quite a supply. I
do wish mine had been one. I am very anxous to hear if Julie is coming here. Mary
Cornell had a letter from her in which she said she was going home but did not know
whether she would come here or not. 1 hope she will.
We are expecting to have a grand concert here next month and all Prof's
music scholars are practising as hard as they can at present. I suppose
it will be quite nice I wish you could be here I must close now for I expect it is
almost time for church and I ought to collect my thoughts a little I suppose
preparatory to hearing a sermon over an hour long for they are never less than that
now. Remember me to all enquiring friends. The girls all send love Em. says to your
Father too and Nell adds to all your little brothers & sisters. Please write soon Ik
as often as you can. I should love dearly to hear from Father if he can find the
time. I shall be glad to get the Atlantic when you have finished.
With many kind wishes to both you It Father I remain
Your loving daughter
Ellen.
I have just returned from Chapel—the sermon was 73 £ mi long. Is 'ent
that enough to weary anyone especially when you think it will have to be
reported tomorrow eve. and there is 'ent one of us has any ideas hardly
about it. We were in Chapel over two hours and an hour at Chapel this
morning besides twenty minutes more this evening. I wonder the seats
don't wear out already don't you? I must say I am tired but I wanted to
give you an idea of how we spend Sunday.
Yours truly Ella