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Vassar College Po'keepsie
Feb. 25th. 1866
My Dear Parents.
Julia and I have just been out taking quite a long walk. Prof. Tenney did not keep his bible class as long as usual so we concluded we would go out for a while. We are not obliged to go on Sunday but it was so lovely this morning that we could not resist the temptation. We have had very pleasant weather for several days past and yesterday and to day the snow has beea all gone so the walking Is beginning to improve. The ground was frozen a little this morning but the air was so mild and the sun shone so brightly that it seemed exactly like Spring. We went first to the Gymnasium which you know is only partly built, and climbed around on the boards to see if we could see anything of our little friend, a screech-owl, which we had discovered there a few days before. You must know, ere climbing around either on a general exploring expedition or to keep out of the mud I hardly know which, when one of the girls discovered the little owl up in a hole in the wall. We tried to find Prof. Tenney but could not - the next day I spoke to him about it after the class and he expressed quite desire that he could have seen It. So the next morning Julia and I went over and found it there again We went and told Prof. T. and he got his gun and we all went to the place- It looked so cunning that when the Prof, saw it he said it was too bad to shoot it but he would try and catch it. After a good deal of climbing he got where he could reach it-—but the little fellow had heard him coming and crawled down where he could not reach him so he said that perhaps as he had been there for several days it was his home and we could come there and see him often and it would be better than to catch or shoot him. We thought so you may be sure. So now whenever we go out our first place of resort is there but whether he has not yet recovered from his fright or has left we cannot tell but he has now shown himself since the Prof's visit. After Julia and I had satisfied ourselves this morning that Master Owl was not in sight we took a long stroll upon Sunset-hill -you will remember how often X spoke of that last fall. It was the first time I had been there since then. We both spoke of how strange it seemed to be taking such a walk in Feb— The wind began to blow quite unpleasantly before we got back and as It had thawed some too we were quite willing to come in when we reached the college again. I think if it Is as warm as this at Ithaca you can have the house fixed soon. How nice it is that you can board at Mrs Millers. I wish I could come home in the Spring but they have decided now that we are to have no vacation at all. W e are all so provoked. Julia's Auntie, Mrs JLord, has invited us to come and spend the Spring vacation with her and now she is very anxious to have Julia and I come up Friday and stay with her until Monday and as much longer as the President will consent which will probably be not any though I think he would be very willing to have us go as Mary and I did, from the way in which he spoke when he told us we were to have no vacation. Julia is very anxious to have me go and I'm very anxious to go for I do not think I should be as homesick with her as I was with Mary. We think it would be so pleasant the last of March or in April when we will probably be most in need of a little rest. Please write me if you have any objections to my going for Julia, and her Aunt she says, are so anxious to have me. I hope before very long to hear you are coming here for I want to see you so much. And I shall have to have my Spring clothes before very long. The tableaux passed off very nicely Thursday evening but it would take more time than I have at my desposal to describe them all. I have a list so perhaps some time 1 can have that for the subject of some long talk about Vassar. We are having so much fun in our room at present for yesterday I wrote all our names on a paper and put it up on the wall and every slang phrase we use is put down to see if we can improve ourselves. It is too funny to read the list for it is quite long already. It Is the most fun when one says one and another goes to put It down and the guilty one will say "Mercy or gracious or -ef Oh shaw that Is'ent one." Then we have a good laugh besides another word to put down. I am sorry Auntie is not improving How strange It will seem for her to be so near and not at Ithaca.—I think of nothing more of importance to write so I will close this The girls send love Remember me to all enquiring friends and believe me ever
Your loving daughter
Ellen
Feb. 25th. 1866
My Dear Parents.
Julia and I have just been out taking quite a long walk. Prof. Tenney did not keep his bible class as long as usual so we concluded we would go out for a while. We are not obliged to go on Sunday but it was so lovely this morning that we could not resist the temptation. We have had very pleasant weather for several days past and yesterday and to day the snow has beea all gone so the walking Is beginning to improve. The ground was frozen a little this morning but the air was so mild and the sun shone so brightly that it seemed exactly like Spring. We went first to the Gymnasium which you know is only partly built, and climbed around on the boards to see if we could see anything of our little friend, a screech-owl, which we had discovered there a few days before. You must know, ere climbing around either on a general exploring expedition or to keep out of the mud I hardly know which, when one of the girls discovered the little owl up in a hole in the wall. We tried to find Prof. Tenney but could not - the next day I spoke to him about it after the class and he expressed quite desire that he could have seen It. So the next morning Julia and I went over and found it there again We went and told Prof. T. and he got his gun and we all went to the place- It looked so cunning that when the Prof, saw it he said it was too bad to shoot it but he would try and catch it. After a good deal of climbing he got where he could reach it-—but the little fellow had heard him coming and crawled down where he could not reach him so he said that perhaps as he had been there for several days it was his home and we could come there and see him often and it would be better than to catch or shoot him. We thought so you may be sure. So now whenever we go out our first place of resort is there but whether he has not yet recovered from his fright or has left we cannot tell but he has now shown himself since the Prof's visit. After Julia and I had satisfied ourselves this morning that Master Owl was not in sight we took a long stroll upon Sunset-hill -you will remember how often X spoke of that last fall. It was the first time I had been there since then. We both spoke of how strange it seemed to be taking such a walk in Feb— The wind began to blow quite unpleasantly before we got back and as It had thawed some too we were quite willing to come in when we reached the college again. I think if it Is as warm as this at Ithaca you can have the house fixed soon. How nice it is that you can board at Mrs Millers. I wish I could come home in the Spring but they have decided now that we are to have no vacation at all. W e are all so provoked. Julia's Auntie, Mrs JLord, has invited us to come and spend the Spring vacation with her and now she is very anxious to have Julia and I come up Friday and stay with her until Monday and as much longer as the President will consent which will probably be not any though I think he would be very willing to have us go as Mary and I did, from the way in which he spoke when he told us we were to have no vacation. Julia is very anxious to have me go and I'm very anxious to go for I do not think I should be as homesick with her as I was with Mary. We think it would be so pleasant the last of March or in April when we will probably be most in need of a little rest. Please write me if you have any objections to my going for Julia, and her Aunt she says, are so anxious to have me. I hope before very long to hear you are coming here for I want to see you so much. And I shall have to have my Spring clothes before very long. The tableaux passed off very nicely Thursday evening but it would take more time than I have at my desposal to describe them all. I have a list so perhaps some time 1 can have that for the subject of some long talk about Vassar. We are having so much fun in our room at present for yesterday I wrote all our names on a paper and put it up on the wall and every slang phrase we use is put down to see if we can improve ourselves. It is too funny to read the list for it is quite long already. It Is the most fun when one says one and another goes to put It down and the guilty one will say "Mercy or gracious or -ef Oh shaw that Is'ent one." Then we have a good laugh besides another word to put down. I am sorry Auntie is not improving How strange It will seem for her to be so near and not at Ithaca.—I think of nothing more of importance to write so I will close this The girls send love Remember me to all enquiring friends and believe me ever
Your loving daughter
Ellen
