My Dear Parents,
Fathers letter was received yesterday and I desire to express my sincere thanks for it. If he had not have assured me so positively that he had not been to church I might have thought he was giving me a specimen of the sermon. Some of the things at least I think there is no danger of my doing. For instance in the matter of dress I don't think he could be with us for a while he would think he* we are gaining in love of that or that we consider ourselves much better than others. No indeed for my part I feel more and more every day how much I come short of what I ought to be — I think I am improving myself daily and I trust I shall come home more nearly as you would have me than I have ever been before At least it shall be my constant aim to please you in everything. I hope I shall have gained enough in this year to make you glad that you have sent me here - I am trying I assure you to improve my opportunities and I do not lorget how great they are and how much responsibility they throw upon me —
I do not feel much like writing to-night so you must excuse me if my letter is not as long as usual. I do not know that I have much in the way of news that will interest you. We are all very much excited here at present over the resignation of Prof. Knapp our Prof, of languages. Zt is very sudden and we hardly know the true reason yet. We only learned it to-day and there has been hardly anything talked of since. He was very generally liked and is an excellent teacher. It will be a loss in many respects to the College. To day we had our last lecture on geology but the Zoology class is to continue: there will be a class in Botany formed to alternate with Zoology and a Physical Geography class on Friday - I intend to take up Physical Geography but not Botany so that I shall recite three times a week - I believe however we are to have lectures mostly in Phys-Geo- I have given up Drawing or I should say, I shall as soon as I have finished my picture which will probably be tomorrow or next day. Prof, has been praising me about my drawing at a great rate for the past few days. I suppose because I am going to leave the class.
We have commenced in the french class a new grammar which is all written in french and we have to give all the rules and everything in french It & is rather hard at present but I think will be very improving-— I forgot to write you last time that the centre of my Sig- pin has come out again as it did once before. I have done nothing about having it fixed as yet and will wait until I hear from you now - You know Mr Clark said before when he fixed it that the rim of gold was not strong enough for the pin and though he had fixed it as well as he could it might come out again. I wish you could be here and you would see how it is if you do not remember — The warning bell has just rung so I will close this -- I hope you will be able to weust read this though I have written so hurridly that I fear you cannot. But only think that it was thus or not at all and you will make allowances I hope - I shall be glad to get to bed I am so tired* Remember me to all my friends & write often.
With much love from
Your affectionate daughter
Ellen