1863

Miss Christine Benedict

Charlottsville Scholane Co

July 8th

Answered July 9 see within

Charlottsville July 4th 1863

Sir Matthew Vassar,

Dear Sir,

Pardon the liberty a stranger takes in writing to you. I feel that I am about to do a strange act, one that perhaps you will not approve, nevertheless I crave your time and attention, for a personal of this letter alas for a consideration of the contests. I have long thought of writing to you, have at different times commenced letters, but as after as I have done so has my heart failed, and I have given up in despair. Now with Gods help I shall write also send this letter and anxiously and prayerfully wait for an answer to the same. It may perhaps be well before taking my thoughts, here give you a chart which of my life this I feel were willing to do as I have to day rend yours.

The first three years of my life were spent in an adjoining co-

ins then state. They were filled with a (…) that perhaps it would not be well to place in a matter of fact letter, thee are I will pass them over. At the age of three I was taking what I considered a great listener for my parents (or the (…) that I considered as such, and the only ones I ever knew remigrated to the prairie lands of Iowa. For two years we lived there happily, then Consumption breathed upon our gentle mother and she died, brothers and sisters followed until of a large family only four remained, two of them were married and I only was left at home. Father was a very foul illiterate man, he was soon (…) marriage with an unprincipled widow, then commenced my troubles, for several years (…) everything but death from her and and her children. At the age of nine, our cold new years recovering I left home forever, My sister found and (…) refuse me to return to her home. I arrived in time to receive her farewell (…) brother then took me home with him. I had (…) for knowledge. Brother

was illiterate he cared for money, but not for learning and as I was not his own sister he did not sympathize with me he had hard (…) At the age of eleven, with a small bundle all my earthly posessions I started for my birth place. None of my friends recognized me. (…) length one one of the later out of pity took me in. I went to school for two months the first time in my life but I was the best reader in school. I learned that myself with Mother’s early help. I could also write. I learned that by taking a spelling book and making the letters on a flat stone. I then went among strangers and commenced trying to get an education with Gods help I have partially succeeded Days I have worked for food and nights for knowledge. Sometimes I have overtaxed myself and on recovering from a bed of sickness to find myself involved in debt, have felt like doing as did God (…) advise him. “Curse God and die”. For the last four years, I have been teaching and attending school. For the last two I have been to the N.Y. Conference Seminary. At

present I am teaching one mile and a half from the Sem- I take two studies and go down twice every day to recite. I have given you this brief (…) to show you that I was no drone. An education I must and will have I am not content to take up with the superficial knowledge obtained at the Seminaries, and a partial knowledge would not do for me, for I must get my living by my education. I have long been writing for an opening, where I could get an education and was a name. Several time since, a friend sent me the history of a female college in Poughkeepsie saying it was just the place for me. so it is, but i do not see the way often for me to go there I am in debt here, and by the time school expenses I will not, if I do very best be more, than prepared to go with no money or but little ahead, I worked to make sure arrangements for going, and knowing you was the founder, thought you would be the one to apply to, My proposition is this

will you make arrangements at the College for me to enter at the commencement, and either work my way through or take a course of study and pay afterwards or will you advance me the money and let me pay you after I have completed my education. You will think this a strange request, coming as it does from a stranger, but it is the only thing I can do. It is my last hope. Mr Vassar if you will do this God will bless you for it, for he answers prayers and I shall pray for you. If you will do this, you will never have cause to repent for I will make myself so named that half he knows for and never I can do it for. “Perseveantia Omnia Visit.” I speak them early because it is very necessary that my arrangements should be comprehended by fall. I do not seek you to do this merely on my story, but if you will answer this letter I will there satisfy you as to myself, by (…) with true or by bringing certificates from those whom

you would not doubt. Please answer this at your earliest possible convenience, for if I can come I wish to prepare. Perhaps we could make arrangements that would be satisfactory both to you and to myself. I shall wait very anxiously for an answer. Direct to Charlottsville (…) Co. Hoping you will pardon this liberty and write soon. I am, Respectfully

Christine M Benedict

Matthew Vassar Esq