477 Dudley St.
Jan. 6. 1878.

My dear Carrie -

I hope I may be the first [to?] tell you although I fear you will hear of it in [some?] other [way?] first that I shall not be able to return to College, I have been very miserable since I came home & the Dr’s say I have over worked & must not study or do any work for a year, so here I am [stationary?] for the present.

I want to go over & pack up my things & say good bye to you all but it would be too much excitement


so [Mother?] must do it for me, she goes to New York Tuesday & to Poughkeepsie Thursday.

Tonight you are thinking that it is your last night at home for the present & it is only the beginning of my vacation & [yet?] Carrie I thoroughly envy you, you have no idea how much I want to go back. While at College I used to think it would be very nice to stay at home but when you have to stay at home for health it is a different thing. I have to be perfectly quiet & my chief [excitements?] are sleeping, eating, & drinking, my back [troubles?] me a


great deal & my head aches all the time -

I wish you joy on the rest of the seventh book of Geometry. At first I thought I should be well enough to join a Senior class etc but the [...] “shut down” [me?] that I can [knit?] & play as much as I please but no study - however I hope to do something & not have it a year entirely thrown away -

Will you please do me a favor, that is take care of [Blanche’s?] table & chair which are in my room & her pitcher & Grammar which [affect?] Thursday next you can have [but?] at present the Latter are locked up & I have the key you will do me a great


kindness if you will - Blanche called on me when I first got home but I have [not?] been able to go & return it yet. Shall as soon as I can -- She seems very well & fully intends to return to studying hard & seems confident of passing her examinations -- Give my love to Helen [Bart…?] & Helen [...rdwell?] -

I [exercise?] you & Helen B. from [walking?] now are you not glad you have an extra day to walk with when you please I am not [...] ^but that you two will walk together that day althoug unfortunately they do not happen to be in the same day. what nonsense [Mary ...aisez?] was!


So write me soon Carrie & believe me your loving friend
Mary L. H.