Vassar College.
April 2, 1871.
My dear Mamma,
Our long looked lor vacation has come at last and this the first
Sunday ol It, I am seated writing letters, not occupied very differently
Irom any other Sunday, but leellng rather differently. There are no Bible
classes and no Chapel services at the College today, so that we have the
gone
day entirely to ourselves. Many ol the girls have to church In Pough-
rV
keepsie. I want to go next Sunday, Easter day, and preferred staying
here today* Yesterday we were favored with a snowstorm, just enough
snow to make It wet aad muddy aad prevent anyone's walking for some days.
I had planned to walk Into Poughkeepsle next Tuesday but fear that
I cannot go unless X ride, Almost every day during the holidays has been
set apart for some purpose* One day I must go to Po 'keep; another we
want to go over the Stewards Department} another take a walk to Cedar
KJdge, a pretty place near here, fee.
A great many girls have gone away for the holidays and more are
going this week. Some of those who left were very unfortunate. They had
ordered carriages to take them to the depot In time for the half past one
oclock train and In going for their carriages found them all gone, and had
to walk if they wished to get to the depot. You know that is Is a long walk
there and as they started only In time to reach the train If they rode, they
too
were late. Some came back while others waited far the next train, which
would take them to New York in the evening, aad It could not be very
Apr. 2, 1871 - 2
pleasant for those who were not very well acquainted with the city.
Where is Col. Ward now? I supposed Jimmy was with him but
he can scarcely be If Anna has gone to visit him. It cannot be very
pleasant for Anna in Corpus Christ!. Cannot you Invite her to come and
she
visit you before goes North again? She is such a lovely girl and would
be good company for Carrie.
Thanks for the seed of the Balsam apple. X have no flower bed
and do not want one. It must be such dirty work. I should have to keep
a dress on purpose for working in it and do not need the exercise because
rowing and gymnastics take up all my time. H I had had the seeds in the
winter I wctuld have put them in a pot of earth and could then have had
the vine looking pretty in my room. I think I shall keep ,them, until
another winter or give them to Auntie if she has none.
The lemon verbena must have grown very much since I left to
have so fine a blossom. I should like to have it here but think you appre*
elate fully as well as I should.
Now about dressmaking. I shall have a spring suit made here
although I do not much like to. Dressmakes charge sa much. It seems
necessary but I hope it will be all. I shall need until fall. When at
Binghamton my blue silk was made aver very prettily. We bought some
blue silk the same shade as the overskirt you made ma, and put two pinked
ruffles and a pleating of it an the main skirt, a pleating besides the ruffle
Am\ 2, 1871 - 3
«
on the overskirt and made a basque of the cheeked silk and trimmed In
the same manner with the blue. Aunt and I wanted you to make Carrie1®
In the same way, except buy brown silk for the underskirt and trim with
ruffles of the checked, and make the overskirt of the checked trimmed
with the brown. It would make a very handsome suit and I think would
be much better than to make it as you think of doing. I could get the silk
a* you could send to Auntie for it. I think the nicest thing for Carrie this
summer would be a grenadine, and I wish you would let me get one for
her and have as much as possible of it made while I am at Grandma's. Carrie
is almost twenty and ought to dress very nicely now. ff you did not receive
the letter fn which I told you everything about dressmaking that I have In
this, I presume you did not get the account of the money I spent while at
Binghamton. If you like I will write it out and send Including what I have
spent since.
With much love, Julie.
{Julia M. Pease, '75,