Vassar College N.Y.
May 6th. 1866.

My Dear Mother,
It is a most glorious
Sabbath morning. I imagine you all preparing
for Sabbath School, and should be most
happy to be with you, Carrie and I can go in
Town any time we want with a Teacher,
but it is most to warm to walk, we are not
going in to-day. There is a mouse in our
room, and I have just been down to the
House keepers room for a trap and we hope
to soon be rid of such a disagreeable torment.
A new Gymnastic Teacher has arrived, and
although the Building for that purpose is not
done, we have commenced practising, making
use of one of the transverse Corridors. Miss
Lyman was not willing to excuse or in other
words said she wouldn't, and if did not have
any dresses, we could got them in Town, and
have them made here, she seems to think we
are made of money, some of the girls have lovely
dresses, a Miss Talbot from California has
an elegant one which cost 30.00 dollars, I
thought it would be extravagant to get a dress
for seven weeks, so we took my black alpacca
dress, and made a suit, just a Garibaldi
waist, short skirt and pants, it will do very
nicely, and as we exercise different periods one
dress answers for both of us. My dress was
very rusty, a good deal worn and was tight for me.
When does Greenwich Quarterly Meeting come
are you going, I remember last year. We went
in Town last Monday morning, we had to get
some gloves, it was a Holiday, we had a grand
time here in the evening, some of the students
were dressed elegantly, at one Dress makers
in Town, forty six dressers were made for that
evening, Swiss Muslins, and light silks were
the order of the evening, nearly every one wore gloves
either white or light Kids, we got not very light
they will do for our nice Summer gloves, so in
that way all our money has vanished, I dis-
like asking for more, but every cost so here, and it
goes so like a flash. It seems as though I
never had so little to wear before but it doesn't
make much difference what we have on here, we
have not put on light clothing much yet.

Miss Avery thought it would do to leave off
our flannels, and so I have done so and do not
feel the lust of it at all, Carrie has not yet.
I nearly melted, I was just in a perfect state
of perspiration all the time. I will not trouble
you with an account of our "Gala day" as
you have probably received our paper, and we
will send a programme. The Supper was
very nice especially the Ice cream and Cake,
and now my dear Mother I am going to
take a bath and dress for Dinner, I hope
this will find you all well and happy as
we are, your ever dutiful daughter

Abbie
Addition by Caroline E. Slade:

The subject of prayer is a very large
one and it is hard to select
texts there are so many I think
it would been much better if they
had taken it under different
heads as thee proposed thee can
select those thee likes best
from these Romans 12.12. Luke 181
Acts 12.5. Ephesians 6.18.
Colossians 4 2 & 3 1 Thess. 5.17
James 5.15 & 16

In Abbie's hand:
Do not think you are getting a young
variety store of paper, but thess came handiest.
(Caroline E. and Abigail L. Slade)