Vassar College Oct 9, 1866.
My very dear Mother:
Sam's letter to Mattie came today, and from it we learn how much you have suffered with your eye. I do hope it is better by this time and that you will have no more trouble with it. As I said before I feel verily guilty every time I think how hard you sewed for us this summer in the evenings especially. Is Dr. Noyce your oculist? I hope that you have not and will not get the velvet for my light dress, for I don't think it is going to be worth while. The dress cracks badly. There are a great many of those little breakes in it, such as these were on the sleeves. I have got the dress in a condition to wear & it is very pretty. I can get some ribbon velvet for the sleeves in town. I saw some that would do nicely. Don't you hurry about sending our things. We are in no great hurry for any of them. We went out yesterday with Prof. Tenney to see the strata of pebbles & sand in a place where they are digging out sand for the pond. It was really remarkable. We are all in Prof. Knapp's Bible class. I expect that it will be very interesting indeed. We are to recite Saturday mornings. I hardly knew at first whether to be sorry that I was not in Prof. Tenney's class or glad that I was in Prof. Knapp's but I have concluded to be glad that I am in Prof. Knapp's. The autumn leaves are very beautiful indeed. We are going out nutting again for our afternoon walk. We will get quite a supply I guess before the season is over. I had a nice letter from Fannie Miller yesterday. They are very anxious that we should come there next winter & also to see you. How I wish you could come east this winter. You don't know much I wish I could be with you. You have need of help I am afraid. How many people are being married. Which Miss Leonard Is Frank Rice going to marry? I am happy to say that our fare has improved very much. I hope that it will continue, and I think it will. I ought to. We have all got fairly at work. Mattie and Helen have all their lessons. Minnie and I each of us expect one more. I suppose that Father is deeply engrossed in the elections by this time. I hope that he will be elected as well as the other Republicans; but I fear for the results in our Democratic City. What a lonely time you will have if he does have to be gone most of the winter. How is Aunt Mary? I hope that she Is not thinking of leaving for a long time. It is a real comfort to us to think that you have her with you. We are all very well. The College has very few sick for so many. Have any of you seen or heard anything of Maggie Buchanan? We are afraid she is sick not having heard a word from her any of us. If Willie answers the questions we ask you he certainly will have enough to fill up his letters until you are able to write again. I intended to write to him Saturday, But I studied all the morning, was out doors all the afternoon nutting, & in the evening put on the braid about half round my light dress, plaited it. It sewed it on to the waist, pulled out the baistings and tried it on all between half past seven and ten oc. so you see I had not much time to write to anyone. Monday I intended to write but couldn't & today I thought you would want a letter the most. Please give love from us all to Auntie, Mary, Father, Willie, & the girls generally. Does you girl continue to be as good as at first. Please remember us to Mr. & Mrs. Ballard, the Colburns & all our friends generally. I hope that Nettie Vernor has a pleasanter day to be married in than this is here.
Good by with a heart full of love
Your Hattie.