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Vassar College
Jan. 21, 1867
My dearest Mother,
I was this noon rejoiced by the receipt of your letter. How sorry I am for your influenzal I know well enough what they are, or rather what it is, from your past experience and I shouldn't judge that your present one was any improvement. How I wish that I could be at home to take care of you. I have my hands full at present with poor Louise Geiger, who has been ringing the changes upon neuralgia and influenza ever since last September. You can imagine what a state a child of eighteen must be in, who has read Latin and Greek enough to graduate and teach here, and a great deal more besides, who is naturally consumptive, and has always been sick, and who never has a day free from pain - I should advise her to go home, only from all I can learn of her home, she is better off here. She is very sweet and I know that you would like her. How dreadful Mrs. Adams' death was! How much trouble they do have, she makes the third in two years. I shouldn't think that Fannie would ever get over it, it must have been fearful. Will she keep house? Fannie Henyan's death too! Who could have taken care of her, who let her ride out this bitter weather when her baby is so little? Is the baby a boy or girl? Who will take it? The Dickinson's look well being worried about Minnie, when it will be five weeks Wednesday since she has heard a word from home, and and she has written every week except once. I think it's mean of them not to write to her, when there are so many who can just as well as not. I'd think that they ought to when of course she is anxious to hear. I think it would serve them right if she never wrote to them again - Did you see the cross that I cut for Sarah? I have made one for you too, If you like Sarah's better I will make you one like that. I think it is very pretty work and I like to do it. Did Carrie appear to like her yoke? I have heard from her but once since the year began. I suppose that her Auntie and her sewing machine keep her very busy - It seems hard for her to have so much care. Is Lucy any more considerate than she was? Since writing this I have had a nice letter from Carrie saying that her Auntie is much better and that it was Mrs. Avery who sent me those papers. Wasn't she kind? I am very much suprised that Sarah's baby things are not prettier. I supposed that they would be the most dainty and beautiful imaginable. I wish that I could have made her something, but how could I? The poor child to be sick so soon! Why I supposed it was coming some time in March or April. I do hope she won't be sick before Febuary, and that the baby will be a girl - I am glad that Mrs. Taylor has been and spent her day with you and that you have not that hanging over your head - I shall remember what you wrote me about Willie, you may be sure. How glad I am that Mrs. Ballard's so lovely and good - It must be a blessing to have a good minister's wife - I should never dare to marry a minister, for fear people would compare me with some saint who had been my predecessor. Carrie said that my letter came to her when she was sick too. I am very glad that we wrote just when we did - Have you heard from Uncle Shepherd lately? Poor Aunt Phebe, how thankful she must be that Aunt Charlotte is not there - I am going to write to Father on his birthday. Miss Gilbert is now just recovering from several weeks of neuralgia - It is quite as well that we didn't attempt to go to Pittsford, but staid quietly in Burlington. Saturday, if we can, Louise Blatchley and I are going into Po'keepsie to attend a union prayer meeting - Prof. Knapp is very much interested in them. I must stop and get my Greek lesson. Give a great deal of love to Willie and the girls, and ever and ever so much to yourself - Tell Sallie call her infant by the euphonious name of Marthy if it's a girl and Spooner if a boy - I have tried to put in my cross but can't - I'll send it when I get a larger envelope -
Yours Mattie
Jan. 21, 1867
My dearest Mother,
I was this noon rejoiced by the receipt of your letter. How sorry I am for your influenzal I know well enough what they are, or rather what it is, from your past experience and I shouldn't judge that your present one was any improvement. How I wish that I could be at home to take care of you. I have my hands full at present with poor Louise Geiger, who has been ringing the changes upon neuralgia and influenza ever since last September. You can imagine what a state a child of eighteen must be in, who has read Latin and Greek enough to graduate and teach here, and a great deal more besides, who is naturally consumptive, and has always been sick, and who never has a day free from pain - I should advise her to go home, only from all I can learn of her home, she is better off here. She is very sweet and I know that you would like her. How dreadful Mrs. Adams' death was! How much trouble they do have, she makes the third in two years. I shouldn't think that Fannie would ever get over it, it must have been fearful. Will she keep house? Fannie Henyan's death too! Who could have taken care of her, who let her ride out this bitter weather when her baby is so little? Is the baby a boy or girl? Who will take it? The Dickinson's look well being worried about Minnie, when it will be five weeks Wednesday since she has heard a word from home, and and she has written every week except once. I think it's mean of them not to write to her, when there are so many who can just as well as not. I'd think that they ought to when of course she is anxious to hear. I think it would serve them right if she never wrote to them again - Did you see the cross that I cut for Sarah? I have made one for you too, If you like Sarah's better I will make you one like that. I think it is very pretty work and I like to do it. Did Carrie appear to like her yoke? I have heard from her but once since the year began. I suppose that her Auntie and her sewing machine keep her very busy - It seems hard for her to have so much care. Is Lucy any more considerate than she was? Since writing this I have had a nice letter from Carrie saying that her Auntie is much better and that it was Mrs. Avery who sent me those papers. Wasn't she kind? I am very much suprised that Sarah's baby things are not prettier. I supposed that they would be the most dainty and beautiful imaginable. I wish that I could have made her something, but how could I? The poor child to be sick so soon! Why I supposed it was coming some time in March or April. I do hope she won't be sick before Febuary, and that the baby will be a girl - I am glad that Mrs. Taylor has been and spent her day with you and that you have not that hanging over your head - I shall remember what you wrote me about Willie, you may be sure. How glad I am that Mrs. Ballard's so lovely and good - It must be a blessing to have a good minister's wife - I should never dare to marry a minister, for fear people would compare me with some saint who had been my predecessor. Carrie said that my letter came to her when she was sick too. I am very glad that we wrote just when we did - Have you heard from Uncle Shepherd lately? Poor Aunt Phebe, how thankful she must be that Aunt Charlotte is not there - I am going to write to Father on his birthday. Miss Gilbert is now just recovering from several weeks of neuralgia - It is quite as well that we didn't attempt to go to Pittsford, but staid quietly in Burlington. Saturday, if we can, Louise Blatchley and I are going into Po'keepsie to attend a union prayer meeting - Prof. Knapp is very much interested in them. I must stop and get my Greek lesson. Give a great deal of love to Willie and the girls, and ever and ever so much to yourself - Tell Sallie call her infant by the euphonious name of Marthy if it's a girl and Spooner if a boy - I have tried to put in my cross but can't - I'll send it when I get a larger envelope -
Yours Mattie
