Vassar [?]

My darling Mother,
Here we are safe and sound
Mattie unpacking her trunk, Minnie arranging
the books on the what not, my things lying
around promiscuously and my self writing
you. We got her in the finest sleigh imaginable.
No one could have been kinder than [?]
[?] and Bessie was very pleasant and agree
ably disappointed me. She expressed her pleas
rue several times at having us with her, told
us to call her Bessie. I felt as though I had
known her all my life. We did not have to
change cars except at Niagara where we found
very dine fleeing cars. Hattie and Miss. Bell had
one bench. Mr [?] ones and Bessie and [?]
Wgeb we reached Pokeepsie (fashionable appalling here)
one of the railway officials conductors to the rails
[?]. He went so fast that we lost sight of her. Mc. Clellan alrother and so had no op
portunity to thank her, we both felt very much
mortified about it and wish you would ask
father to thank him for us. He was just asking
if any one could be. We rode up in the omnibus
which was jammed with girls and their Father
and Mothers I wished. I was any when else
in the world. I don't think I even dreaded any
thing quite as much as I did that. We got with
in sight of the building and it looked just like
the lectures we drove thro the lodge up to the door
and alighted there we watched to see what other
people did. and as they all posted up to the front
door we posted after them. there we stood [?]
and solitary when a very handsome young gentle
man with light hair said to us "have you seen
Miss Lyman?" We signified that we hadn't but
desire to do so. He inquired if our Father was with
us. Hattie said no but we had a letter to her. he
seized it inquired our names and dragged us in
to the reception room, which was packed full of
ladies and gentlemen in the midst of which
stood a tall lady in [?] white lace [?] with kink rodes, and almost white curls to whom
every one was talking and who seemed to be the
center of attraction generally. the gentleman (Mr.
Terry as we have since learned) introduced us to
her and handed her the letter she shook hands
with us and write out waiting to say "how do you
you do or anything she exclaimed "do you know
that your mother was a class mate of mine, we
were the same age. I am delighted to have her
daughters under my charge" - I do not remmed
beer ever feeling so relieved and refreshed by
a few words in my life. She then put us in
charge of Prof. Henry who conducted us down
stairs and put us into the Prof. Buckham
can who look down our manner and sent us into
a room to wait until our turn came to go into the
clark and pay our bills & get our keys. we waited
an almost [?] amount of time before our
turn came when Hattie attended to the many mat
ters and came back and we sailed up stairs when
we were met by a lady teacher who conducted us to our
room. just as we almost reached it some one came
rushing out an adjoining room and there was [?] me. She said she had been waiting for us all day
and was greatly disappointed at not having [?]
us to our room or anything. We took off our things
and I found that I was nearly dead. Hattie was
not quite so much exhausted as I, but pretty nearly.
We started out to look at the house a little when Minnie introduced us to Miss Gilbert. She was very glad to see us but we none of us fell in love with
her. We went into the art gallery which is beautiful
and into the chapel which is very pleasant, and
then the dinner bell rang. I felt to tired to eat
and so went back to our room which is just as perfect as we could ask it is in the south wing the
back room. our parlor is about as large as our
room not quite. but plenty large for our pur
pose. the furniture is a [?][?] Hattie says
she has told father about it. We are all charmed
Yesterday after the frills came up from dinner
Minnie thought I would setle better if I had
a cup of tea. She went to M[?] Fowler (the house keeper)
and she very kindly sent us up a pitcher of tea.
two cups and saucers a pitcher of beautiful cream
& [?] [?] brought us some bread & butter &
felt very much better after it & I dressed for tea but
got belated and didn't go down. Our bed room
floors are oiled and uncapped except a rug
your loving daughter
M
in front of the bed. I am delighted write every [?] [?]
I am just going to say a word
to Jon this time. We
going to be very happy
hire I know. I do so want to see you all
I want you to see the
building & everything here
very much, Give my love to [?] tell
her I will write
very soon.
Minnie is asleep
Mattie telling me to
hurry. Good by my
dear darling Mother
Hattie
give us a great deal of
love to Helen & Willies father Prof. [?]
says that we must go on
work tomorrow. We say
his examinations are not
going
to [?] difficult but after you are in a class you must do your best and [?] your place perfectly or we will go down with out mercy. Love to Dara and the rest for you- I do hope you are better-