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Vassar College
Oct. 7, 1866.
My dearest Mother,
How do you do this beautiful Sunday morning? Father told us nothing about it when you were to have your eye doctored, so that I cant tell whether it is getting well, or you have it yet in anticipation. In either case I am very thankful that you have Aunt Mary with you, and I trust that she will stay with you all winter, especially if Father is to be gone this year. And, next you'll have Hattie there all the time. Isn't it gorgeous to contemplate. How much I would give to sit on your bed this morning and tell you every thing I have to say, instead of using this stupid pen. I have so many important items to communicate that I can hardly tell where to commence - For some reason best known to their High Mightinesses the Steward and Lady Principal, we, the members of the Junior Class have been honored with a private apartment in which to take our meals - A table has been laid in the cloak room of the dining hall, and there we sit like little lions at a menagerie, on exhibition for the benefit of all passers by. The reasons are conjectured at by all of us. Some, inclined to vanity, consider it an arrangement to show us off with greater ease when distinguished guests are present, others, accustomed to calculations of ways and means, suppose that is in order to determine with accuracy the exact amount eaten by the class in order to ascertain how much the College may be considered in pocket, after we are graduated and gone; others still, of a prosaic tendency, insist that the sole reason is because more room was needed in the dining hall, and the departure of fourteen persons would be a great assistance. However that may be, we are well served, and enjoy it highly. When you come to see us, we will invite you in there to dine. We have this morning been divided into Bible Classes. We girls are in Prof. Knapp's, but as he will have to hear his on a week day, or else come out here to live, which latter alternative would be the death of him in a week, I intend to join Prof. Tenney's for Sunday - I don't know yet what they will study. Prof. Knapp has a class in the Greek Testament, which recites twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, I know that we shall enjoy it exceedingly. He is the pleasantest man to study any thing of that kind with of whom I know. We have for our first lesson, twelve verses of the second chapter of Matthew. Prof. Tenney's department is now in operation. He lectures principally - and is a very interesting, as well agreeable speaker. I presume we will horrify our friends and acquaintances after we return home, by seizing all the millers, grasshoppers, bugs, toads, turtles fee. that we can find, for a collection. Yesterday we went nutting, and Hattie brought home a box turtle for the Professor, while Lillie Beers, had a little garter snake to preserve in alcohol. I believe Helen is writing Willie a detailed account of our adventures. I have not enjoyed an afternoon so much since I came back. Hattie and Minnie have gone to church. I didn't go, as there was no communion in the Presbyterian church, and my morals won't permit my attending the Congregational church here. By-the-way, what is the difference between the old and new school Congregational churches? I never heard of any division until yesterday one of the girls, Louise Blatchley, said that she belonged to the old school Congregational church, and she said that in New Haven the two churches would have no communication with each other, as one considered the other heterodox. Hattie thinks that the division must exist in New Haven alone. How do the elections [progress? I feel quite excited as the campaign waxes hotter lest Father shouldn't be elected so here much excitement this year! [?] the Republican triumphs glorious Please thank Father for the paper he sent us - Carrie lent me one containing a notice of Sarah Narriers marriage. What [?] they are. Please give a great deal of love to all the people at home and the girls also. How is Mrs. Pomeroy? I write Sara that just last week I was here but have recieved no answer. I [?] the [?] takes up all their time - Mr. Morter dear how] much I want to hug you. Good bye, with a great many kisses, your loving daughter Mattie -
Oct. 7, 1866.
My dearest Mother,
How do you do this beautiful Sunday morning? Father told us nothing about it when you were to have your eye doctored, so that I cant tell whether it is getting well, or you have it yet in anticipation. In either case I am very thankful that you have Aunt Mary with you, and I trust that she will stay with you all winter, especially if Father is to be gone this year. And, next you'll have Hattie there all the time. Isn't it gorgeous to contemplate. How much I would give to sit on your bed this morning and tell you every thing I have to say, instead of using this stupid pen. I have so many important items to communicate that I can hardly tell where to commence - For some reason best known to their High Mightinesses the Steward and Lady Principal, we, the members of the Junior Class have been honored with a private apartment in which to take our meals - A table has been laid in the cloak room of the dining hall, and there we sit like little lions at a menagerie, on exhibition for the benefit of all passers by. The reasons are conjectured at by all of us. Some, inclined to vanity, consider it an arrangement to show us off with greater ease when distinguished guests are present, others, accustomed to calculations of ways and means, suppose that is in order to determine with accuracy the exact amount eaten by the class in order to ascertain how much the College may be considered in pocket, after we are graduated and gone; others still, of a prosaic tendency, insist that the sole reason is because more room was needed in the dining hall, and the departure of fourteen persons would be a great assistance. However that may be, we are well served, and enjoy it highly. When you come to see us, we will invite you in there to dine. We have this morning been divided into Bible Classes. We girls are in Prof. Knapp's, but as he will have to hear his on a week day, or else come out here to live, which latter alternative would be the death of him in a week, I intend to join Prof. Tenney's for Sunday - I don't know yet what they will study. Prof. Knapp has a class in the Greek Testament, which recites twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, I know that we shall enjoy it exceedingly. He is the pleasantest man to study any thing of that kind with of whom I know. We have for our first lesson, twelve verses of the second chapter of Matthew. Prof. Tenney's department is now in operation. He lectures principally - and is a very interesting, as well agreeable speaker. I presume we will horrify our friends and acquaintances after we return home, by seizing all the millers, grasshoppers, bugs, toads, turtles fee. that we can find, for a collection. Yesterday we went nutting, and Hattie brought home a box turtle for the Professor, while Lillie Beers, had a little garter snake to preserve in alcohol. I believe Helen is writing Willie a detailed account of our adventures. I have not enjoyed an afternoon so much since I came back. Hattie and Minnie have gone to church. I didn't go, as there was no communion in the Presbyterian church, and my morals won't permit my attending the Congregational church here. By-the-way, what is the difference between the old and new school Congregational churches? I never heard of any division until yesterday one of the girls, Louise Blatchley, said that she belonged to the old school Congregational church, and she said that in New Haven the two churches would have no communication with each other, as one considered the other heterodox. Hattie thinks that the division must exist in New Haven alone. How do the elections [progress? I feel quite excited as the campaign waxes hotter lest Father shouldn't be elected so here much excitement this year! [?] the Republican triumphs glorious Please thank Father for the paper he sent us - Carrie lent me one containing a notice of Sarah Narriers marriage. What [?] they are. Please give a great deal of love to all the people at home and the girls also. How is Mrs. Pomeroy? I write Sara that just last week I was here but have recieved no answer. I [?] the [?] takes up all their time - Mr. Morter dear how] much I want to hug you. Good bye, with a great many kisses, your loving daughter Mattie -
