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Vassar College,
Oct. 14, 1866.
My dear, dear Mother,
I am so thankful that you are all through that dreadful operation. You can't tell how delighted I was to see your hand writing yesterday. It was like cold water to a thirsty soul. We are progressing finely - Prof. Knapp has our Bible Class, Saturday morning, we met yesterday, we are to study Acts, and I know we shall enjoy it very much. We are doing Matthew in the Greek Testament. I do love him better every day. Dr. Raymond preached on dress today. It was a good sermon, but rather amusing, owing to various circumstances. We are learning to move with military exactness at dinner we file out of the dining room by table, thereby giving us an orderly appearance very beautiful to behold. In chapel we do like wise, leaving by seats - I must say that I feel rather green, marching solemnly out, past long rows of people impatiently waiting for their turn. If the "Country Parson" could see that remark he would undoubtedly say that I had yet one of the "Things slowly learnt," to master. We have several Mt. Holyoke girls here, two of whom are graduates, and I believe, are in the Senior class here. They are Miss Stoddard, and Miss King. Sarah Stoddard, as you know, I admire very much. Miss King I don't know at all - The more I see of some new girls the better I like them, on the whole I think that they are good, much better than we at first supposed. When I wrote to Willie I was in a great hurry, and didn't say any about all the news he told me; so I'll have to tell you what I think. In the first place, Mrs. Taylor may have flattered herself that she was making out a grand story, but I receive it with great doubt, if not utter incredulity. In the first place, if he fell in love with Bell that summer he did it before that picnic, which happened the last week of his stay in Detroit, and he had seen her nearly every day for some weeks before. Then I happen to know that he did not correspond with her when he first left, at least, for he did with Lizzie Strong, and in his letters to her, he said some hard things of Bell, because she wouldn't write to him, but she didn't want to - They may be engaged now for aught I know, of course - but I think it was strange if Bell engaged herself to any one, in her state of health. I don't know how ever as it is any of my business, if she did. I hope you went to Nettie Vernon's wedding - I wish I could have seen her. I think Detroit must be very gay after so much marrying and giving in marriage - How absurd it seems - Helen had a letter from Aunt Catie the other day, directed to "Vassar Institute"- I think she had better learn where she is writing to. Anna is teaching this year - I had a nice letter from Sara the other day, it did me a great deal of good, one from Carrie also - Delia Howard said the other day that you and Auntie were to take tea at her house that day - Did you have a pleasant visit. Please remember us to Mr. & Mrs. Ballard. I wish that I could hear him preach again - I am very thankful that Auntie was with you while you were sick. I hope she'll stay all winter - How glorious the election news is! Father must be elected - I must stop now with this little unsatisfactory letter. I am very sorry for I think you deserve a long one, but I can't write any more now. The girls send much love to every body - What will Mary Colbum's baby do without her?
Good bye yours lovingly Mattie -
Oct. 14, 1866.
My dear, dear Mother,
I am so thankful that you are all through that dreadful operation. You can't tell how delighted I was to see your hand writing yesterday. It was like cold water to a thirsty soul. We are progressing finely - Prof. Knapp has our Bible Class, Saturday morning, we met yesterday, we are to study Acts, and I know we shall enjoy it very much. We are doing Matthew in the Greek Testament. I do love him better every day. Dr. Raymond preached on dress today. It was a good sermon, but rather amusing, owing to various circumstances. We are learning to move with military exactness at dinner we file out of the dining room by table, thereby giving us an orderly appearance very beautiful to behold. In chapel we do like wise, leaving by seats - I must say that I feel rather green, marching solemnly out, past long rows of people impatiently waiting for their turn. If the "Country Parson" could see that remark he would undoubtedly say that I had yet one of the "Things slowly learnt," to master. We have several Mt. Holyoke girls here, two of whom are graduates, and I believe, are in the Senior class here. They are Miss Stoddard, and Miss King. Sarah Stoddard, as you know, I admire very much. Miss King I don't know at all - The more I see of some new girls the better I like them, on the whole I think that they are good, much better than we at first supposed. When I wrote to Willie I was in a great hurry, and didn't say any about all the news he told me; so I'll have to tell you what I think. In the first place, Mrs. Taylor may have flattered herself that she was making out a grand story, but I receive it with great doubt, if not utter incredulity. In the first place, if he fell in love with Bell that summer he did it before that picnic, which happened the last week of his stay in Detroit, and he had seen her nearly every day for some weeks before. Then I happen to know that he did not correspond with her when he first left, at least, for he did with Lizzie Strong, and in his letters to her, he said some hard things of Bell, because she wouldn't write to him, but she didn't want to - They may be engaged now for aught I know, of course - but I think it was strange if Bell engaged herself to any one, in her state of health. I don't know how ever as it is any of my business, if she did. I hope you went to Nettie Vernon's wedding - I wish I could have seen her. I think Detroit must be very gay after so much marrying and giving in marriage - How absurd it seems - Helen had a letter from Aunt Catie the other day, directed to "Vassar Institute"- I think she had better learn where she is writing to. Anna is teaching this year - I had a nice letter from Sara the other day, it did me a great deal of good, one from Carrie also - Delia Howard said the other day that you and Auntie were to take tea at her house that day - Did you have a pleasant visit. Please remember us to Mr. & Mrs. Ballard. I wish that I could hear him preach again - I am very thankful that Auntie was with you while you were sick. I hope she'll stay all winter - How glorious the election news is! Father must be elected - I must stop now with this little unsatisfactory letter. I am very sorry for I think you deserve a long one, but I can't write any more now. The girls send much love to every body - What will Mary Colbum's baby do without her?
Good bye yours lovingly Mattie -
