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Vassar Nov. 20.
My dear dear Nellie.
I am thoroughly ashamed of myself to have spoken in such a spiteful manner about your writing - especially inasmuch as I received your letter just two minutes after having sealed mine to Mother What is the matter with your eyes? I am sorry for you. You must be very careful and not be induced to use them much. We had Father's note this noon, and I assure you we were delighted at the thought of seeing him - Hattie went up to ask Miss Lyman and she said "O yes" almost before Hattie had finished speaking - But our joy was very much dampened by the sad, sad news of Ned Brush. What a terrible blow it must be to the family. Poor Willie must feel very badly. Give all our loves to him and tell him, how much we all feel for him. Ned makes the seventh High School boy that has died - Lucretia Goodwin is the only girl. Did the boys come in from Ann Arbor? And did the High School attend the funeral. I don't think that there is any other boy whose death would have affected us all as Ned's has. I can't realize at all that tomorrow morning we shall see Father! I didn't dream that I wanted to see him so much Saturday we were all so frustrated that we didn't accomplish a single thing - Unless it was to call on Mrs. Banister. She is certainly a wonderful woman. Her hair is but little gray, and her whole appearance is that of a lady whose tenor of life has been very even. She taught Miss Lyman's Bible Class Sunday, and we all went in to hear her. She talked most beautifully to us. I don't believe I shall ever forget it. Minnie says she thinks it is worth coming to Vassar to have seen her. She came into our room and admired it extremely - I presume I shall write another sheet tomorrow after having seen Father, but I felt moved in spirit to write tonight - What started Lucy and Ed Butler up to our house? Did they come in the day time? I judged so from your letter. I think Sallie's photograph is perfect. I have taken a great deal of comfort from it. Her dress is sweet pretty isn't it - She told me in her last letter that her Father would be married on the sixth of December. I do hope they will be happy - If Mrs. Birch doesn't behave herself I hope she'll repent of her marriage. How I hope Mary will be married before long. We do use the most refined and cultivated style of Continental here. I have reached such a point of perfection that I can say eenyourea without any desire to shout injuria afterwards as I had at first. Prof. Knapp pronounces beautifully - It is a treat to hear him - For that matter he does everything as perfectly as possible. I am glad to hear that you have succeeded so finely with "Hattie's remains." There is a girl here who sports a dress exactly like it. I beg a thousand pardons, but I have just looked over your letter and discovered that you said evening with reference to Lucy - It's singular that we none of us noticed it, but we all spoke of it and wondered if she could have brought him up there in the day time - Lizzie Reed had a letter today containing the death of Judge Collamer of Vt - Has Father heard of it? I am happy to hear that you are so charitably disposed. I hope you will send all your spare clothes. Did you have your waterproof dress made gored? I think they are immesureably prettier. I saw by a paper Minnie received today that they are afraid of cholera in New York. If it comes I have no intention of going there if it does seem - If it wasn't for paying 7.50 per week for board I'd prefer to stay here. I know they will have first class times. Minnie says she just wishes you were here. She thinks you would be a real comfort to our dear little Prof, in German and French - she and Hattie sufficient in Greek! Isn't she puffed up? By the way Nell I wonder if Avery Knapp is any relation to our beloved prof - Such a brilliant young gentleman that it seems a matter of certainty that he is related to some distinguished person - Have your eyes rested upon his fair countenance lately - I am ever so glad you like Miss Beaumeut so well. I hope you will cultivate her with such assiduity as to obtain an introduction to Gardener Clark. But don't on any account say "How do you do Mr. Gardener." Hattie had a letter today containing a photograph of Emma Sebring, she has also had one from Sate Kelley, they are both very pleasant looking girls. One day last week she had a letter mailed at Poughkeepsie. Who it could be we could not imagine, and puzzled over it some time. It proved to be from the illustrious hero, James Cadman, who inclosed in a note, a letter of introduction from his Mother, and asked permission to call. Miss Lyman said that altho' the introduction should have been from her parents, (i.e Hattie's) that she might see him, consequently Hattie despatched him a note to that effect Saturday afternoon, when we were so anxiously watching the omnibuses in hopes of seeing Father, the little dot who waits on the door, appeared with a card in her hand. We all screamed and jumped, thinking that of course he was here, when what was our dismay to read - "Jas. P. Cadman." "What a fall was there my countryman"! I haven't got over it yet. As the Irishman said "it wasn't the going up hurt me, 'twas the coming down." I wrote thus far last night, when the bell rang and the gas went out. In the morning we started out in a pouring rain and rode down to the depot in style accompanied by Mrs. Raymond and Mr. Smith, that is as far as the Gregory House. I took quite a fancy to her - We waited in the depot for about an hour, when the cars came and out we rushed and saw our dear good Father. How I do love him. We had just about fifteen minutes to see him, he introduced us to Miss Simpson, she is very pleasant looking. We gabbered as fast as possible until he was obliged to start. I wish it was Thursday. We had quite a time opening our hat box. Father forgot to bring the key and we couldn't find any one that would fit it - Mr. Wheeler tried to pick it but he didn't succeed, so at last Minnie took the lock off bodily. You don't know how very much good the whole contents did us - I am writing with my dearly beloved prodigal son of a lead pencil. Hattie's bonnet is beautiful, and has been much admired - The rose buds are a great addition. Tell Bridget that the cookies were extremely welcome. I was very much afraid that you wouldn't send any eatables. I could smell the apples all the way home. How kind it was of Mother to send me some gloves. Hattie's hat is very pretty. I feel in a most happy state of frame generally. Lottie Harris a dear little girl who lives next door, sends word that she hopes you will send some heavy sponge cake next time - I think I shall like that tintype by day but I can't see it distinctly by gas light. My letters from Sara and Emma were capital - How terrible Ned's death is - I can't realise it at all. Miss Gilbert sends much love. I don't know but I have said that before. Never mind it will bear repeating - I must stop and begin to study. Give such quantities of love to Mother that she won't know what to do with it. Tell Willie poor boy that I want to put both my arms around his neck and kiss him, and tell him how very sorry I am for him. I do hope you'll forgive and forget what I said to Mother, and I'll never do the like more. Don't hurt your eyes my dear. Love to every one Minnie and Hattie of course, say so. They are studying Greek. I do wish I could see you - Write soon as you can but do be careful of your eyes, or I shall have to go home and tend to you. Good bye - Your loving - Mattie.
(Martha S. Warner, '68)
My dear dear Nellie.
I am thoroughly ashamed of myself to have spoken in such a spiteful manner about your writing - especially inasmuch as I received your letter just two minutes after having sealed mine to Mother What is the matter with your eyes? I am sorry for you. You must be very careful and not be induced to use them much. We had Father's note this noon, and I assure you we were delighted at the thought of seeing him - Hattie went up to ask Miss Lyman and she said "O yes" almost before Hattie had finished speaking - But our joy was very much dampened by the sad, sad news of Ned Brush. What a terrible blow it must be to the family. Poor Willie must feel very badly. Give all our loves to him and tell him, how much we all feel for him. Ned makes the seventh High School boy that has died - Lucretia Goodwin is the only girl. Did the boys come in from Ann Arbor? And did the High School attend the funeral. I don't think that there is any other boy whose death would have affected us all as Ned's has. I can't realize at all that tomorrow morning we shall see Father! I didn't dream that I wanted to see him so much Saturday we were all so frustrated that we didn't accomplish a single thing - Unless it was to call on Mrs. Banister. She is certainly a wonderful woman. Her hair is but little gray, and her whole appearance is that of a lady whose tenor of life has been very even. She taught Miss Lyman's Bible Class Sunday, and we all went in to hear her. She talked most beautifully to us. I don't believe I shall ever forget it. Minnie says she thinks it is worth coming to Vassar to have seen her. She came into our room and admired it extremely - I presume I shall write another sheet tomorrow after having seen Father, but I felt moved in spirit to write tonight - What started Lucy and Ed Butler up to our house? Did they come in the day time? I judged so from your letter. I think Sallie's photograph is perfect. I have taken a great deal of comfort from it. Her dress is sweet pretty isn't it - She told me in her last letter that her Father would be married on the sixth of December. I do hope they will be happy - If Mrs. Birch doesn't behave herself I hope she'll repent of her marriage. How I hope Mary will be married before long. We do use the most refined and cultivated style of Continental here. I have reached such a point of perfection that I can say eenyourea without any desire to shout injuria afterwards as I had at first. Prof. Knapp pronounces beautifully - It is a treat to hear him - For that matter he does everything as perfectly as possible. I am glad to hear that you have succeeded so finely with "Hattie's remains." There is a girl here who sports a dress exactly like it. I beg a thousand pardons, but I have just looked over your letter and discovered that you said evening with reference to Lucy - It's singular that we none of us noticed it, but we all spoke of it and wondered if she could have brought him up there in the day time - Lizzie Reed had a letter today containing the death of Judge Collamer of Vt - Has Father heard of it? I am happy to hear that you are so charitably disposed. I hope you will send all your spare clothes. Did you have your waterproof dress made gored? I think they are immesureably prettier. I saw by a paper Minnie received today that they are afraid of cholera in New York. If it comes I have no intention of going there if it does seem - If it wasn't for paying 7.50 per week for board I'd prefer to stay here. I know they will have first class times. Minnie says she just wishes you were here. She thinks you would be a real comfort to our dear little Prof, in German and French - she and Hattie sufficient in Greek! Isn't she puffed up? By the way Nell I wonder if Avery Knapp is any relation to our beloved prof - Such a brilliant young gentleman that it seems a matter of certainty that he is related to some distinguished person - Have your eyes rested upon his fair countenance lately - I am ever so glad you like Miss Beaumeut so well. I hope you will cultivate her with such assiduity as to obtain an introduction to Gardener Clark. But don't on any account say "How do you do Mr. Gardener." Hattie had a letter today containing a photograph of Emma Sebring, she has also had one from Sate Kelley, they are both very pleasant looking girls. One day last week she had a letter mailed at Poughkeepsie. Who it could be we could not imagine, and puzzled over it some time. It proved to be from the illustrious hero, James Cadman, who inclosed in a note, a letter of introduction from his Mother, and asked permission to call. Miss Lyman said that altho' the introduction should have been from her parents, (i.e Hattie's) that she might see him, consequently Hattie despatched him a note to that effect Saturday afternoon, when we were so anxiously watching the omnibuses in hopes of seeing Father, the little dot who waits on the door, appeared with a card in her hand. We all screamed and jumped, thinking that of course he was here, when what was our dismay to read - "Jas. P. Cadman." "What a fall was there my countryman"! I haven't got over it yet. As the Irishman said "it wasn't the going up hurt me, 'twas the coming down." I wrote thus far last night, when the bell rang and the gas went out. In the morning we started out in a pouring rain and rode down to the depot in style accompanied by Mrs. Raymond and Mr. Smith, that is as far as the Gregory House. I took quite a fancy to her - We waited in the depot for about an hour, when the cars came and out we rushed and saw our dear good Father. How I do love him. We had just about fifteen minutes to see him, he introduced us to Miss Simpson, she is very pleasant looking. We gabbered as fast as possible until he was obliged to start. I wish it was Thursday. We had quite a time opening our hat box. Father forgot to bring the key and we couldn't find any one that would fit it - Mr. Wheeler tried to pick it but he didn't succeed, so at last Minnie took the lock off bodily. You don't know how very much good the whole contents did us - I am writing with my dearly beloved prodigal son of a lead pencil. Hattie's bonnet is beautiful, and has been much admired - The rose buds are a great addition. Tell Bridget that the cookies were extremely welcome. I was very much afraid that you wouldn't send any eatables. I could smell the apples all the way home. How kind it was of Mother to send me some gloves. Hattie's hat is very pretty. I feel in a most happy state of frame generally. Lottie Harris a dear little girl who lives next door, sends word that she hopes you will send some heavy sponge cake next time - I think I shall like that tintype by day but I can't see it distinctly by gas light. My letters from Sara and Emma were capital - How terrible Ned's death is - I can't realise it at all. Miss Gilbert sends much love. I don't know but I have said that before. Never mind it will bear repeating - I must stop and begin to study. Give such quantities of love to Mother that she won't know what to do with it. Tell Willie poor boy that I want to put both my arms around his neck and kiss him, and tell him how very sorry I am for him. I do hope you'll forgive and forget what I said to Mother, and I'll never do the like more. Don't hurt your eyes my dear. Love to every one Minnie and Hattie of course, say so. They are studying Greek. I do wish I could see you - Write soon as you can but do be careful of your eyes, or I shall have to go home and tend to you. Good bye - Your loving - Mattie.
(Martha S. Warner, '68)
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