Vassar College Po'keepsie
Jan. 17th 1866.
Dear Mother.
The bell has just rung for the close of study hour which is nine o'clock so I have about three quarters of an hour in which to devote myself to you and I will see how much of an idea of my affairs at present I can give you in that time. We have a new Prof, in French now and nearly all the classes have been given to him but mine is not among the number. Emily recites to him & thinks she will like him very much, he is a native french-man but has been in this country several years. Tomorrow we are to commence a work on Synonymes having finished the Rhetoric. I think I shall like it very much. I received your letter last Monday. I had been expecting it for so long that it was doubly acceptable. I thought you would write Sunday but have not yet received any letter. Your letter was very interesting especially that about Mr White. I am anxous to hear If there have been any rules read about dancing and If so what the effect is. I laughed over your account of Mrs Stoddard's call It is too bad for poor Hermon if he wishes so much to come out here, but Mary says she believes her father (the Dr.) is going to send him a letter of Introduction to her. I hope he will appreciate U. I should like very well to see his friend Mr Gilley from N.B. for you know I got quite well acquainted with him when he was in Ithaca but "Eastmanites" are not particular favorites here though I do not wish to say anything against Herman. You must write me how you get along with your breakfast
shawl I did not know you thought of making one. It must be so nice for you
and Aunt Emily to work on them together. I received a day or two ago a
letter from Ned in french, it was very pleasant and I should like very
much to answer it for I think it has always been an excellent exercise
I should like very much to write occasionally a french letter to him for
of course I would not have time to write often but I leave it wholly to you
and Father and will do Just as you wish. I suppose Aunt Emily as well as yourself will be interested to hear that Miss Avery gives us lectures two evenings in the week. Perhaps I have mentioned them before. They are quite interesting and instructive. Tuesday/ and Friday evenings she gives them. I have skated twice since I have been here but the ice was not very good either time. I went down this after-noon but it hardly paid. The pond is very nice and perfectly safe I Judge. I have not seen any of the Bartletts yet and I think it is quite strange as both Mollle & Mr Bartlett said they would be out here in a few days. We have had a little snow here so that they use sleighs almost entirely but it is not "first rate" sleighing I Judge. That word makes me think of Father I wonder if he is home yet & how he likes his new position. I hope he will write me soon all about it. Ned spoke In his letter of attending a party at Mrs Tremens. Did you go? I could not make out from his description whether It was very large or not. I hope if it is not too much trouble you will still continue to send me the Journal it affords me so much pleasure. I have commenced a picture which I like very much. It is two girls* heads After I finish it Prof, thinks he will give me a landscape and teach me to draw from Nature. I know you will like that as well as I will you not? Prof. Tenney had a live screech owl in the class a few days ago. It was a little one that he caught and brought in for our benefit. It was sitting way up in one corner of the room on a nail when
we went into the class and we all thought It was stuffed until at last we
began one by one to give discover it winked. Just after he finished the
lesson the Prof, told us about it k then said those who wished to remain
after the class could see it stirred up if they wished. He then said the
class could be excused but not a one stirred We all laughed of course
Prof, as well, and he then poked It Ik made it fly all around the room. We had ever so much fun. Prof. Van Ingen is going to draw k paint It I believe. The last of Jennie's cookies are gone I am sorry to say. I do miss them so much that I can hardly stand it between meals. The first bell has rung so I shall have to say good-night I suppose. I was sorry to hear Auntie was sick. I will write to her this week if possible. I was so buisy last Sat. unpacking my trunk and getting settled I did not have much time but I wrote to Mary Van Renssalaer and Kate for I knew they would feel it so much If I did not. I hope soon to hear Ellle Walbridge Is better. I am
sorry we did not call at the Beer's j it was a great mistake but smooth
it over as well as possible. Give my love to all enquiring friends. And do
write soon. Won't Aunt Emily write I should like so much to hear from
her. I think Auntie need not worry about my not being contented for I
shall mot-get-say anything more if I want to be there ever so much which
of course I would still I am very happy here. You see I have had to
finish this in pencil as the bell rang last night and we had to put the light out. I am now at the breakfast table and only think we are to have cakes so I must stop. Remember to write soon to your loving daughter
Ellen