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Vassar College Po 'keepsle
Nov. 15th 1865
My Dear Parents,
I received Mothers letter of the 12th yesterday and also the knife in it It was not as large as I could have wished but will answer I guess. I have got a graat many things as usual to say to you and for fear that I might forget some of them I have made a short memorandum of soma of the most important. Only think what a funny idea but I always forget so many things I want to tell you. It is almost nine o'clock so I have less than an hour to write and shall have to hurry, as usual. But I must tell you the most important thing first, that is that I had a call this after noon from Mrs Bartlett and she has invited me down there to spend the afternoon and take tea Saturday afternoon and If I cannot get permission then any time when I can i have not found out yet but If Miss Lyman will not let me go you may expect to see a letter from me "post haste" asking you to send on a letter to her asking permission for me to go. So you will know what it means. However I hope that will not be necessary. There was another lady with Mrs Bartlett who as I understand it is visiting her and who came to see another girl here Sarah Atwater and Mrs Bartlett has asked her too for Saturday which will make it very pleasant. She is a relation of Mrs Zabriskle, cousin I believe and is a very pleasant girl indeed. She is in my French class and rooms only a few doors from me in this corridor. She Is somewhat younger than myself I should judge and not In very good health. I like Mrs Bartlett very much from what I saw of her. I brought her In here to see my room and she sat down for a few moments and talked with the girls. I shall have plenty to write you about, if I go, next time. She said perhaps Mr Bartlett would preach next Sunday and if he does I want to hear him so much. I dont know whether Miss Lyman will let: go but I wish if you think best you would send me a letter asking permission that I may go end hear him at the Congregatlonalist Church, then if necessary I can show it. But now to business or I shall have no room. I intend to have a jockey of some kind to do for all times this Winter so Mother can have my black velvet bonnet. You are right I believe about Miss Sayles going home for the Holidays and there are several others who will go a good part of the way so there will be no lack for company. I have hardly collars enough as one of my "stand up" is lost but I think I can get along until the Holidays only please send me some more pieces marked with my name as the ink has nearly all washed out of some of my clothes. The pianos are all used by those who take lessons and some of those have to rent If they wish to practise more than fifty minutes a day so there Is no chance for me to practise and I am afraid that I will forget all my music which I should be very sorry to do. The girls get together in clubs and rent pianos so that they each pay a dollar a month what do you say to my joining with tome club and then I need not forget what I do know.
Oh Mother I do not think I am ruining my health yet by any means for I get along quite nicely with my studies and though I would like to spend a little more time on some of them there is none that I can bear to think
of giving up. I am out to walk almost every after-noon for about an hour,
indeed it is a rule of the school that we shall walk at least fifty minutes
a day. Both yesterday and to-day as well as several times before Matie
Granger Emma Colby, Emily and myself have been out geologising and v
have found some splendid specimens. Oh I do wish for you so in those studies for you would enjoy it so much. I spoke to that Miss Hoyt, that is to say one of them to-day for the first time. She is in my German class and
seems very pleasant. The first retiring bell has rung but I have wound
my watch etc. so I am going to try and finish this before the next bell
rings and then undress in the dark. I have written this In such a hurry that I presume there are many mistakes but I have not time to read this over and correct them so please excuse. Save some nuts by all means if you can. Dont get to lonesome Mother, It makes me almost fly when you speak of IF I long so to be home with you. I have not had time to tell you about our Beaique party Sat. eve but that will go for another time. There were about ten here.
Nov. 15, 1865 - 2
JLove to all
Good night.
Your loving
Ellen.
I ought to stop and study as I have Not got my lesson nay too well in
consequence of writing this last night. They are putting up the organ now in the Chapel which will be a great improvement
I think. I am going to draw a little this morning I guess and the second period I am to go up in the Geological Cabinet to meet Prof. Tenney and have him show us the minerals and explain them. Part of the class meets him there every day besides the lecture. The breakfast bell has Just rung so good bye again.
Write often
Ellen
Nov. 15th 1865
My Dear Parents,
I received Mothers letter of the 12th yesterday and also the knife in it It was not as large as I could have wished but will answer I guess. I have got a graat many things as usual to say to you and for fear that I might forget some of them I have made a short memorandum of soma of the most important. Only think what a funny idea but I always forget so many things I want to tell you. It is almost nine o'clock so I have less than an hour to write and shall have to hurry, as usual. But I must tell you the most important thing first, that is that I had a call this after noon from Mrs Bartlett and she has invited me down there to spend the afternoon and take tea Saturday afternoon and If I cannot get permission then any time when I can i have not found out yet but If Miss Lyman will not let me go you may expect to see a letter from me "post haste" asking you to send on a letter to her asking permission for me to go. So you will know what it means. However I hope that will not be necessary. There was another lady with Mrs Bartlett who as I understand it is visiting her and who came to see another girl here Sarah Atwater and Mrs Bartlett has asked her too for Saturday which will make it very pleasant. She is a relation of Mrs Zabriskle, cousin I believe and is a very pleasant girl indeed. She is in my French class and rooms only a few doors from me in this corridor. She Is somewhat younger than myself I should judge and not In very good health. I like Mrs Bartlett very much from what I saw of her. I brought her In here to see my room and she sat down for a few moments and talked with the girls. I shall have plenty to write you about, if I go, next time. She said perhaps Mr Bartlett would preach next Sunday and if he does I want to hear him so much. I dont know whether Miss Lyman will let: go but I wish if you think best you would send me a letter asking permission that I may go end hear him at the Congregatlonalist Church, then if necessary I can show it. But now to business or I shall have no room. I intend to have a jockey of some kind to do for all times this Winter so Mother can have my black velvet bonnet. You are right I believe about Miss Sayles going home for the Holidays and there are several others who will go a good part of the way so there will be no lack for company. I have hardly collars enough as one of my "stand up" is lost but I think I can get along until the Holidays only please send me some more pieces marked with my name as the ink has nearly all washed out of some of my clothes. The pianos are all used by those who take lessons and some of those have to rent If they wish to practise more than fifty minutes a day so there Is no chance for me to practise and I am afraid that I will forget all my music which I should be very sorry to do. The girls get together in clubs and rent pianos so that they each pay a dollar a month what do you say to my joining with tome club and then I need not forget what I do know.
Oh Mother I do not think I am ruining my health yet by any means for I get along quite nicely with my studies and though I would like to spend a little more time on some of them there is none that I can bear to think
of giving up. I am out to walk almost every after-noon for about an hour,
indeed it is a rule of the school that we shall walk at least fifty minutes
a day. Both yesterday and to-day as well as several times before Matie
Granger Emma Colby, Emily and myself have been out geologising and v
have found some splendid specimens. Oh I do wish for you so in those studies for you would enjoy it so much. I spoke to that Miss Hoyt, that is to say one of them to-day for the first time. She is in my German class and
seems very pleasant. The first retiring bell has rung but I have wound
my watch etc. so I am going to try and finish this before the next bell
rings and then undress in the dark. I have written this In such a hurry that I presume there are many mistakes but I have not time to read this over and correct them so please excuse. Save some nuts by all means if you can. Dont get to lonesome Mother, It makes me almost fly when you speak of IF I long so to be home with you. I have not had time to tell you about our Beaique party Sat. eve but that will go for another time. There were about ten here.
Nov. 15, 1865 - 2
JLove to all
Good night.
Your loving
Ellen.
I ought to stop and study as I have Not got my lesson nay too well in
consequence of writing this last night. They are putting up the organ now in the Chapel which will be a great improvement
I think. I am going to draw a little this morning I guess and the second period I am to go up in the Geological Cabinet to meet Prof. Tenney and have him show us the minerals and explain them. Part of the class meets him there every day besides the lecture. The breakfast bell has Just rung so good bye again.
Write often
Ellen
