Vassar Monday.
Jan. 25. 1869.


Dear Mother,


I have five minutes more or less to write a few words to you, but I want to ask you if I am to infer from your last letter that you had just as soon have me study harder and practice less or vice-versa. In my next note to the Faculty I shall want to say whether you wish me to take two studies or three and you must let me know your wishes as soon as possible. I prefer it if I can endure it to go along with three studies, but hate to commence and then be obliged to give up half way.


We got out of Latin unusually early today so that I can write till the next period bell rings when I must go to practice.


I derive my principal pleasure here from practicing and I have such nice music to play. You speak of my exercizing one set of muscles to rest another - Don't you know that that is the great physical law of our being ?


But there is not a little brain-work in reading & playing the music I am now having. It ^is of a a decidedly higher order than what I have had. I intended to write to grandma yesterday but the day slipped away without my doing so.


I wrote you so much on Saturday that I have fortunately left nothing to say in this letter except that I love you all and pray for your happiness & prosperity.


Mary.


[Mary (Parker) Woodworth, '70]